Earlier this month, hundreds of residents stood outside Croydons Town Hall chanting, shouting and waving hastily designed banners. This was a community under enormous strain.
Having been declared bankrupt last November for the third time in two years after struggling with high debts and poor investments, Croydon Council reluctantly voted to increase council tax by a monumental 15 per cent to try to salvage the councils finances. For elected mayor Jason Perry, winning the vote was a pyrrhic victory.
As we approach the May local elections, parties across the spectrum are calling for greater devolution of powers to local councils. But none of them will acknowledge the salient fact: Britains local authorities are financially on their knee…
Read the full article at: https://www.prospectmagazine.co.uk/politics/60826/devolution-is-not-the-answer-to-local-councils-crippling-financial-problems