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Croydon’s Budget 2023/2024 – Have Your Say
Between 1 December and 8 January, Croydon Council are asking for your views on our budget plans.
You can read an overview of the council’s financial situation and their proposals below, and find more detail on the budget plans in the medium term financial strategy report.
Croydon Council’s budget
Croydon is home to 390,800 people – more than any other borough in London – and the council spends around £300m a year providing them with a huge range of essential services.
Most of the council’s money is spent on protecting vulnerable children and adults, with the rest on other services like collecting the bins, keeping the streets clean, libraries, parks and leisure centres.
Each year the Council set a budget to decide how much we’re able to spend on services for Croydon residents and businesses for the next financial year.
The council’s financial situation
Croydon Council has been facing serious financial challenges.
Last month, the council said it would be asking the government for a new package of support because without extra help, it would be unable to set a balanced budget in 2023/24 or for the next four years, which it has to do by law.
To balance its budget, the council would need to reduce its spending by £130m next financial year alone – which is just not realistic out of a budget of £300m.
The council has published a Section 114 notice and said its financial situation is unsustainable, and that it needs a new approach from the government.
What happens now?
Firstly, it is important to remember that Croydon’s financial challenges will not prevent the council delivering vital services – the council will still deliver the everyday services that residents depend on and it is required to do this by law.
The council is taking this action and asking the government for help now, to protect local services in the future.
While we wait for the government’s response, the council is doing all it can to tackle its financial problems including:
- transforming the council – so it does less, and focuses on delivering essential services well, becoming a smaller, more efficient council
- selling buildings and land
- making savings – this means stopping delivering some non-essential services and changing the way it delivers others.
We may also need to increase council tax and the council will take a decision on that as part of the budget for next year.
It is important to remember that even if we do all these things, we will still need the government’s help and that is why we have asked them for a package of support.
Tell us your views
It is really important to us to hear your views on our budget plans, any ideas you might have, or suggestions for how we could do things differently. You can read the council’s budget proposals here and take our short survey.
For more information, see the Croydon Council Website.
Power for People – December 2022 Update
Exciting news! – The Government’s Energy Bill has been revived and is now back in the House of Lords.
This means that the amendments that we had tabled to it, intended to unlock community energy across the UK, are back as well.
The amendments proposed would provide small-scale renewable energy generators with a guaranteed price for their electricity and allow them to sell that electricity locally. You can read more about them on our blog by clicking here.
Power for People have devised two amendments to the Government’s Energy Bill for consideration at Committee Stage (which commenced on 5th September). They take forward the ideas of the Local Electricity Bill, backed by 311 MPs of all major parties.
The amendments were tabled by Baroness Bennett of Manor Castle (Green) alongside Baroness Boycott (Crossbench), Lord Teverson (Liberal Democrat) and Baroness Young of Old Scone (Labour). Combined we believe they would go a long way in realising community energy’s huge potential.
We encourage Peers to please vote in favour.
MHA Communities – Warm Wednesdays in December
We started a new service at West Croydon Methodist Church to bring a new initiative in the heart of Croydon.
During this challenging time of the year, it is important to broaden up our support to older people and to offer a safe space for conversation. We also invite local organisations to join us. In fact, Croydon Community Energy will join our December sessions to advice older people on bills and the current challenges we are all facing.
In January, we will be joined by Croydon Healthy Homes partnership, an energy advice service to advise people on bills.
We have planned a great surprise for the December sessions with music and lots of food. Come and celebrate Christmas with us and connect with new and old friends.
Trading Standards – Beware of Dangerous Christmas Lights Sold Online
Which? Consumer magazine have published a report on unsafe Christmas Lights purchased from popular online retailers:
“Buying affordable Christmas lights might feel like a prudent financial move at such an expensive time of year. But 10 of the 12 sets of Christmas lights we bought from AliExpress, Amazon, eBay and Wish failed to meet the requirements of the Electrical Equipment (Safety) Regulations in our tests and legally shouldn’t be sold in the UK.
Two sets of lights in particular would be dangerous for anyone using them. And one set of lights bought from a seller on Wish was so badly made that it posed an electric shock risk to anyone using it and was a fire hazard.
Another bought through AliExpress presented an electric shock risk to users based on its very poor build quality. And eight further sets of lights, including two each from Amazon and eBay, failed basic compliance checks, making it illegal to sell them in the UK.
Only two sets of lights, one bought from Amazon and one from eBay, passed all of our tests and are legal to be sold and safe to use.”
To continue reading the article, please follow the link below which identifies the items mentioned:
Beware illegal Christmas lights sold at AliExpress, Amazon, eBay and Wish – Which?
How to know if your Christmas lights are dangerous
- Check your lights aren’t damaged when unpacking your decorations.
- Look for things like loose wires, smashed bulbs or a broken control box.
- If your lights need replacement bulbs, make sure you use the same type when you replace them.
- Switch your lights off when you go out and when you go to bed.
- Keep your lights away from anything that can burn easily.
- If your lights look like they’ve seen better days, recycle them and buy a new set from an online or high street retailer you trust.
Please remember to report any scam to Action Fraud 0300 123 2040.
If you have actually been the victim of a trader or scam such as the above and need help, or you require consumer advice, please call the Citizens Advice Consumer Helpline 0808 223 1133