The leader of the council has called 2015 “a year we can all take pride in” in her annual Christmas message – although it was selective in its highlights of the year.

In a message posted on the Haringey Council website, Cllr Claire Kober paid tribute to a wide range of organisations, including schools, businesses and community groups.

However, she said the new year could be “extremely challenging times for Haringey” because of budget cuts.

She said: “2015 was the year Haringey celebrated its fiftieth birthday, but its significance goes well beyond a golden anniversary.

“It was also a year that saw a huge amount of achievement across Haringey and ground-breaking investment in the borough, bringing new opportunities, jobs and innovation.

She praised Haringey schools for achieving record exam results, and acknowledged the start of the Haringey STEM Commission, to encourage careers in science and maths.

Cllr. Kober also spoke about regeneration projects planned for 2016, such as at Alexandra Palace following a successful £19million Heritage Lottery Fund bid, and in Crouch End, where the future of Hornsey Town Hall is open to bids to restore and safeguard the Grade II* listed building.

She also paid tribute to Chicken Town, calling it a “trailblazing social business”. The restaurant, which received £300,000 from the council and was built in the listed Tottenham Fire Station building, has divided opinion since opening in November.

Supporters have praised it for bringing 40 new jobs to Tottenham and offering a healthier alternative to fast food.

Others have criticised it for its limited opening hours. The store is closed on Monday, and only opens at lunchtimes on Thursday and Friday.

Cllr. Sheila Peacock said of Chicken Town: “I can’t see them making any money, there is a real concern that it will fail. If they want to make a go of it they should open it all day.”

There was also no mention of Haringey Council’s new logo which was announced this year.

The logo – featuring “Haringey” written in jagged red writing and “Council” in black block capitals – cost £86,000 for design, promotion and rebranding. A poll of Tottenham Independent readers found 57% of people thought it looks “terrible – like a child did it”.

Cllr. Kober also acknowledged that 2016 could be a difficult year thanks to cuts to local services by central government. £100million has already been lost from the council’s budget since 2010 and a projected £70million will need to be saved by 2018.

One of the hardest hit areas so far has been adult care, with three specialist centres set for closure due to cuts.

Cllr. Kober said: “There’s no escaping the fact that the government’s deep cuts to local councils make these extremely challenging times for Haringey. We’re waiting to hear detail of the government’s financial settlement for councils, but the chancellor’s autumn statement clearly set the scene for further severe cuts ahead.

“However, I remain determined that the scale of the challenge must not dampen the scale of our ambition. We are not in the business of managing decline, which is why the changes we’re making to some services are driven as much by a determination to further improve Haringey as by the need to reduce costs.

“Haringey is changing fast. It’s essential that we continue to adapt and keep pace with that change – looking at new ways of delivering services; bringing investment to our borough, and working more closely than ever with our communities to ensure that we make the most of the talent, expertise, creativity and enthusiasm on offer in the borough.”