Croydon residents get their say

Croydon might not be the first place to inspire thoughts of cutting-edge social initiative but today it becomes the first London borough to embark on a novel experiment in local democracy.

The ways of voting - by post, phone or internet - at first sight seem more difficult to choose between than the issue itself. Surely, one might assume, it is a blindingly obvious choice: after all, why vote to pay more council tax when you can vote to pay less?

However, with the carrot of less money going to the council's coffers comes the stick of less cash being made available for services that will improve the quality of life for the people of Croydon.

If Croydon votes for a two per cent increase, in real terms it will pay less this year than last. The rub is that services in Croydon will not receive any extra funding.

If the 3.5 per cent increase wins the day, being broadly in line with the rate of inflation and allowing the council to spend £1.4 million more than last year on a new package of services - including a borough-wide recycling plan, extra library times and rubbish collection services.

However, if the people of Croydon vote to pay an extra five per cent council tax, they will get all that and more: an extra £900,000 will be spent on crime reduction measures and some other initiatives.

Although the majority of people in Croydon are dismissive or derisive about the whole idea, some have more considered opinions.

Ray Johnson, 51, who works for Woolworth's, says: "It's a brilliant idea because we've got a say in how much money we give the council to spend on services. It's a freedom: a lot of people have to fight for their democratic rights and we are being given them."

Michelle Dean, who is married with two children, has the opposite view, saying: "It's all a rip-off. Our council tax went up by quite a lot last year and I haven't seen any improvement in the services around Addiscombe, where I live. I've voted for the minimum possible increase in the tax."

Apart from the result, which will be announced by 5pm next Monday, the referendum will be a good indicator of public support in council policy.

A council spokesman says: "We've got a considerable track record in this council of involving the public in council business . . . if we get the message that the public have welcomed this referendum, the council will consider doing it again."