THE Government was sent a clear message this week that allowing the council more powers to spend local taxes locally in Croydon will help cement the town's regeneration.
Politicians from both major parties and business leaders descended on Parliament to hammer home the argument ahead of the Chancellor of the Exchequer's autumn statement being issued on Wednesday.
In a show of political unity to George Osborne, Steve Reed, Labour MP for Croydon North and Gavin Barwell, Conservative MP for Croydon Central, joined council leader Tony Newman in a lobbying effort aimed to demonstrate the strength of local feeling.
The hope is that Mr Osborne will look favourably on the proposals for devolution of powers and open the door for the change.
The council, with full backing on Wednesday from existing businesses and investors including Westfield/Hammerson, wants to able to retain business rates raised from new building programmes in the town centre and hang on to stamp duty on new homes delivered in the centre.
In addition, it wants to be able to keep the cash raised from the New Home Bonus, which is raised on every new home built but, at present, has to go through the London Local Enterprise Partnership before Croydon can bid for a share of its own money.
The council believes £100 million could be raised from stamp duty over the next 20 years, £30 million a year by 2031 from retaining business and a further £30 million a year from the New Home Bonus.
Its intention is to use the money to invest in infrastructure improvements, including new schools and health services, needed to support major developments, speeding up the time in which the regeneration projects can be delivered.
Cllr Newman, describing the regeneration as a "once in a generation opportunity" said: "We are on the cusp of delivering a true comeback.
"People are passionate about delivering for Croydon and we are saying give us a little more power and we will go out and deliver."
Mr Reed added: "People have been frustrated to see their town in a long, slow decline.
"They want to see change and we now have the greatest opportunity for growth in the whole of the south east of England."
He said the council's devolution proposals were bold but the will was there to make the plan succeed.
Mr Reed added: "All parties want to see this programme of regeneration working for Croydon."
Mr Barwell agreed that people wanted to see the decline in Croydon turned around.
He said: "For years we have not built enough houses.
"The population is growing and if we do not build homes, either prices are going to go through the roof or more and more people are going to live in overcrowded conditions.
"The challenge is about how we are going to build those houses."
Mr Barwell said greater devolution of powers would help the council provide the infrastructure to support those necessary developments.
