The Labour Party has produced a video interviewing people about what a 15% rise in the Council Tax will mean for them. It also reports that it will vote against proposals to increase Councillors’ allowances, which cannot be justified at a time when there are plans to increase Council Tax by 15%.
At its meeting on Saturday attended by a good cross section of the trade union and labour movement Croydon TUC agreed its plans for encouraging residents to sign the two petitions and join the demonstration at the Town Hall for the Council meeting on 1 March. Concerns were expressed about the adverse effects on older residents, those with disabilities and on low income, which will particularly adversely effect the Black communities.
The Petitions
Inside Croydon’s petition is fast approaching its target of 25,000 signatures.
https://www.change.org/p/no-to-15-council-tax-hike-fund-croydon-fairly
A petition asking Parliament not to permit any Council Tax increase of more than 5% without a referendum has been started and can be signed at:
https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions/632944
Sarah Jones, the Labour MP for Croydon Central, has spoken out against the proposed 15% cent Council Tax increase calling it “unacceptable” to heap such a massive additional financial burden during the Conservative cost-of-living crisis.
Without taking a position Purley & Woodcote, Sanderstead and Spring Park Residents Association have drawn their members attention to the rise proposed rise. Monk’s Orchard RA has done the same and added the links to the two petitions.
Lack Of Fair Funding
Andrew Fisher tells us in his discussion on the CT rise in Inside Croydon:
‘Croydon will this year receive £93.5million in its “Settlement Funding Assessment” from central government. That is an increase on last year’s £88.7million. But Croydon received more in 2018 (£94.5million) and much more in 2016 (£114.6million). …. If Croydon was to get the same funding per resident as Lambeth, the borough would have an extra £95million to spend every year – more than enough to avoid the need for a 15 per cent Council Tax hike.’
The Decision Making Process
The Mayor is obliged to take away any observations the Council has as regards his budget on 1 March so a second meeting is a prospect to be held on 8 March. Under The Local Authorities (Standing Orders) (England) Regulations 2001 Schedule 2 the Council will need a 2/3rds majority to block or amend the Mayor’s budget at that meeting. The only way that this can happen is if Tory Councillors under pressure from their voters in Croydon South absent themselves from the meeting.
The Schedule requires submission of the budget details by 8 February which has not happened.
Perry Hypocrisy Over Transparency & Openness
Tory Mayor Perry displays a high level of contempt for transparency and openness. He is over loading the Cabinet meeting on 24 February with 786 pages of documents. including the budget for 2023/4 based on the 15% rise in Council Tax.
He also says he will make those responsible for the financial crisis accountable despite the fact he is partly responsible for the debt left Labour when the Tories lost power in May 2014.
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