This budget is challenging, none of us like voting for a 15% Council tax increase. However the Mayor has set out his key priorities in the Mayors business plan.
Firstly, we need to sort out the financial mess left by the previous Labour administration. This budget represents the first steps in creating a financially sustainable Council that is fit for the future.
This budget also includes a package of support that will help residents that are most in need. The £33m Council Tax support scheme, the new £2million hardship fund alongside an additional £6 million from the Governments household support fund, will provide a safety net for those households that need support.
In my own portfolio this budget means taking tough decisions such as ceasing the community fund when it comes to its natural end in March this year. But in taking this decision the Mayor and I have held a number of meetings with the groups that will be impacted and listened to their concerns and solutions for the way forward.
Secondly, We have made it clear that we want to reset the relationship we have with the Voluntary, Community and Faith Sector. Working in partnership to codesign services in the future. We also want to make sure that the £20m the Council spends with the sector per annum gets to more local groups. So we are offering advice and support on how to access other funding sources and where we can, other routes of support such as potential community asset transfers of Council buildings and support in writing funding bids.
We have also updated the Council’s Voluntary and Community Sector website to give more up to date information on potential Government funding streams and other funding streams from foundations, trusts and businesses that wish to invest in Croydon.
Thirdly, this budget starts showing the seeds of this new approach to partnership working. The Borough of Culture is bringing £5m of investment into the Borough from the GLA, Arts Council, National Lottery and others. We are working in partnership with the Lawn Tennis Association, Football Foundation and Surrey Cricket to lever investment to upgrade our sports pitches and facilities across the Borough.
The truth is that the financial legacy of the past administration means that we will need to be a smaller council which focuses on statutory services in the future. However, by being open and honest about the tough decisions ahead and by forming creative partnerships with friends in the voluntary, statutory and business sectors Croydon can look forward to a bright future.
