The lowest council tax rise in the borough’s history was passed by Croydon Council last night, during a meeting which was almost abandoned due to councillors interrupting one another.

Mayor Margaret Mead threatened to adjourn the meeting if councillors continued their behaviour, which included talking among themselves and shouting over opposition speakers.

The council passed the 0.8 per cent council tax rise by 38 votes to 25, with Independent Conservative councillors Brian Cakebread and Enley Taylor joining the Labour ‘no’ votes.

More than £17m of spending will be cut from next year’s budget, which will see a £150m investment on capital projects such as repairing the roads and providing for the surge in primary school applications.

A total of £10m has also been set aside to modernise the dilapidated Fairfield Halls, which council leader Mike Fisher described as “the jewel in Croydon’s crown”.

Coun Fisher said the low rise had been made possible because of “prudent and sensible” administration by the ruling Conservative group.

But Labour leader Tony Newman attacked the Tories’ decision to borrow £145m for a new council headquarters, promising to put a stop to the plans if his party gain control in the May elections.

He offered an ‘alternative budget’ to the council containing a zero per cent council tax rise and £130 rebate to every pensioner in the borough, which Coun Fisher described as being written in “invisible ink”.

The full budget for 2010/11 can be viewed at croydon.gov.uk/democracy/dande/minutes/council/2010