I would firstly like to thank everyone who organised this petition and everyone who has signed it, along with residents who have contacted me and other councillors with their views on the proposed budget. I completely understand that a council tax increase of this size is unwelcome.
As my colleagues on this side of the chamber will know, I am a Conservative who believes in low taxes. I believe that individuals know best how to spend their own money, and this is certainly true in Croydon where Labour politicians have been all too happy to squander millions of pounds of taxpayers money.
If I felt there was any other realistic option to help solve Croydon’s finances, I would be here today advocating for that. But having seen the figures and legacy issues that we have been left to solve by Labour, I have sadly concluded that if we are to get Croydon back on track and onto a more sustainable footing, there is no alternative to this 15% council tax increase - this is a last resort, not a first resort.
If we don't pass this budget, then we have to cut another £20 million. That's dangerous levels of cuts, that would result in vulnerable people being harmed. Cuts to health and social care budgets. Cuts to schools and youth services. I can't do that in good conscience, and I know that those in the public gallery also understand that.
Every councillor, and every political party represented in Croydon, had the opportunity to submit an alternative budget or a budget amendment. No-one has managed to find a way to balance our budget, as we legally must, without this council tax increase.
I do however want to clarify the debt figures that are referenced in the petition, which I think is important for residents who are here today watching and listening to this debate. When we left office, debt was £720m. Croydon Labour doubled it. It is this doubling of debt, this toxic legacy, that has brought this borough to bankruptcy three times now.
While there is cross-party support that Croydon deserves a better funding settlement in London, it is also not the cause of our issues or the council tax increase. We receive more money than most outer London boroughs – the 8th highest. If a lack of government funding was the reason for our troubles, we would see many other London boroughs in the same s114 position – but they are not. And that is because our problems are a result of what Croydon Labour did to our finances over their 8 years in power.
I recognise this increase will be difficult for many Croydon residents. The toxic legacy left by Labour means we have no easy options. Residents were not responsible for the financial mess, Labour were. But we cannot cut or borrow more, and so sadly it will fall on all of us to share some of the burden of getting Croydon back on track.
