The council are considering putting more money into adult care services after pressure from campaigners.

Haringey Council have proposed a social care council tax precept – taking money out of the amount raised by tax and setting it aside specifically for these under threat services. It is among their 2016/17 budget plans which are now open for consultation.

The precept – two per cent of the total tax raised – would be earmarked for adult care specifically.

It is thought this increase would cost the average Haringey household an extra 46 pence per week and raise around £1.7million each year. Council tax has remained frozen in Haringey for the past six years, and Haringey said they had no other plans to raise it.

Cllr Jason Arthur, cabinet member for resources and culture, said: “We’ve already made huge back-office savings but the fact is that the government’s ongoing cuts to our funding have forced us to make some very difficult decisions about how we deliver and pay for the services that our residents rely on.

“Significant cuts required in our adult social services budget mean we have to re-think services, and close some services entirely. While it’s important to make clear that the extra income from levying the two percent precept would not be enough to prevent some services from closing, it could help us to meet rising demand in the short term.”

The consultation comes after a long spell of campaigning by groups opposed to the closure of adult care centres.

Save Autism Services Haringey head Mary Langan proposed using council tax money to raise funds in an email to the council last year

She said: "It is deeply disappointing that councillors are determined to press ahead with drastic cuts – even though they now have  funds to maintain crucial services.

"The council statement about 'rethinking services' means closing down vital day centres for old and disabled people all across Haringey.

"Empty phrases like 'independent living' and 'community based support‘ mean leaving really vulnerable people and their families to cope on their own. ‘Prevention and early help’ are cited as council policy with no attempt to explain what services will actually be  provided  for people who will be at risk without proper support.

"We have been meeting with councillors and council officers over the past 12 months but we have yet to hear any evidence that they have viable alternatives to the services they are planning to close down."

The government has imposed funding cuts of £70million by 2018, according to the council.

They said adult services account for £1 in every £3 the council spends on services. The council’s three-year medium term financial strategy, which was agreed last year, suggested that reductions in adult services could reach around £25million by 2018.

Consultation on the council’s budget, including the proposed precept, is now open and responses will be considered in February.