HARINGEY Council leader George Meehan has insisted that a controversial contract was awarded in the interests of improving the borough's struggling education system.

At Monday's council meeting opposition Liberal Democrat and Conservative councillors demanded an explanation over a £92,000 contract awarded to Capita, the private firm running Haringey's schools.

The Labour-run council rushed through a decision under its emergency powers on October 1 to award the contract for an 'asset management plan' without following the tendering process protocol.

Cllr Meehan has admitted wrongdoing but maintained that the decision had been taken in order to secure thousands of pounds worth of vital government education grants.

He said: "Education has been through a traumatic experience over the last 18 months and it fell between two stools.

"It has to be done as some of our schools are in a poor state of repair. Clearly it has to be done, and quickly. I was just trying to be honest.

"I am satisfied that we were getting value for money. We want to make sure that this does not happen again."

Opposition leader Cllr Lynne Featherstone (Lib Dem) blasted her political rivals for throwing the rule book out of the window.

She said: "It's typical of the mess which Haringey Labour makes of running the council that it failed to act in time and then rushed through an unacceptable procedure for awarding such a huge contract, spending large amounts of council taxpayers' money.

"This must never be allowed to happen again."