Haringey council lead member to step down

Lorna Reith, who has been in the post for three years, is also standing down as deputy leader of Haringey Council.

The local authority’s children’s services department was taken out of special measures by the government in February, while last summer’s GCSE and A-Level results were the best on record for the local authority.

“I’m proud of what we have achieved over the past three years and believe I am leaving the children’s service in much stronger shape than it has been for a long time,” Reith said.

“The quality of our safeguarding procedures and practice mean that we can be confident that children in Haringey are better protected. We have made progress in education and I know that further improvements in our schools and our service remain a key priority for the council.”

Haringey Council leader Claire Kober said that Rieth took up the position of lead member at “an extremely difficult time” and has devoted “a tremendous amount of time and energy” to improving local children’s services.

“Last year’s exam results and the fact that the children’s services department has been taken out of special measures are in no small part down to Lorna’s leadership and are testament to her hard work,” Kober said. “The council is very grateful to Lorna for her unstinting service to the borough.”

Reith will continue to serve as a Tottenham Hale ward councillor and plans to take on extra commitments as a Local Government Association member peer.