Residents took to the polls in May to vote in the local elections. Gains for Labour in Chase, Southgate and Winchmore Hill meant Labour increased its majority on Enfield Council by five seats.

Labour also maintained control of Haringey Council, but lost seats to the Liberal Democrat party. Haringey Council leader Joseph Ejiofor blamed his party’s “constant external media campaign” for the loss of seats.

We also reported that council spending per head in Enfield and Haringey has been slashed by more than a fifth over the past seven years. Figures from think tank Centre for London showed that councils have been battered by the government’s austerity measures, with planning and development services bearing the brunt of cuts – despite an ongoing housing crisis.

People were bewildered by the ‘doggate’ scandal. Hal Haines, founder member of Better Streets for Enfield, was furious when he noticed that former Conservative MP David Burrowes – and his dog – had been digitally added to a photograph of a protest at a dangerous road junction. The photograph had been sent to the Enfield Independent and appeared on our website, where eagle-eyed readers spotted that Mr Burrowes’ dog appeared to be floating.

At the end of the month, Councillor Saray Karakus was sworn in as the new mayor of Enfield.