After a two-year council tax freeze, bills
in Croydon are expected to rise by 1.2% to help protect services that matter
most to local residents.
The budget that was agreed last night, comes as Croydon contends
with a third consecutive year of cuts in government funding, which has taken
£30m away from the borough. It has also seen an increase in demand on its
services.
Leader of the Council, Cllr Mike Fisher called on the government at
last night’s Council meeting to address the funding inequalities. Croydon has
the largest population of all the London boroughs yet receives less grant per
head than neighbouring authorities who have less need than Croydon.
Cllr Fisher said: “If Croydon received neighbouring Lambeth’s
government allocation we would have millions extra to invest and we would be
able to cut council tax by more than 90%. Croydon's diversity and deprivation
levels are now greater than Lambeth's yet the archaic formula which divides up
resources doesn't recognise this and needs to be changed urgently.”
Residents have told us that education and improving schools, support
for special needs in the borough, protecting the vulnerable, improving roads
and parks, leisure facilities, building affordable homes and reducing crime are
the services that Croydon should continue to prioritise and safeguard, which is
what we are determined to do.
The proposed council tax bands for 2013 and 2014 are:
Band A £982.93 An increase of £11.40 per year or 23p per week
Band B £1,146.75 An increase of £13.66 per year or 26p per week
Band C £1,310.55 An increase of £15.60 per year or 30p per week
Band D £1,474.39 An increase of £17.56 per year or 34p per week
Band E £1,802.02 An increase of £21.45 per year or 41p per week
Band F £2,129.67 An increase of £25.36 per year or 49p per week
Band G £2,457.31 An increase of £29.25 per year or 56p per week
Band H £2,948.78 An increase of £35.11 per year or 68p per week
