A COUNCIL has been accused of using public money to print election "propaganda" after paying for a poster campaign about a cut in government funding.
The posters, on billboards in prominent locations in the town centre, feature a picture of Big Ben alongside the words: "Government is cutting its funding to you by £100 million over the next 3 Years."
It adds: "Your council is doing all it can to protect local services.
"Our services will have to change to cope with the funding cut.
"We are working hard for you, our residents."
Gavin Barwell, Conservative MP for Croydon Central, said public money "should not be used for propaganda" and called for the posters to be taken down, adding that the figure used "isn't true".
As well as a looming General Election in May, where Mr Barwell faces a battle with Labour's Sarah Jones to retain his seat, the town is also weeks away from a by-election in Selhurst on March 5, following the death of councillor Gerry Ryan.
Councils must follow strict guidelines as to what information they publish in the run up to elections.
Indeed, the press office has already told the Advertiser it is in 'purdah', a period during election campaigns where policy announcements stop so as not to influence the vote, ahead of the by-election.
Councils must also abide by a code of practice for publicity more generally.
Mr Barwell claims it is an "open and shut case" as to whether the rules have been breached.
"There's a genuine debate to be had about the funding formula and whether that treats Croydon fairly," he said.
"But to launch this campaign at this point clearly has nothing to do with changing the government's mind, because the funding settlement has just happened.
"The only reason for this timing is because there is an election coming up. It's blatantly obvious."
Responding to Mr Barwell's criticism on Twitter, Tony Newman, leader of the Labour-run council, said: "The council has a duty to inform residents that your Tory led government has chosen to cut Croydon Council's funding by 40 per cent."
@MarioCreatura the council has a duty to inform residents that your Tory led government has chosen to cut Croydon Council's funding by 40%
— Tony Newman (@CllrTony) February 12, 2015
He later added:
Tory Cuts in Croydon post 2010 = NHS crisis record no's using food banks a school place crisis @GavinBarwellMP 100m a conservative estimate
— Tony Newman (@CllrTony) February 13, 2015
Mr Barwell said he had checked the figure with the House of Commons Library.
"The truth is the Government hasn't even decided how much funding it will give to Croydon Council for the next three years," he wrote in an email to constituents.
"It has announced what is known as the Settlement Funding Assessment for 2015/16 and that involves a cut of £21 million, but it hasn't yet announced all of the other specific and special grants the council will get next year and it hasn't announced any figures for 2016/17 and 2017/18, so who knows how the council came up with the figure."
He added that the council's total expenditure had increased under the Coalition, from £577 million in 2010/11 to £615 million this year, although it has fallen by £7 million if inflation is factored in.
The council announced a series of measures to meet this year's funding cuts, including closing Purley Pool, though this decision has since been reversed.
Mr Barwell said the posters should come down.
"A Labour voter said I was just complaining but imagine how they would feel if the government bought billboard advertising in Croydon Central boasting about reducing the deficit.
"They would be would be rightly outraged that the government was trying to interfere in a marginal seat.
"It's inappropriate. If I was just a Conservative voter in Croydon, I pay my council tax for local services. I don't pay for the council to take sides in an election."
What do you make of the posters? Let us know below, on our Facebook page or on Twitter by tweeting @croydonad.
