Council leader Cilr Claire Kober at White Hart Lane earlier this year. Picture: Tony Gay.

Haringey Council refuses to discuss £8.5million Spurs offer

By STEPHEN MOORE Tuesday, October 4, 2011
7:41 PM

Haringey Council has refused to reveal details about how it will fund its £8.5million offer to Tottenham Hotspur as it struggles to cut more than £80million from its own budget.

Aerial view of the proposed stadium at White Hart Lane.

In a deal struck behind closed doors, the council pledged to match Mayor of London Boris Johnson’s £8.5million offer, to convince Spurs to drop its Olympic Stadium legal fight and stay in N17 - securing vital investment and jobs for the area.

But nearly a week after the announcement it has yet to say where the money will come from, or how much control it will have over what the club spends taxpayers’ money on.

When asked on Tuesday, Cllr Joe Goldberg, cabinet member for finance, said “the money is not coming from core services” but did not elaborate further.

When asked if he would return to the negotiating table should Spurs chairman Daniel Levy want more money, he said: “I think he has got a very favourable deal and the ball is in his court.”

It is thought the money would effectively subsidise Spurs’ compulsory payments to the council to carry out infrastructure and other improvements in the area; Haringey paying Spurs a lump sum, only for Spurs to pay it straight back to them.

Liberal Democrat councillor Paul Strang has asked the council for details about who approved the Spurs cash offer and when, where the money is coming from and its impact on council services. Council leader Cllr Claire Kober has overall responsibility for negotiations with Spurs, but the level of her involvement in the offer is also unclear.