Agenda

To receive any apologies for absence from any Members.

To approve the minutes of the meeting held on 9^th October 2024 as an accurate record.

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.

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.

To receive announcements, if any, from the Civic Mayor, the Executive Mayor, Head of Paid Service and Returning Officer.

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. There has been a marked increase in the anti-social behaviour in the Addiscombe West area since the implementation of a PSPO order around the town centre. Daily residents witness drug deals being openly done. The addicts then sit on garden walls, doorsteps and the alleys between houses to take drugs. They can be verbally abusive if challenged. I have phoned police only to be told there are no cars available - I was not given a CAD number. What further action are the authorities taking to improve this situation and make the area safer. 

2. What steps has the Mayor taken to ensure that squatters, persistent noise disturbances, drug activity and anti-social behaviour are addressed immediately thy are reported and what assurances can be given to Croydon residents facing these situations that they will not be continually ignored? 

3. Has the Council received the police report back regarding Croydon Council mismanagement of the finances? If so, what action is the police taking? Also, if there was any criminal investigation from the police report will the Council go through the proceeds of crime to retrieve money back? 

4. The Fairfield Halls, one of the largest arts venues in South London has hosted high profile names including the Beatles, Morecambe and Wise to Level 42 and Jimmy Carr. Movies including The Da Vinci Code were filmed there.

 
What about local groups using the Fairfield Halls? A music school is leaving, a resident chamber orchestra is not playing frequently, a local community choir has moved, and a small theatre company closed after 23 years.

  
Can the council investigate returning the Fairfield Halls back into local control? It could serve its community fully as well as being a high-profile arts venue. 

For Members to debate the following Member Petitions:

1.    Zebra crossings have been proven effective in reducing pedestrian accidents by up to 70% (source: Department of Transport UK). By implementing one on Harold Road, we can ensure the safety of our children and all residents who need to cross this busy street daily. A zebra crossing between Chevening Road and College Green would provide a clearly marked and safe crossing point, enhancing visibility and encouraging drivers to adhere to the speed limit.

Harold Road has become increasingly hazardous due to the frequent parking of vehicles back to back, which significantly obstructs the view of drivers and pedestrians alike. This situation is of particular concern given the proximity of Harold Road to Westow Park and the local shops where many children and families visit after school hours. The current conditions pose a serious risk to their safety, as visibility is severely limited and pedestrians, especially young families may find it difficult to cross the road safely.

We urge the local council of London Borough of Croydon and Transport for London to take immediate action.

A zebra crossing would not only improve safety but also provide peace of mind to all who use Harold Road and visit Westow Park. The safety of our children and local residents should never be compromised.

2.    The sudden changes to our climate are the biggest threat to humanity and our way of life that we have ever faced. We know that these changes continue to be made worse by burning fossil fuels (coal, oil, and gas) and so we need to do all we can to stop that.

Croydon Council should not be investing in supporting the extraction or burning of fossil fuels - it is completely immoral to try to make profits out of our own destruction.

On 7 February 2022, Croydon council formally approved the Croydon Carbon Neutral Action plan (1), after declaring a Climate Emergency in 2019. This set the implementation of strong environmental, social and governance (ESG) policy for the pension fund, but did not set a deadline for divestment. Platform London calculates that £78.4M of Croydon’s pension Fund is invested in fossil fuels (2), and contributes to the £867.7M invested in fossil fuels by the London Collective Investment Vehicle (3).

We, the undersigned, urge the council to build on its Responsible Investment Policy (4) and:

• Divest all assets directly held in fossil fuel companies by May 2026: This should include companies directly contributing to the extraction, production, and refinement of fossil fuels.
• Divest all assets indirectly held in fossil fuel companies by May 2030: This should include companies directly involved in the supply chain of the fossil fuel industry, who are complicit.
• Publish an annual summary of where assets are held: within, or as an addition to the Annual Report Pension Board.
• Provide a clear breakdown of how Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) criteria is calculated by the Fund’s investment managers: Greater transparency of how this mechanism is used  ...  view the full agenda text for item 7.

To note the Annual Report detailing progress made in delivering the Equality Strategy 2023-27.

To approve and adopt the Statement of Licensing Principles 2025-2028.

To approve the adoption of the amended Pay Policy Statement 2024-2025.

To consider the contents of the mid-year report on the treasury management activity for 2024-25.

To endorse the Youth Justice Plan in line with statutory obligations detailed in the Crime and Disorder Act 1998.

To agree the proposed changes to the Constitution.

To agree the Council Calendar 2025-26.

To receive questions from Councillors.

To agree any in-year changes to appointments.

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

Conservative Group Motion

This Council RESOLVES that:

Council notes the Labour Government’s first Budget, which increases the rate of Employer National Insurance and lowers the threshold at which it starts to apply. This will require Croydon Council, as well as external contractors, to pay more tax for each employee hired.

Council notes that the Government has said it will provide some support to the public sector for these costs, but the amount of support is not yet clear. Furthermore, there is no guarantee that this support will cover the costs borne by Croydon Council's external contractors - especially in Adult Social Care.

Council urges the Government to ensure that Councils across the country are compensated for the full cost of the rise in Employer National Insurance, especially given its potential impact on the Adult Social Care sector.

Labour Group Motion

This Council RESOLVES that:

This Council believes women and girls are not safe enough in Croydon.

This Council welcomes the leadership the new Government is bringing to this important issue and supports its target to reduce by half violence against women and girls within a decade. 

This Council welcomes the VAWG strategy and delivery plan as an important step but feels it should be strengthened in the following ways:

1. Include numerical targets to sit alongside statements of intent.

2. Adopt Labour’s target of halving violence against women and girls in a decade and incorporate it into the council’s plan.

3. Distribute a printed hard copy directory of VAWG services in the community.

4. Recruit and train 100 Domestic Abuse champions from the community to help prevent VAWG.

This council reaffirms its commitment to work with partners, including the Government, as part of a whole-system approach to safeguard victims and pursue perpetrators.