Haringey residents campaigns call for the policies and resources our communities need

Posted: July 16, 2013

On Monday 15th July three residents’ deputations (Haringey Alliance for Benefit Justice, Haringey Defend Council Housing campaign and the Our Tottenham network) made reprentations to a full meeting of Haringey Council to tell Councillors about the sufferings of tens of thousands of their constituents from caps, cuts, council tax, landlords in a chaotic London housing market, and property developers.

 Outside the Civic Centre the three groups had united for a joint protest rally, joined by over 70 residents. The 3 deputations, and a number of other local community organisations, made speeches calling for the policies and resources our communities need. Participants chanted ‘No Tax Cuts for the Rich, No Tax Rises for the Poor’, ‘They say cutback, we say fight back!’, and ‘Its OUR Haringey’.

Addressing the Councillors inside the Council chamber, the Haringey Alliance for Benefit Justice called on the Council to stop cuts in Housing benefit and Council Tax benefit, to oppose the Government’s ‘bedroom tax’, and to refuse to evict those who cant afford to pay rent and Council Tax due to cuts.

Haringey Defend Council Housing called on the Council to abandon their threat to introduce 5-year fixed tenancies and ‘near-market’ rents for future social housing tenants. – instead they called for affordable and secure housing for all.

The Our Tottenham network called on the Council to support community-led improvements and oppose unwanted development for our neighbourhoods, including the Council-backed threats of demolition of the Wards Corner area, of the homes and shops on the Love Lane Estate, and the loss of various community-run centres.

The 3 deputations called for action within the power of Councillors to resist the damage being done to our communities by Government and Council policies, and called for the Council to back the campaigns.

“The response to the deputations was dismal. Councilors were more concerned about promoting development, blaming others, and indulging in stale party politics than expressing concern about Haringey’s residents – let alone taking action to change any of their policies.”  – Rev Paul Nicholson (Haringey Alliance for Benefit Justice)

Note: Rally called by the Haringey Alliance for Benefit Justice, Haringey Defend Council Housing  and the Our Tottenham network – supported by Haringey Housing Action Group, Haringey Alliance for Public Services, Haringey Trades Union Council, Haringey Federation of Residents Associations, Haringey Solidarity Group and the Our Tottenham network

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