Petition Against Croydon’s 15% Council Tax Rise

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Plans to increase council tax in Croydon by 15% have been approved by the government.

Under current rules, town halls can only increase council tax by 4.99 per cent without a referendum, including a 2 per cent levy to pay for adult social care. But Croydon Council was on Tuesday (7 Feb) given special permission by the government to increase the charge by a “staggering” 15 per cent – two times more than most other local authorities.

The council tax increase will see the average Croydon household pay out about £235 more per year. It means Band D homes will pay over £2,230 a year for their total council tax bill.

Croydon Council sought permission to impose the rise without a referendum after declaring itself bankrupt for the second time in three years in November.

Last November, Croydon council was forced to issue a Section 114 notice after becoming insolvent for a third time – admitting it couldn’t balance its budget for 2023/24. It has also been obliged to commit to £130million spending cuts in the next financial year.

Funding for Croydon Council from central government has been cut dramatically over the past 13 years, and Croydon receives far less funding per person than neighbouring Lambeth.

Council tax is due to rise for all Londoners as of 1 April when the Mayor of London will add £38.55 on yearly council tax bills,

It means the typical household will pay just over £434 to the Greater London Authority, mainly for transport, policing and the fire brigade, as well as the running of City Hall.

A petition created by Steven Downes, Editor of Inside Croydon, will call on the Croydon Mayor to withdraw plans for a 15% hike in Council Tax in the middle of the worst fall in living standards on record.

You can sign the petition against a 15% Council Tax Rise by clicking here.

You can also sign the UK Government Petition by clicking here.

Turkey and Syria Earthquake – How to Donate

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Two powerful earthquakes have struck Turkey and Syria in the space of 12 hours.

The first earthquake measuring 7.8 magnitude hit south-eastern Turkey, near the Syrian border and the second one struck four kilometres outside Ekinozu in central Turkey.

Over 5,000 people have died so far in Turkey and Syria, and more than 20,000 people have been injured and displaced.

Major buildings have collapsed and the numbers are expected to rise as the search for survivors continues in both countries.

Right now, rescuers are racing to save people trapped beneath the rubble, and get shelter and support to those who have lost their homes or are afraid to return inside.

Islamic Relief teams are on the ground right now responding to the disaster in both Türkiye (Turkey) and Syria.

Their teams are providing emergency medical assistance, shelter and cash grants to enable those worst affected to meet their immediate needs. In Syria, their priorities will be providing health and medical supplies to hospitals and clinics, as well as blankets and tents for those made homeless by the quake.

You can donate to Islamic Relief’s Türkiye Syria Earthquake Appeal on their website.

The British Red Cross, part of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement, is raising funds which will go to its sister charity the Turkish Red Crescent (TRC).

The Turkish Red Crescent has launched a crisis response operation and mobilised teams in more than 10 regions across the country, while the Syrian Arab Red Crescent is delivering assistance and support to those in need in the regions of Hama, Aleppo and Lattakia.

Together, the British Red Cross and Turkish Red Crescent are  providing emergency first aid and evacuating people to safety.

You can donate to the British Red Cross Turkey-Syria Earthquake Appeal on their website.

Oxfam has launched an appeal to support people affected by this disaster.

Their teams in Türkiye (Turkey) and Syria are working with partner organisations to assess the types of immediate and longer-term support that are needed to help people in the aftermath of Monday’s devastating earthquakes.

The emergency response is expected to include water and sanitation, shelter and food support as well as longer-term rehabilitation and reconstruction.

Any donation, big or small, matters right now.

You can donate to the Oxfam Turkey and Syria Earthquake Appeal on their website.

The DEC are also launching an emergency Turkey-Syria Earthquake Appeal.

Immediate priorities are medical treatment for the injured, shelter for those who have lost their homes, heating in safe spaces, blankets, warm clothes, and ensuring people have food and clean water.

You can donate to the DEC Turkey-Syria Earthquake Appeal on their website.

ActionAid will be responding with shelter, food, medical aid, warm clothing, heaters and cash for those who have lost their homes and are out on the streets.

 

You can donate to the ActionAid Turkey-Syria Earthquake Appeal on their website.

Save The Children’s teams are on the ground in the region and ready to respond.

Homes, buildings and essential infrastructure have been destroyed and children will need urgent support to access food, shelter and warm clothing.

In any crisis, we know that children are always the most at risk. The Children’s Emergency Fund enables Save The Children to respond to crises around the world, whether from conflict, climate change or natural disaster.

You can donate to the Save the Children’s Emergency Fund on their website.

Planning Report – February 2023

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To find out the latest news on what is being planned in your local area, check out our latest Planning Report with up-to-date information on Planning Applications including developments in:

  • Addiscombe Road
  • The Glade
  • Hanbury Mews
  • Orchard Avenue
  • Orchard Rise
  • Orchard Way
  • Shirley Avenue
  • Woodmere Avenue and Woodmere Gardens.

With our contributions to community engagement with the production of the new Croydon Local Plan.

Also, take a look at the MORA Planning App, which gives you an easy way to track all the current and recent planning applications within the MORA area. It’s simple to use and free for you to access.

ULEZ Expansion – Scrappage Scheme Information

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The £110 million fund has been designed to support Londoners on certain lower incomes, disabled Londoners, London-based charities, sole traders and business with 10 or fewer employees prepare for the expansion of Ultra Low Emission Zone London-wide on 29 August this year. Successful applicants will receive funding to scrap or retrofit their old, polluting vehicle.

To accompany the scrappage scheme, the Mayor and TfL are also announcing a range of ULEZ support offers from businesses for all Londoners, including additional exclusive offers for successful applicants of the scrappage scheme. This will enable Londoners to benefit from discounts and promotions on subscriptions, rentals and purchases of bicycles, e-bikes, cargo bikes, cars and vans.

It follows the Mayor’s decision to expand the ULEZ London-wide from August. Already around 85 per cent of vehicles seen driving in outer London meet the standards, meaning the majority of drivers will not need to pay. The new scrappage scheme and grace periods will help drivers of the remaining non-compliant vehicles prepare.

Londoners receiving certain means-tested benefits and non-means-tested disability benefits can apply for cash grants of up to £2,000 to scrap their non-compliant cars or motorcycles. As a new feature, successful applicants can also choose to receive a higher value package comprised of up to two free annual bus and tram passes and a lower cash grant.

Disabled people who want to scrap or retrofit a non-compliant wheelchair accessible vehicle will be able to apply for grants of £5,000 to reflect the higher cost of these vehicles. Disabled people can also apply for a nominated driver if they do not drive themselves. The nominated driver does not need to live at the same address as the applicant.

Charities, sole traders and business with 10 or fewer employees registered in London can apply to scrap a van (£5,000 grant) or a minibus (£7,000 grant), retrofit certain vans or minibuses (£5,000 grant) or scrap and replace a van or minibus with a fully electric vehicle (£7,500 or £9,500 grant respectively).

In addition to the scrappage scheme, further support will be provided for disabled people, through new and extended grace periods. The two new grace periods provide exemptions until October 2027 for recipients of certain disability benefits (or their nominated driver) and for all wheelchair accessible vehicles and some vehicles with other adaptations. The grace periods are available to all eligible people regardless of whether they live in London, and they will apply to the current ULEZ zone as well once approved.

The new disabled benefits grace period means that anyone who receives benefits that automatically make them eligible for a blue badge will also qualify for the new grace period. More Londoners currently claim benefits that would make them eligible for this grace period than currently hold a blue badge.

For further information, click here.