Agenda and minutes

To approve the minutes of the meeting held on 22 May 2024 as an accurate record.

The minutes of the annual meeting held on 22^nd May 2024 were agreed as an accurate record.

Members are invited to declare any disclosable pecuniary interests (DPIs) they may have in relation to any item(s) of business on today’s agenda.

There were none.

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.

There were no items of urgent business.

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

The Chair informed the Council that additional meeting papers had been published. These included the Labour Group’s amendment to Item 8D on the Homelessness and Rough Sleeping Strategy, as well as supplementary agendas for the Council Housing Asset Management Strategy and the Housing Resident Engagement Strategy. These publications followed the Cabinet meeting on 15^th July 2024.

It was moved by the Chair, seconded by Councillor Luke Shortland and agreed by Council that the order of business be varied to enable Council to consider the Homelessness and Rough Sleeping Strategy after the Council Housing Asset Management and Housing Resident Engagement Strategies and  Council Procedural Rules be suspended to limit time for Item 10 (Maiden Speeches) to two minutes for to ensure fairness for new members.

The Chair then highlighted several recent and upcoming charity and civic events, including Pride Month, Windrush Day, Armed Forces Week, and NHS Frontline Workers Day. He also mentioned forthcoming celebrations for Pakistan and Indian Independence Days on 14^th and 15^th August respectively.

He also highlighted his attendance of 12 of the Big Lunch Street Parties and St. Patrick's Day celebrations on 1^st and 2^nd June. Forth coming events include the anniversary of the Airborne Commission on 28^th September and an inaugural dinner for the Civic Mayor on 19^th July at the Grand Sapphire Hotel.

Mayor Jason Perry expressed his gratitude to Catherine Kerswell and the staff involved in the recent general election, noting the smooth and efficient execution of the election count. He also congratulated the newly elected MPs: Natasha Irons, Sarah Jones, Chris Philp, and Steve Reed.

The Mayor also informed Council that he had written to the new Secretary of State, Angela Rayner, to discuss Croydon’s financial challenges and plans for achieving sustainable local government

Public Questions (30 minutes)

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

1.           Can you please explain why you have not funded new footpaths around Selhurst shops and the top of Gloucester road. The footpaths here are in total disrepair, awful looking, are uneven, are a health and safety trip risk, water lingers and rubbish collates. For decades blotched jobs of very poor quality have been done. The pavements rightly should have been replaced 20 years ago, but have disintegrated to disrepair and health and safety danger. Why has Selhurst pavements been neglected to total disrepair and when will you fund new footpaths?

2.           Community energy is thriving up and down the country facilitating cost savings for thousands of public sector and public serving buildings. So why, unlike most other London councils that are benefitting from having solar and other energy upgrades fitted at no costs to themselves, does the council seek to charge rent for projects discussed with Croydon Community Energy, putting them at risk of not being financially viable to progress with the projects. Can the council outline its stance on supporting such projects, commit to 3-month timeline to resolve differences and discuss potential avenues for increasing support in the future?

3.           What is being done to stop drug dealing and antisocial behaviour caused by drugs? On my road there is no CCTV there is frequent graffiti, I have been harassed by people on drugs making inappropriate comments, my neighbours frequently spot drug dealing taking place in broad daylight.

4.           Parking Controls changes - please explain Croydon Council’s actions. PayPoint is worse - less convenient, slower, more difficult than systems elsewhere.  Croydon Council consulted on parking - then did something wholly different. How Croydon consulted public over making all free time-limited parking two-hour Pay-by-phone only. Formal consultation starting next day not mentioned at last Public Questions despite question. Croydon defying Equality Act - Pay-by-phone only parking schemes - discriminatory against older + disabled people. Croydon unable to operate free time-limited parking with no proof of arrival, although standard across London, including TFL. Parking times not related to location – as normal elsewhere.

5.           In Ireland, all public libraries are funded by the State in the interests of literacy and levelling up. Is the Council prepared to seek a similar support from the incoming Government?

6.           Given that our Shirley library is the only local amenity within walking distance, easily accessible for older residents and young mothers, and serves as a vital meeting place for various community groups, what specific factors and data are driving the decision to close it given that Shirley actually has increasing visitor numbers compared to other libraries? Considering the growing demand for local groups to use the library and the impracticality of expecting people to walk long distances or wait for buses to visit another library at their expense, what alternatives are being proposed to meet these diverse community needs?

7.           In regard to  ...  view the full agenda text for item 132/24

The Council received twelve questions from residents. The following responses were given to supplementary questions based on the answers given and published in the agenda.

1.    It was noted that the questioner was not present as was expected online and the Chair in accordance with the Constitution asked that the response be sent to the questioner via email and published in the Minutes.

2.    It was noted that the questioner was not present and the Chair in accordance with the Constitution asked that the response be sent to the questioner via email and published in the Minutes.

3.    In response to a supplementary question on how the Council planned to address the addiction issues at the root of much of the antisocial behaviour, and how this was linked to knife crime. Councillor Ola Kolade acknowledged the seriousness of the issue and highlighted the introduction of a Town Centre Task Force, which brings together key agencies, including the police and homelessness services, to quickly respond to such problems. He encouraged reporting crimes through the police website or Crime Stoppers, especially if anonymity was a concern, as this data was crucial for the police's response. He also mentioned the implementation of Public Safety Protection Orders (PSPOs) in Croydon, including one in Thornton Heath, as part of the Council’s approach to both supporting people with substance misuse issues and enforcing actions when antisocial behaviour was persistent. He also invited the questioner to attend the quarterly police ward panels, which bring together councillors, safer neighbourhood officers, and other key organisations to set priorities for tackling local issues. He reiterated his willingness to meet with the questioner to further understand the situation and what the police were doing to help. He hoped his response had been helpful and looked forward to further discussions.

4.    In response to a supplementary question about the about omission of parts of the original response, Councillor Scott Roche noted that a more detailed answer had been published on the Council’s website and encouraged questioner to reach out for any further clarifications. In response to the specific point raised about the availability of a PayPoint machine in South Croydon, Councillor Roche said that officers would investigate the matter further and explained that PayPoint was one option among several available for making payments, particularly for those without access to a smartphone or who prefer not to use a landline or mobile. The Council aims to offer a broad range of payment options to Croydon residents while also supporting local businesses and promoting the local economy.

5.    In response to a supplementary question if any of the new MPs were prepared to discuss with the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) the possibility of amending the Act to apply it as a national service rather than a bureaucratic one, Councillor Andy Stranack stated that while he could not answer on behalf of the local MPs, the current legislation was believed to be sufficient to provide an effective and efficient library service  ...  view the full minutes text for item 132/24

For Council to receive a Public Petition and / or a Member Petition.

One Member Petition has been received. The petition has been verified and is worded as follows:

“We the undersigned kindly request Croydon Council to implement a pedestrian crossing on Pampisford Road as close to Christchurch Road as possible.

Local residents and parents of children attending Christ Church Primary School, Fennies Nursery and Purley Nursery School have long been concerned about difficulties and safety challenges in crossing this busy road, with vehicles on Pampisford Road frequently speeding and mounting the pavement to get around queuing traffic.

Despite recent efforts from Croydon Council such as the erection of bollards and the Healthy School Street scheme for Christ Church Primary, significant issues remain and without further traffic calming measures, we can only fear the worst.

 
In the interests of road safety, we urge the Council to take swift and appropriate action.”

The Council received one member petition. Councillor Samir Dwesar addressed the Council in support of this petition, sharing his allotted time with the lead petitioner, Jack Conner. Councillor Dwesar explained that road safety had been a priority since his election due to the high traffic in Purley and Woodcote and the presence of many young families. He was particularly concerned about Pampersford Road, where cars regularly mounted the pavement, creating unsafe conditions for pedestrians, especially children attending nearby schools and nurseries. While the Council had taken some steps, such as installing bollards, she emphasised that the situation would only improve with a pedestrian crossing. She urged the Council to take appropriate action and then passed the floor to Jack Conner.

Jack Conner thanked the Council for the opportunity to speak and shared his concerns about the lack of safe crossing options on Pampersford Road. He described his daily experience walking his daughter to nursery, along with many other families, and noted the dangerous conditions caused by speeding vehicles, poor sight lines, and cars mounting the pavement. He emphasised that this created a serious risk for pedestrians and urged the Council to install a pedestrian crossing before a serious incident occurred.

In response, Councillor Scott Roche acknowledged the issues raised and confirmed that the Council had installed bollards to discourage vehicles from mounting the curb, but vehicles continued to use the drop curbs. He reported that two additional bollards had been installed in July but emphasised that this was the maximum number possible without affecting vehicle access. Councillor Roche explained that due to the limited road safety budget and a low number of reported collisions, Pampersford Road was not currently a priority for the Council. However, a traffic sensor would be installed to measure vehicle speeds, and the feasibility of a pedestrian crossing would be assessed based on the speed data. Additionally, the Council would review road markings and signage, keeping Councillor Dwesar and Jack Conner informed of any further developments.

The debate on this item concluded, and thanks were extended to all participants.

To approve the proposed changes to the Constitution relating to the Staff Employment Procedure Rules.

Councillor Sean Fitzsimons, the Chair General Purposes Committee, in moving the recommendations as outlined in paragraph 4.5 of the report and in Appendix 1, explained that the General Purposes Committee had considered the changes at its meeting on 10 June 2024. He briefly outlined that the detailed report had already been thoroughly reviewed by councillors at the Committee. Councillor Luke Shortland seconded the motion.

The Chair then put the recommendations to a vote and for the reasons set out in the reports and appendices, Council:

RESOLVED to:

2.1.1    Approve the proposed changes to the Constitution contained in paragraph 4.5

           of the report to General Purposes Committee (Appendix 1) and Appendix 1A;

2.1.2     Authorise the Monitoring Officer to update the Constitution.

To consider the Health and Wellbeing Board Annual Report.

In moving the recommendations, Councillor Yvette Hopley highlighted the significant work and changes within the Board. She noted that there had been considerable collaboration with partners, particularly with the establishment of a new integrated care system. Councillor Hopley emphasised the Board's commitment to effective integration of health and social care, aiming to make meaningful differences to the health and well-being of residents in the borough.

She outlined the board's pivotal role in shaping the Southwest London Integrated Care Partnership (ICP) and its associated forward plan, ensuring Croydon's voice was represented at the system level. Councillor Hopley also mentioned the development of a joint local health and well-being strategy with partners, enhancing relationships and addressing health needs and inequalities. While she acknowledged the significant work accomplished, she noted time constraints prevented her from detailing all achievements but assured members that they were listed in the report. Councillor Hopley expressed gratitude to all involved in the board's work, especially thanking Rachel Flowers for her long-standing support.

Following her presentation Members were invited by the Chair to ask questions:

Councillor Tony Pearson asked how the Board had delivered against the Mayor's priorities and business plan. In response, Councillor Hopley stated that the Board had collaborated effectively to support several of the mayor’s manifesto pledges, including achieving dementia-friendly borough status. She also noted the reinstatement of the position of a second Vice-Chair, increasing engagement with the voluntary sector, and the development of a joint local health and well-being strategy.

Councillor Patricia Hay-Justice then asked how the board planned to incorporate innovations from the annual report on digital health advancement to improve service delivery and patient outcomes. Councillor Hopley responded that the Board worked collaboratively with partners on innovations and had already implemented virtual wards and various technologies to support elderly residents. She assured that they were continuously exploring new ideas to enhance outcomes for residents.

Councillor Sue Bennett asked whether the board's work would impact beyond Croydon. Councillor Hopley confirmed that the board not only focused on Croydon but also ensured that local interests were represented in broader Southwest London partnerships, contributing to overarching strategies and assessments.

Councillor Leila Ben-Hassel raised a concern regarding the family hubs transformation and monitoring of early years support. Councillor Hopley acknowledged the importance of the points raised and assured that the Board would monitor the progress through the joint strategic needs assessment, working with various partners to address the highlighted priorities.

For the reasons set out in this report, Council RESOVLED to:

2.1  Note the work undertaken by the HWB during the 2023 calendar year,

       Including the partnership refresh to the Joint Local Health and Wellbeing

       Strategy, alongside planned work for 2024.

To note the use of Special Urgency for Key Decisions and  Exemption from Call-in from December 2023 to June 2024.

In moving the recommendation, Mayor Jason Perry expressed gratitude to Councillor Rowenna Davis, the Chair of the Scrutiny and Overview Committee, and the Scrutiny Deputy Chairs for their co-operation during what had been a busy period for the Council given the numerous exemption requests made to the Scrutiny.

Mayor Jason Perry noted that while efforts were being made to reduce the use of urgency and exemption rules, such measures were often necessary when moving quickly.

Councillor Luke Shortland seconded the motion, and the Chair put the recommendations to the vote:

For the reasons set out in the report Council RESOLVED to:

1.    To note the use of Special Urgency for the key decisions listed at section 4.4 of this report during the period December 2023 to June 2024.

2.    To note the use of Exemption from Call-in for the key decisions listed at section 5.3 of this report during the period December 2023 to June 2024.

To adopt and approve the Homelessness and Rough Sleeping Strategy as set out in the report and appendices for publication.

Members were informed that an amendment from the Labour Group had been received. The Civic Chair invited Stephen Lawrence-Orumwense, the Monitoring Officer, to share advice on the amendment.

The Monitoring Officer, advised against Labour's Amendment #5, which proposed requiring the Executive to include a provision not to place families in split accommodation for over 14 nights. He provided two reasons for this:

1.    Jurisdiction Issue: Full Council does not have the authority to impose such requirements on the Executive. The Council's remit in this meeting was the homelessness strategy, a policy framework document, whereas the temporary accommodation placement policy was matter for the Executive.

2.    Judicial Risk: Implementing the proposed requirement would expose the Council to a risk of judicial review proceedings.

Councillor Stuart King, the Leader of the Opposition and mover of the Labour Group's amendment, acknowledged the Monitoring Officer’s advice, which was received after their amendment was submitted. In response, he proposed a revised wording for Amendment #5. The new proposal called for the Council to make every effort to avoid splitting families in temporary accommodation, with careful consideration if it must occur. He also suggested adding a Key Performance Indicator (KPI) to the Mayor's Business Plan, which would track the number of split households in emergency accommodation and the duration of their stay.

The Monitoring Officer confirmed that the revised amendment addressed the previous concerns and could now be considered by the Full Council.

It was moved by the Chair seconded by Councillor Luke Shortland and RESOLVED by Council that:

The following process be adopted for the consideration of the Homelessness and Rough Sleeping Strategy, involving three-minute speeches from Councillors:

·       The mover of the Executive proposals:

·       The Seconder for the Executive (with rights to speak reserved)

·       Councillor from the Labour Group

·       The Conservative Seconder

·       Councillor from the Labour Group

·       The mover of the Executive proposals (with right of last reply

The Deputy Executive Mayor and Cabinet Member for Housing, Councillor Lynne Hale presented the report, explaining that under the Homelessness Act 2002, local authorities are required to produce a homelessness strategy every five years. She stressed the importance of this strategy, which not only met the Council's legal obligations but also addressed Croydon’s homelessness and rough sleeping issues. She highlighted the role of the Housing Transformation Programme in improving services and thanked all contributors, including residents, partners, and the Scrutiny Home Sub-Committee, for their input.

Councillor Chrishni Reshekaron highlighted the alarming rise in homelessness and rough sleeping, particularly among ethnic minorities. He welcomed the strategy’s focus on preventing homelessness, better management of housing stock, and partnership work with landlords. He emphasized Labour’s amendments, particularly those addressing family splits in temporary accommodation and the introduction of a KPI to monitor split households.

Mayor Jason Perry who seconded the motion, expressed his support for the strategy, aligning it with the goals of his Business Plan. He discussed the Council's efforts to prevent homelessness through early intervention and highlighted several improvements, such as reduced waiting times for assessments, additional housing  ...  view the full minutes text for item 136/24ii

To agree and adopt the Council Housing Asset Management Strategy as set out in the reports and Appendices.

It was noted that a supplementary agenda had been published following the Cabinet meeting on Monday, 15^th July, during which two recommendations from The Scrutiny and Overview Committee were agreed, leading to amendments to the proposed strategy.

Councillor Lynne Hale, Deputy Executive Mayor and Cabinet Member for Housing, presented the housing report, emphasizing that delivering high-quality Council homes is crucial to building strong, healthy, and sustainable communities. She noted that this could only be achieved if tenants and leaseholders live in homes that are fit for purpose and located in well-managed neighbourhoods. The strategy, she explained, ensures Council housing assets are well-designed, managed, and responsive to residents' needs through active engagement.

Councillor Hale pointed out that the 2019 asset management strategy lacked flexibility to address the long-term investment needs of housing, leading to underfunding and disrepair, notably highlighted by the issues on Regina Road, which caused distress and reputational damage. She added that the new strategy focuses on maintaining and investing in housing stock, adapting to regulatory changes, and aligning with the Housing Revenue Account (HRA) business plan.

She outlined two key investment areas: increasing housing supply and improving existing homes, including estate regeneration. Hale emphasized the importance of cultural change within the Housing Directorate, new working methods, and better data management. She concluded by acknowledging feedback from consultations and reiterated the Council's commitment to safe and comfortable homes, before moving the recommendations. It was seconded and put to the vote:

Council RESOLVED to:

2.21     Consider the feedback received on the principles behind the Asset     

            Management   Strategy 2024-2029 from residents, partners and Members via

            engagement and consultation briefings; and Equalities Impact Assessment

            detailed in Appendix 2

2.2       Consider the feedback from the Homes Scrutiny Committee held on 9^th

            July 2024 and executive response (Appendix 3).

2.3        Agree the Amended Council Housing Asset Management Strategy 2024 – 

             2029 (Appendix 1) as agreed by Cabinet on 15^th July 2024 and as detailed in

             the Supplementary Agenda. 

2.4        Agree to delegated authority to Corporate Director to make minor

             amendments (i.e., slight wording changes to make more accessible,

             formatting etc.) in conjunction with Executive Mayor and Cabinet Member

             but prior to its recommendation

To agree and adopt the Housing Resident Engagement Strategy as set out in the report and appendices.

The Deputy Executive Mayor and Cabinet Member for Housing, Councillor Lynne Hale, in moving the recommendations, stated that the strategy was designed to give residents a significant influence on housing-related decisions, strategies, policies, and services. She noted that it was the first such strategy in several years and was aligned with the principles of the residents' charter, highlighting the Council's commitment to ensuring that residents have a meaningful voice in the services that affect their lives.

Councillor Hale emphasised that the strategy was co-designed with input from residents, staff, the Tenants Participation Advisory Service (TPAS), and feedback from the tenants and leaseholder panel, as well as from councillor colleagues during briefing sessions and scrutiny. She expressed her gratitude to all those who had contributed to the development of the strategy, and explained that a new Customer Influence and Assurance Group would be established to hold housing services accountable and monitor the implementation of the strategy and delivery plan, alongside the broader housing transformation program.

Furthermore, Councillor Hale mentioned that the strategy provides a pathway for compliance with the Regulator of Social Housing's consumer standards. It will allow tenants to provide assurance or highlight areas where these standards are not being met, using their lived experiences to drive service improvements. She acknowledged feedback from the Scrutiny Home Sub-Committee and assured the Council would continue to work with data to address barriers to engagement and focus on creating accessible and flexible resident engagement events.

She also expressed the Council's openness to working with residents and contractors to find the best ways to record and use informal feedback on resident experiences. Building on the foundation of the residents' charter, Councillor Hale concluded by affirming that the strategy strengthens the Council's commitment to caring for and respecting residents, ensuring they are involved in the ongoing housing improvement process.

The recommendations were seconded by Councillor Luke Shortland and put to the vote:

For the reasons set out in the report and appendices, Full Council RESOLVED to:

2.7 Consider the feedback received via the engagement and consultation

      process as detailed in Appendix 2, and;

2.8  Note the feedback received from the Homes Scrutiny Committee held on

       23 October 2023 and 9^th July 2024 and Executive Response (Appendix 5).

2.9  Consider the Equalities Impact Assessment detailed in Appendix 3

 2029

2.10 Agree and adopt the amended Residents Engagement Strategy 2024-   

  Appendix 1 to this report as agreed by Cabinet on 15^th July 2024 and      

  stated in the Supplementary Agenda.

2.9   Agree to delegated authority to Corporate Director to make minor amendments (i.e., slight wording changes to make more accessible, formatting etc.) in conjunction with Executive Mayor and Cabinet Member prior to final publication.

To receive questions from Councillors.

Mayor Perry announced that the Museum of Croydon had regained its accreditation from the Arts Council of England. He credited this success to the London Borough of Culture’s contributions and was pleased that the accreditation would enable the museum to reopen its permanent gallery, including the Rewind exhibition, which celebrates Croydon’s rich musical history. The accreditation will also enhance the museum’s ability to secure further funding, affirming its adherence to the highest museum standards.

Addressing a recent stabbing of a shopkeeper on Church Street, the mayor praised the swift response of police and first aiders and confirmed that two suspects had been arrested. He condemned the criminal behaviour and reassured the council that such incidents would not define Croydon. The council’s investment in a Town Centre Coordinator, who will work with the Town Centre Task Force, will focus on combating antisocial behaviour and enhancing safety, particularly through data-driven strategies to target knife crime.

He then gave the following answers to questions from Members:

·       Collaboration with Government: The mayor highlighted ongoing collaboration among London boroughs to present a united front to the new government. He welcomed several government proposals, including ending Section 21 no-fault evictions, boosting neighbourhood policing, and addressing knife crime and violence against women. He noted that Croydon was already working on many of these objectives.

·       Nursery Schools and Education:The mayor confirmed that all five maintained nursery schools in the borough would remain open, with financial sustainability achieved through cost-saving measures such as forming federations between schools. In terms of special education, smaller SEN units were being added to schools with available capacity, and additional funding had been allocated through the Schools Forum to support SEN initiatives. Efforts were also being made to keep children with Educational Health Care Plans (EHCPs) in temporary accommodation close to their schools.

·       Housing and Temporary Accommodation: Mayor Perry outlined efforts to improve the quality of temporary accommodation, despite challenges such as demand exceeding supply. Initiatives like the Red Clover Garden scheme, offering 85 units of quality housing, aim to transition people from temporary accommodation to better housing. He noted that an additional audit of temporary accommodation conditions might not be necessary due to the Council’s ongoing improvement efforts.

·       Child Benefit Cap and Financial Sustainability: The mayor expressed openness to reviewing proposals to amend the two-child benefit cap and confirmed his intention to work with Labour’s Child Poverty Task Force chairs, Liz Kendall and Bridget Phillipson, to advocate for scrapping the cap. He also addressed the council's ongoing discussions with the government regarding Croydon’s debt burden, stating that private correspondence with former ministers about debt write-off would remain confidential.

·       Council Services and Infrastructure: On the topic of grass-cutting services, the mayor acknowledged previous challenges caused by unreliable data and outdated equipment. To address this, contractors, including some from TfL, have been brought in to manage overgrown areas. Regarding playgrounds, there are plans to refurbish four to five per year, with additional cleaning and maintenance provided where necessary. Funding for this program primarily  ...  view the full minutes text for item 139/24

To agree any in-year changes to appointments to committees.

There were none.

For Council to receive the Maiden Speeches of the newly-elected members of the May 2024 Ward By-Election.

Council heard the Maiden Speeches of the following Councillors:

·       Councillor Andrew Parker, Park Hill & Whitgift Ward

·       Councillor Jessica Hammersley-Rich, Woodside Ward.

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

Conservative Group Motion

This Council RESOLVES that:

Council notes that steps have already been taken to fix the Borough’s finances, including raising Council Tax and reducing spending.

Council believes that securing the Borough’s long-term financial sustainability can only be done with Government assistance. The burden cannot fall on residents alone, it must be shared with central Government.

Council therefore agrees that the new Government must urgently finish the work to agree a long-term deal, without inflicting yet more pain on Croydon’s residents.

Labour Group Motion

This Council RESOLVES that:

This Council congratulates Sir Keir Starmer on his election as Prime Minister and welcomes his new Government’s decisive mandate, seeing it as a long overdue opportunity to bring change to this country and to Croydon after 14 years of failure.

This Council welcomes the opportunities the new Government’s manifesto will offer Croydon and its residents, including:

• Rebuilding Britain with wealth created in every community, including Croydon.
• Getting our NHS back on its feet, facing the future.
• Making our streets safer.
• Creating workplaces where everyone is treated with dignity and respect.

This Council endorses the new Government’s commitment that public service is a privilege, and that the new government will treat every single person in this country with respect, ensuring that people’s voices are listened to by decision makers at every level of government.

This Council welcomes that Croydon now has hope for a better future with a Labour government that will put governing back at the service of working people.

Conservative Group Motion

Councillor Jason Cummings, the Cabinet Member for Finance, in opening the debate, noted the well-documented financial history of Croydon and stressed that both parties had historically agreed that Croydon was underfunded. He argued that despite the change in government, there had been no progress on funding, and reaffirmed the need for national government support, given that the scale of the borough's financial problems exceeded local capacity.

Councillor Stuart King, the Leader of the Opposition, speaking next, criticised the Conservative motion for politicising the Council's financial difficulties. He stated that  Mayor Perry failed to secure a debt deal over the past two years while working with a Conservative government and claimed that the open letter to the Deputy Prime Minister was partisan and ill-thought-out. Despite this, King expressed willingness to support the motion if a cross-party approach could be established.

Councillor Callton Young then highlighted Croydon’s debt, explaining that around 15% of the borough's spending was directed toward servicing this debt rather than providing services for residents. He expressed support for the motion, stating that solving Croydon’s financial issues required both local efforts and central government intervention. The Labour group, while criticising Mayor Perry’s narrative in his letter to the Deputy Prime Minister, agreed to support the motion, with Councillor Young emphasising the systemic failure of previous government policies, which had severely cut funding to local councils and led to Croydon’s financial troubles.

Councillor Jason Cummings in closing the debate, reiterated that solving Croydon’s financial problems required government support. he urged for clarity on whether public communications with government should be made more open, as conflicting views had been presented during the debate.

Following the discussion, the motion was put to the vote.

 Council RESOLVED to: 

Note that steps have already been taken to fix the Borough’s finances, including raising Council Tax and reducing spending. Council believes that securing the Borough’s long-term financial sustainability can only be done with Government assistance. The burden cannot fall on residents alone, it must be shared with central Government. Council therefore agrees that the new Government must urgently finish the work to agree a long-term deal, without inflicting yet more pain on Croydon’s residents.

Mayor Perry expressed his hope for collaborative efforts with the new government to secure a sustainable financial future for Croydon.

Labour Group Motion

Councillor Matt Griffithsopened the debate meeting he noted that the general election had brought about a significant change, ushering in a new era of governance under the new Prime Minister. He emphasised the government's commitment to restoring serious, principled governance, public service as a privilege, and rebuilding public trust. He highlighted the new government’s pledge to prioritise public service, transparency, accountability, and evidence-based policymaking, while tackling economic inequality, climate change, and revitalizing public services. In moving the motion he expressed optimism about the incoming government's capacity to restore dignity in governance and rebuild public trust.

Councillor Ola Kolade in speaking to the motion, expressed support for the new government but reminded the Council  ...  view the full minutes text for item 142/24

To note the Executive Mayor’s updated Scheme of Delegation.

(For information only).

It was moved by the Chair, seconded by Councillor Luke Shortland and Council RESOLVED: to note the Executive Mayor’s Scheme of Delegation