Council spends £7,000 on video saying it has no money

Liberal Democrat councillors condemn 'expensive and self-serving' decision

Haringey council spent £6,800 on a video explaining how it had been badly hit by severe budget cuts.

The animated video, aimed at the borough's residents, said that government cuts had pushed the Labour controlled council "to breaking point".

"It's vital that we work with you to ensure that every penny we spend goes on things residents need and value," the video adds.

The 15 Liberal Democrats who also sit on the council have criticised the spending decision.

“The police are a service that is needed and valued by Haringey residents. Expensive and self-serving pieces of publicity like this video are not," said Paul Dennison, a Liberal Democrat councillor.

"In fact, they are an insult to everyone struggling due to overstretched public services."

“Haringey spends £1.4 million a year on publicity. Some of this goes on useful things like advertising jobs or encouraging people to become foster parents.

"But too much goes on what amounts to Labour councillors promoting themselves.”

The Liberal Democrat councillors are calling for the council's publicity budget to be capped at £1m a year.

"This would save taxpayers £400,000 a year," the group said in a statement.