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Agenda and minutes

Venue: Council Chamber, Town Hall, Katharine Street, Croydon CR0 1NX. View directions

Contact: James Haywood
020 8726 6000 x63319  Email: james.haywood@croydon.gov.uk

Items
No. Item

1/18

Minutes of the Previous Meeting pdf icon PDF 123 KB

To approve the minutes of the meeting held on 4 December 2017 as an accurate record.

 

Minutes:

The minutes of the meeting held on 4 December 2017 were agreed as an accurate record.

 

2/18

Disclosure of Interests

In accordance with the Council’s Code of Conduct and the statutory provisions of the Localism Act, Members and co-opted Members of the Council are reminded that it is a requirement to register disclosable pecuniary interests (DPIs) and gifts and hospitality to the value of which exceeds £50 or multiple gifts and/or instances of hospitality with a cumulative value of £50 or more when received from a single donor within a rolling twelve month period. In addition, Members and co-opted Members are reminded that unless their disclosable pecuniary interest is registered on the register of interests or is the subject of a pending notification to the Monitoring Officer, they are required to disclose those disclosable pecuniary interests at the meeting. This should be done by completing the Disclosure of Interest form and handing it to the Democratic Services representative at the start of the meeting. The Chair will then invite Members to make their disclosure orally at the commencement of Agenda item 3. Completed disclosure forms will be provided to the Monitoring Officer for inclusion on the Register of Members’ Interests.

 

Minutes:

There were none.

 

3/18

Urgent Business (if any) pdf icon PDF 53 KB

To consider one item of urgent business related to in-year appointments with the attached report.

Minutes:

The Mayor agreed to receive one item of urgent business, which related to a number of appointments including the election of a new Chair to the Health and Wellbeing Board.

 

Councillor Newman moved, and Councillor Butler seconded, the recommendations as stated in the report:

 

1.1       To note the Leader’s appointment of Councillor Manju Shahul-Hameed    to the role of Cabinet Member for Economy and Jobs with effect from 1     February 2018;

 

1.2       To note the appointment of Councillor Mark Watson to the role of Deputy Cabinet Member for Culture, Leisure and Sport with effect from 1 February 2018;

 

1.3       To note the appointment of Councillor Maggie Mansell to the Health and Wellbeing Board with effect from 1 February 2018; and

 

1.4       To appoint Councillor Maggie Mansell as Chair of the Health and Wellbeing Board with effect from 1 February 2018 for the remainder of the 2017/18 Municipal Year.

 

The motion was put to the vote and was carried unanimously.

4/18

Announcements

To receive Announcements, if any, from the Mayor, the Leader, Head of Paid Service and Returning Officer.

Minutes:

The Mayor announced upcoming fundraising events for the Mayor’s Charities which included:

·         Fish and Chip lunch at McDermott’s on 6 February 2018

·         Love Not Hate event on 24 February 2018

·         Samaritans dinner on 10 March 2018

 

 

The Leader announced that the draft settlement for funding for Unaccompanied Asylum Seeking Children (UASCs) was a poor offer for Croydon from central government; Croydon was responsible for 10% of UASCs in the country yet the proposal was for only 2% of the funding for the borough.

5/18

Croydon Question Time pdf icon PDF 66 KB

a)         Public Questions (30 minutes) 

 

To receive questions from the public gallery and submitted questions by residents in advance of the meeting.

 

 

b)         Leader and Cabinet Questions (105 minutes)

 

            To receive questions from Councillors.

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The Mayor began the item with questions from members of the public.

 

Tony Pearson asked for details on the long term plans for Fishers Farm recycling centre. Councillor Collins responded that the centre was important for the area and had benefited from recent investment. There would be a recycling centre in New Addington for the foreseeable future.

 

Tony Pearson asked a supplementary question over concerns raised in the area by Councillor Hall. Councillor Collins responded that Councillor Hall had reported an issue and local officers had dealt with the matter quickly. There were new big belly bins deployed in the area and new cleaning vehicles were being utilised. There were also plans for an education programme in the ward similar to the pilot launched in Thornton Heath.

 

Michael O’Dwyer asked whether a Controlled Parking Zone (CPZ) would be imposed in three roads in the Addiscombe ward. Councillor King responded that the formal consultation had not yet been completed, but when it had been, the representations would be published and an officer report would be taken to the Traffic Management Advisory Committee (TMAC).

 

Michael O’Dwyer asked a supplementary question related to a Labour commitment that no CPZs would be imposed on roads where residents voted against it. Councillor King responded that the approach taken had been approved at TMAC by Members of both parties.

 

Ola Kolade asked when the railings on Norwood Grove Park would be repainted. Councillor Godfrey welcomed residents raising such concerns and would add the issue onto the work programme for officers.

 

Ola Kolade asked a supplementary question as to a specific date and time such works would be completed. Councillor Godfrey responded that the works would be undertaken as soon as possible, but the significant cuts in government funding provided less resource for such works.

 

Eunice O’Dame asked why the new street lights on Stroud Green Lane were more dimly lit than the old lights.  Councillor King responded that all street lights in the borough had been replaced as part of a borough wide campaign that had been completed in 2017. In response to the issue raised, the service manager had been asked to accompany ward Councillors in the area on a walk around to investigate the concerns.

 

Eunice O’Dame asked a supplementary question on whether a risk assessment was carried out prior to the installations at Stroud Green Road. Councillor King responded that all lights installed met the appropriate light standards and the new lanterns used were of a higher wattage than the old ones.

 

Joseph Lee asked why there had been delays in updating residents on the works being undertaken at the Blackhorse Lane bridge.  Councillor King responded that there had been regular dialogue with residents and local businesses throughout the first phase of the works. Prior to the next phase of works, a letter was due to be circulated to all residents and businesses providing information on the next steps.

 

Joseph Lee asked a supplementary question as to whether a commitment could be made  ...  view the full minutes text for item 5/18

6/18

Member Petitions pdf icon PDF 85 KB

To receive notice of petitions presented by Members on behalf of local residents.

Minutes:

Councillor Kabir introduced the petition which read:

 

“We, the undersigned, call on JD Wetherspoon plc to keep the Flora Sandes open.”

 

Councillor Watson responded that the Council’s regeneration team had held discussions with JD Weatherspoon regarding the Flora Sandes, and Councillor Butler had written to them directly. Unfortunately the closing of the pub appeared to be a nationwide commercial policy, with other pubs across the country earmarked for closure. There was a commitment that the Council would do what it could, but ultimately it would be a decision for JD Weatherspoon to make.

 

 

Councillor Tim Pollard introduced the petition which read:

 

“We the undersigned petition Croydon Council / Parking Design to extend double yellow lines at the junction of Mitchley View and Mitchley Hill Sanderstead, to reduce the dangers of the blind spot created solely by the parked vehicles.”

 

Councillor King responded that a similar request had been made in the summer of 2017 and had been investigated by officers. Officers were satisfied that the issue of sight lines was sufficiently dealt with by the existing double yellow lines on the road. It was also hoped that the introduction of 20mph speed limits on the road would encourage safer driving. A commitment was made to look at the issue again in six months’ time.

 

7/18

Council Debate Motions

To debate any Motions submitted in accordance with Council Procedure Rules.

Minutes:

The Mayor began the item with the first debate motion, submitted by the majority party, which read as follows:

 

“This council commends the borough's library staff for their hard work and dedication in difficult times, as Carillion fell apart. This council believes that the decision by the previous administration to privatise the library service in Croydon was a catastrophic one and welcomes the decision of this administration to bring the service back in house.”

 

Councillor Godfrey, moving the motion, stated that the Council had taken swift action on the borough’s libraries after the liquidation of Carillion, which had marked the end of a negative experience with privatisation. It was stated that the privatisation of Croydon’s libraries was an example of the previous administration’s regressive policies towards promoting culture in Croydon. The key task now was to rebuild the libraries, which had been allowed to run down under Carillion. The rebuilding of the South Norwood library was a showcase of how every library in Croydon should be. Libraries played a crucial role in residents’ lives and served the needs of the community – particularly young people, and it was stated that it was wrong that Croydon had the largest youth population in London but no full-time youth library worker post. The Council would make libraries vibrant spaces and encourage staff forums to support this.

 

Councillor Avis seconded the motion and reserved her right to speak.

 

Councillor Helen Pollard stated that libraries were a great resource for residents and provided access to services and benefits, as well providing a space for community cohesion and learning support. The context for the outsourcing of services to Carillion, it was stated, was the economic mismanagement of the Labour government which required the Council to look at providing the service in a more affordable way. The process went through a proper tendering process and the outcome was reducing the library costs to the Council whilst increasing the number of users in the borough. Since the new administration had come to power in 2014 there had been little change in the Council’s library policy – and it was claimed little had been done to improve Library services in that time, and thus the motion was just opportunistic politics.  

 

Councillor Tim Pollard stated that when the tendering process was being undertaken for library services, Carillion were a strong company and no one could know they would eventually collapse. Furthermore, the previous Labour government had tendered billions of pounds worth of government contracts to Carillion through the Private Finance Initiative (PFI). It was stated that the previous Labour administration had a history of outsourced services collapsing due to liquidation of the contractors.

 

Councillor Avis, seconding the motion, stated that the previous administration had, at the beginning of austerity measures in 2010, immediately announced the closure of six libraries in Croydon. In response, Croydon residents showed their appreciation for libraries by protesting, petitioning and holding public meetings. This was followed by cuts to opening hours for existing libraries, and then  ...  view the full minutes text for item 7/18

8/18

Recommendations of Cabinet or Committee referred to Council for decision pdf icon PDF 77 KB

To consider the recommendations made by Cabinet, Licensing Committee and the General Purposes and Audit Committee (GPAC) since the last ordinary Council Meeting relating to the following matters: 

 

a)    Licensing Committee - Licensing Policy Statement

b)    Cabinet - School Admissions

c)    GPAC - In-Year Appointments

Additional documents:

Minutes:

At the beginning of the item Councillor Pelling made a disclosure of a pecuniary interest in the third decision to be considered and withdrew from further participation in the meeting.

 

The Mayor moved to the first recommendation under paragraph 1.1 of the report, which was the adoption of the Licensing Policy Statement as recommended by the Licensing Committee.

 

The motion was moved by Councillor Avis and seconded by Councillor Hay-Justice.

 

The motion was put to the vote and carried unanimously.

 

Council therefore RESOLVED to adopt the Licensing Policy under the Licensing Act 2003 as set out at Appendix 1 to the report.

 

 

The Mayor moved to the second recommendation under paragraph 2.1 of the report, which was the proposed Admission Arrangements for Croydon’s community schools for the 2019/20 academic year as recommended by Cabinet.

 

The motion was moved by Councillor Flemming and seconded by Councillor Shafi Khan.

 

The motion was put to the vote and carried unanimously.

 

Council therefore RESOLVED to adopt the Admission Arrangements for Croydon’s community schools for the 2019/20 academic year.

 

 

The Mayor moved to the third recommendation under paragraph 3.1 of the report, which was for in-year appointments as recommended by the General Purposes and Audit Committee.

 

The motion was moved by Councillor Jewitt and seconded by Councillor Prince

 

The motion was put to the vote and carried unanimously.

 

Council therefore RESOLVED to:

·         To appoint Councillor Trakas-Lawlor and Councillor Patricia Hay-Justice to the Pensions Collective Investment Vehicle (CIV) Sectoral Joint Committee to replace Councillor Wentworth and Councillor Pelling.

·         To appoint Councillor Chowdhury to the Tenants’ and Leaseholders’ Panel to replace Councillor Trakas-Lawlor.?

9/18

Polling Districts and Polling Places Review pdf icon PDF 86 KB

Council is recommended:

 

1.1       To note that the London Borough of Croydon (Electoral Changes) Order 2017 to implement the recommendations made by the Local Government Boundary Commission for England (LGBCE) for new ward boundaries within Croydon was made on 20 November 2017 and will be in effect from the local government elections on Thursday 3 May 2018.

 

1.2       To approve the revised schedule of polling districts set out in Appendix A.

 

1.3       To approve the revised schedule of polling places set out in Appendix A.

 

1.4       To delegate to the (Acting) Returning Officer authority to approve an alternative polling place in the event that any polling place becomes unavailable or found to be unsuitable in the run up to an election and to make this change on a permanent basis following the election.

Additional documents:

Minutes:

Councillor Newman moved the recommendations as contained within the report and the motion was seconded by Councillor Tim Pollard.

 

The motion was put to the vote and carried unanimously.

 

Council therefore RESOLVED to:

 

1.1      Note that the London Borough of Croydon (Electoral Changes) Order         2017 to implement the recommendations made by the Local           Government Boundary Commission for England (LGBCE) for new ward        boundaries within Croydon was made on 20 November 2017 and will             be in effect from the local government elections on Thursday 3 May            2018.

 

1.2      Approve the revised schedule of polling districts set out in Appendix A.

 

1.3      Approve the revised schedule of polling places set out in Appendix A.

 

1.4      Delegate to the (Acting) Returning Officer authority to approve an    alternative polling place in the event that any polling place becomes      unavailable or found to be unsuitable in the run up to an election and to            make this change on a permanent basis following the election

10/18

Exclusion of the Press and Public

The following motion is to be moved and seconded where it is proposed to exclude the press and public from the remainder of a meeting:

 

“That, under Section 100A(4) of the Local Government Act, 1972, the press and public be excluded from the meeting for the following items of business on the grounds that it involves the likely disclosure of exempt information falling within those paragraphs indicated in Part 1 of Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act 1972, as amended.”

 

Minutes:

Not required