Finance

The Labour-run council of Croydon has a sorry record of financial mismanagement. This has lead to dramatic rises in Council Tax and the closing of the Crosfield Sheltered Workshop and the proposed closure of residential homes.

The Tories are promising to reverse these cuts without explaining how this could be afforded. If the Tories are elected, Croydon finances will be worse than ever.

Analysis of uncollected Council Tax.

• Whilst the Council Tax should be replaced, until it is, it is not fair on the vast majority of honest tax payers that some do not pay. Payment of Council Tax will be enforced.

Croydon Liberal Democrats will always be committed to getting the best value from tax-payers' money. Labour has made cut-backs, but in the wrong areas. The Tories are making irresponsible promises without costing them. The Lib Dems will make savings which will enhance life in Croydon as well as save money:

• Dumping rubbish in landfill sites costs Croydon millions in landfill taxes, as well as harming the environment. We will drastically reduce Croydon's use of landfill.

• We will develop a digitised, on-line map of Croydon. This will provide a service to the public and be used by council staff to record and alert co-workers about instances of graffiti, fly-tipping and other actionable events. This will save the council many thousands in administrative costs, as well as making our response times faster.

• Councillor's allowances will be frozen for the first 12 months, then brought into line with the average Outer London Allowance.

• Free parking for councillors and senior officers will be scrapped.

• Expenditure across all Council departments will be reviewed to eliminate waste.

Only the Liberal Democrats have an alternative to the hated Council Tax. A local income tax would not only be much fairer, it would also be a lot easier to collect: better all round. A Liberal Democrat council will send a powerful message from Croydon in favour of scrapping the Council Tax.

Axe the Tax!

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