Agenda

Council - Wednesday, 9th October, 2024 6.30 pm

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

Contact: Kenny Uzodike, Democratic Services  Email: kenny.uzodike@croydon.gov.uk

Items
No. Item

1.

Apologies for Absence

To receive any apologies for absence from any Members.

2.

Minutes of the Previous Meeting

To approve the minutes of the meeting held on the 17th July 2024 as an accurate record.

 

Additional documents:

3.

Disclosure of Interests

Disclosure of Interests Members and co-opted Members of the Council are reminded that, in accordance with the Members’ Code of Conduct and the statutory provisions of the Localism Act 2011, they are required to consider in advance of each meeting whether they have a disclosable pecuniary interest (DPI), some other registrable interest (ORI) or a non-registrable interest (NRI) in relation to any matter on the agenda. If advice is needed, Members should contact the Monitoring Officer in good time before the meeting. If any Member or co-opted Member of the Council identifies a DPI or ORI which they have not already registered on the Council’s register of interests or which requires updating, they must urgently complete the disclosure form which can be obtained from Democratic Services at any time, copies of which will be available at the meeting for return to the Monitoring Officer.

Members and co-opted Members are required in general to disclose any relevant DPIs, ORIs or NRIs at the meeting –

·       Where the matter relates to a DPI they may not participate in any discussion or vote on the matter and must not stay in the room unless granted a dispensation.

·       Where the matter directly relates to the financial interest or wellbeing of an ORI they may not vote on the matter unless granted a dispensation.

·       Where a Member or co-opted Member has an NRI which directly relates to or affects their or a relevant person’s financial interest or wellbeing, whether they can participate in any discussion or vote on the matter or stay in the room depends on the detailed rules in paragraphs 7 of Appendix B of the Members’ Code of Conduct.

The Chair will invite Members to make their disclosure of interests orally at the meeting and they will also be recorded in the minutes.

 

 

4.

Urgent Business (if any)

To receive notice of any business not on the agenda which in the opinion of the Chair, by reason of special circumstances, be considered as a matter of urgency.

5.

Announcements

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

6.

Croydon Question Time pdf icon PDF 85 KB

a)    Public Questions (30 minutes)

 

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

 

1.            Local libraries are the lifeblood and even, for some of the most vulnerable, the lifeline of local communities. What evidence was used for the decision to close the four local libraries in Croydon?

 

2.            Why has the council disbanded phoned lines and gone on to Wi-Fi? And when you ask for parking enforcement you get a voice asking for mailbox number because the Council Wi-Fi keeps going down.

 

3.            How does the Council think climate change will impact Croydon and its citizens over the next 5 years? What has been/ is being put in place to minimise this impact? And specifically, what has been/ is being put in place to ensure climate change doesn’t exacerbate inequality in the borough?

 

4.            AFC Croydon Athletic have famous sponsors who are withholding donations as it appears that the Council has reduced the amount, they said they would contribute. Does the Council understand how important the football club is in keeping young people off the streets and fit and healthy, and will it contribute as per the original agreement?

 

5.            Question received from Mr Peter.M (wording to be confirmed).

 

6.            Has the Council heard from DCMS (Dept. for Culture, Media & Sport) regarding their response to the Library Campaign letter objecting to the Council's "Consultation" procedures?

 

 

Additional documents:

7.

The Croydon Debate

For Members to debate the following Member Petition:

“The Council has an obligation to keep its residents safe, they need to consider the safety of children and disabled people in their town planning. We are calling on Croydon Council to install a Pelican (Pedestrian light-controlled crossing) at the Lower Coombe Street and High Street Junction. Also to include the junctions on South end and Coombe Road.”

 

8.

Reports to Council

8a

Appointment of Independent Person - Ethics Committee pdf icon PDF 104 KB

To agree the appointment of an Independent Person as recommended by the Ethics Committee.

Additional documents:

8b

Scrutiny and Overview Committee Annual Report 2023-24 pdf icon PDF 115 KB

For Members to receive the Scrutiny and Overview Annual Report for 2023 – 2024.

Additional documents:

8c

Audit and Governance Committee Annual Report 2023-24 pdf icon PDF 110 KB

For  Members to receive the annual report for the Audit and Governance Committee.

 

 

 

Additional documents:

9.

Questions to Mayor and Executive

To receive questions from Councillors.

10.

Appointments

To receive any in-year changes to appointments.

11.

Council Debate Motions

To debate the following motions submitted in accordance with Council Procedure Rules.

 

Conservative Group Motion

 

This council RESOLVES that:

 

‘Council does not support the Labour Government’s cut to the Winter Fuel Payment ‘

 

Labour Group Motion

 

This council RESOLVES that:

 

‘This Council celebrates both the role libraries play in the wonder of reading and their wider role as a home to community groups, a refuge from loneliness and a safe, warm place to study - particularly for the many residents who can’t find these things in their own home.

 

This Council notes that 66% of residents to the Council’s own consultation oppose the planned closures and the Council itself has stated that the changes are not intended or projected to save money.

 

This Council understands that residents are justifiably angry at these changes being forced upon them while community groups have little faith in the Mayor’s vague ‘mitigation plans’.

 

This Council notes the Mayor promised in his manifesto that he would “listen to Croydon” but is now ignoring the voices of both residents and community groups.

 

This Council does not support the closure of four of the borough’s libraries. 

 

Full Council resolves that the Mayor should suspend his decision to close the libraries at Broad Green, Shirley, Sanderstead and Bradmore Green in order to find a way to retain these libraries as part of a revamped library service.’

12.

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.”

 

Part B