Thousands sign petition calling on Croydon council to scrap largest tax rise in country

By Tara O’Connor, Local Democracy Reporter

Thousands of people have signed a petition against Croydon council’s proposed 15 per cent council tax increase.

This April, Croydon residents are expected to be hit with the largest council tax increase in the country.

The authority was given special permission by the Government to make the increase, 10 per cent over the usual five per cent limit allowed without going to a referendum.

The decision has not yet formally been made and proposals are set to go to cabinet on February 22.

A full decision is due to be made at full council in March when the 2023/24 budget it set.

The petition was started by Steven Downes, editor of local website Inside Croydon, and has gathered nearly 6,000 signatures calling for plans for the huge increase to be withdrawn.

He said: “Successive councils and successive governments are to blame for the current financial situation at Croydon council. The one group that is not to blame is Croydon’s residents.

“We call on the Croydon mayor to withdraw plans for a 15 per cent hike in council tax in the middle of the worst fall in living standards on record.

“And we call on the Government to give Croydon council the same funding level per person as neighbouring Lambeth.”

Backer of the petition, Yvonne Edwards, wrote: “Local residents should not have to pay for the council’s incompetence and mismanagement of funds during a cost of living crisis which is affecting all us.”

Mayor of Croydon, Jason Perry, said: “I know this is going to be difficult for people in Croydon, particularly when they face other pressures but without the proposed increase, the council would need to make a further £20m of additional cuts this year, putting vital services to vulnerable residents at risk.”

Pictured top: Bernard Weatherill House, Croydon council offices, Fell Road (Picture: Tara O’Connor)