Issue - meetings

This report presents the Executive Mayor’s Business Plan 2022-26 for adoption. This will be the Council’s core strategic document setting out its objectives and priorities for the next four years.

It reflects the Executive Mayor’s manifesto pledges and priorities, as set out in a report to Cabinet in June 2022. It also includes actions to strengthen governance and management systems, achieve financial and operational sustainability and complete the transformation of the Council.

The Executive Mayor in Cabinet is recommended to:

1.1  Recommend to Council the adoption of the Mayor’s Business Plan 2022-26.

1.2  Note that a detailed implementation plan and performance framework will be brought to a future meeting of Cabinet.

1.3  Note the arrangements to provide assurance of the implementation of the Plan.

Cabinet considered a report, which presented the Executive Mayor’s Business Plan 2022-26 for adoption.  It was reported that this would be the Council’s core strategic document setting out its objectives and priorities for the next four years and that it reflected the Executive Mayor’s manifesto pledges and priorities, as set out in a report to Cabinet in June 2022.

It was further reported that the report included actions to strengthen governance and management systems, achieve financial and operational sustainability and complete the transformation of the Council, as well as setting out five outcomes for the Council to achieve, as well as the priority aims, and high-level actions required to make them a reality.

It was noted that a detailed delivery plan and performance framework would be developed and presented at a future meeting of the Cabinet.

The Executive Mayor then invited each Cabinet Member to talk through their respective portfolios.

Councillor Jason Cummings (Cabinet Member for Finance) said that Croydon was as near as it could be to the worst position it could be in, financially and that the Council did not have the money for additional spending. 

Councillor Ola Kolade (Cabinet Member for Community Safety) said that this was his top priority and he hoped that, moving forward, Croydon would be a safe place to live by tackling crime, youth violence, counter terrorism and violence against women and girls.  To do this, he said, required a more targeted, joined-up approach and crackdown on antisocial behaviour.

Councillor Andy Stranack (Cabinet Member for Communities and Culture) spoke on securing partnerships with the Borough’s voluntary sector and urged the transfer of underused Council assets to the voluntary sector.

Councillor Stranack said that advice and support areas of the Council’s website should be upgraded and those interested should use the Borough of Culture to bring investment into the town, which, he said, had already attracted millions of pounds into the Borough.

Councillor Yvette Hopley (Cabinet Member for Health and Adult Social Care) was pleased to see Croydon as a cleaner, healthier place to live and asked that the Council ensure that finances were directed to those who needed it most.

Councillor Maria Gatland (Cabinet Member for Children and Young People) was pleased to see an emphasis on Children and Young People and how it wanted to celebrate their achievements and help to fulfil their ambitions.  She said that Children and Young People services had faced a lot of difficulties during COVID and the Council was looking to developing effective education working relationships and how it could improve the services for youths in Croydon. 

Councillor Lynne Hale (Deputy (Statutory) Executive Mayor and Cabinet Member for Homes) said that it was crucial for the Council to acknowledge how hard staff were working in its Housing Department.  She said that tenants expected dry and safe homes and the Council would ensure that residents were at the heart of housing decisions and were treated with respect.

The Executive Mayor and Councillor Cummings responded to questions by the  ...  view the full minutes text for item 81