IT may not quite be flogging the family silver but Croydon Council is hoping plans to sell an historic car number plate will turn into a nice little earner.
And if things go the way council leader, Tony Newman dreams about, it could go for £100,000 and even gain celebrity status, hopefully with the Beckhams.
Soon to go up for grabs is the number plate 1VB, which at present adorns the deputy mayor of Croydon, Cllr Patricia Hay-Justice's official car.
The lease is expiring on the BMW and as part of this year's council cost-cutting exercise the council will be asked not to renew it when this year's budget comes up for approval.
The number plate, however, is owned by council and the idea is to offer it to the highest bidder.
Councillor Newman said: "It would have been nice if David Beckham could have bought the number plate for Victoria in time for Valentine's Day but I think we have missed out on that this year. Perhaps he will still think about it for next year.
"I have heard the number could be worth £100,000, so I am sure if anyone wants to offer that we would be pleased to take it up."
1VB is one of three original number plates snatched up by the old County Borough of Croydon council back in the 1930s when Croydon became a car registration authority, a power which ended when it became a London borough.
1BY is now used on the Mayor's official car and no-one at the town hall seems to have any idea what happened to the third, 1OY.
Heritage
The news of the sale has not gone down well with Conservative opposition deputy leader, Councillor Dudley Mead who said the sale would not make much of a dent in improving finances but did mean part of Croydon's heritage would probably disappear out of the borough.
He said: "Labour has only been in control of the council for nine months and they are already selling off our assets."
He and other members may also not be too pleased with another money-saving venture in the budget – stopping supplying them with sandwiches and other refreshments before full council, cabinet and other committee meetings.
Savings, according to Cllr Newman, could run into tens of thousands of pounds a year.
Pre-meeting refreshments have been something of a tradition in Croydon and were introduced to provide sustenance for members who may have to turn up for early evening meetings without having eaten beforehand.
Cllr Newman said council staff seemed to have no problem coping, so it was only fair members were asked to do the same.
He said: "At a time when staff are effectively being asked to take a pay cut again this year, it is right that everyone is seen to be having a share in the cutbacks."
Allowances for members have already been frozen this year.
