Agenda

To receive any apologies for absence from any Members.

To approve the minutes of the meeting held on 26^th February 2025 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.

Public Questions (30 minutes)

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

1. When can we expect detailed plans and a start date for the refurbishment and redevelopment of Ashburton Park?

2. Can Croydon Council build on its existing climate and health initiatives, such as the Croydon Food Flagship Programme, by endorsing the Plant-Based Treaty, joining 35 other councils worldwide, expanding public education campaigns, and exploring ways to increase the availability of plant-based options, in order to inspire other councils globally to take similar action?

3. Why is there continuing fly-tipping in hotspots in Croydon? Yes, I agree that it get cleared within 24 hours, however at the cost of our Croydon council tax which is not fair on taxpayers.

4. 16-11-24 - Question submitted for basic information on 10 key elements of Council finances – income, expenditure, debt and interest.

19-11-24 - Council said as the Question asked for detailed facts, it would be stated and written answer provided.

4-12-25 - One week before meeting, so too late to amend, the question was rejected, saying it should be answered under FOI.

The Council then refused to provide the information under FOI, claiming it would cost too much. Internal Review request is now a month overdue.

https://www.whatdotheyknow.com/request/croydon_council_finance_income_e

Please explain why basic information about council finances is simply not available, including how £1.5B debt has arisen.

5. When the council declared a climate and ecological emergency 6 years ago, it recognised the urgency of addressing climate change. Three years later a Carbon Neutral Action Plan was published but most tasks are out of date with no updates since. The enormous economic and social benefits of enacting climate resilience policies are well known. 2024 was the first year to pass 1.5C rise globally. Given all this, I respectfully request a clear explanation for continuous delays in publishing and implementing a Climate Action Plan, including a definitive timeline for which residents can expect publication and execution of the plan.

6. Croydon Community Energy works to deliver cheap clean energy to community buildings. As national policy progresses, we were keen to work with the council on our first share offer. Unfortunately, the Council was unwilling to facilitate this. Despite our proactive engagement and business plan, we were asked to pay thousands in rent for roof space, an unprecedented request for Community Energy organisations. We’ve raised over £120,000 - a massive win, but without Council support. How are the Council proposing to decarbonise schools without cost to taxpayers, if they won’t take advantage of CCE who can do it for free?

7. This question may be published later as a Supplementary Agenda.

8. On the proposed closure of the New Addington Youth Engagement team. Can you explain what consultation and engagement was conducted with New Addington residents, young people, and stakeholders before making the decision. How will the Council measure the impact of the closure and ensure that vulnerable young people in New Addington continue to receive support and services in their  ...  view the full agenda text for item 6.

For Members to debate the following Member Petitions:

1.    Can Croydon Council take urgent action to tackle road safety concerns near St David’s School on Woodcote Valley Road, Purley? This includes the implementation of a zebra crossing as well as consideration of other measures, including chicanes, new speed awareness signage, speed sensors for data collection and width restrictors.

At present, pupils, staff and parents of St David’s School do not feel safe crossing outside the school as a result of traffic. The location of the school fields also means that multiple classes must walk across each day. Sadly, injuries have already occurred and the current situation disincentivises active travel to school.

The existing traffic calming measures are insufficient and in the interest of road safety, we urge the Council to take swift and appropriate action.

2.     We are writing to present you with a petition from the residents of Waddon who desperately want to see Wandle Park café reopened for the community.

As you know, the park has been closed since the pandemic, which has been a great loss to local people. Its shuttered front is bleak, there is nowhere to rest, change a baby, go to the bathroom or buy a hot drink in the winter.

At the end of December, residents gathered to turn this round. They ran their own ‘Pop Up’ café in the park, decorating stalls outside the café with fairy lights and offering hot drinks and home-baked muffins to passers-by.

In just two hours, we managed to collect almost 100 signatures from people calling to have the park reopened, proving that there is wonderful demand for a local business there.

A café would provide sustenance and community to local people, particularly during our fantastic festivals in the summer, as well as a source of employment and business rates. Local police have also said they believe reopening the café would deter the anti-social behaviour that has been growing in the park.

We know you have committed to the café reopening this spring. But please understand this is hard to trust after years of being let down. We were originally told that the café would reopen – at the latest – in spring 2023. Delays, failed bids and poor communication have been our experience here. 

Residents were also disappointed to hear that, in the last bidding round you set up, only established café providers in the borough were allowed to bid to run the café. This has let down local people, many of whom had ideas for regenerating the café themselves.

It may be that experienced providers could win the contract, but not even giving local people the chance to have their bids considered and compared seems oddly unjust.

So, in presenting this petition, we have two requests:

1.  Keep your promise to open Wandle Park café this spring.

2.  Allow individuals and community groups to bid for contracts like these.

Thank you for your time and consideration for our treasured café in our beloved park.

To approve the extension of term for the Independent Member, Audit and Governance Committee.

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 NOTES…

·       that retail, hospitality, and leisure businesses right across Croydon are seeing their business rates increase by a large amount. For example, one sushi restaurant’s business rates bill is rising from £1,871 to £4,491.

·       that business rates are set by the Government.

·       that the rise in Business Rates is happening at the same time as a rise in energy prices and Employer National Insurance rates.

This Council BELIEVES…

·       that our businesses are one of our greatest strengths, and vibrant district centres with diverse options for eating and shopping are vital to Croydon’s communities.

·       that more-than-doubling taxes on businesses will hurt Croydon’s district centres.

This Council RESOLVES…

·       that we oppose the Government’s rise in Business Rates at a time when local businesses and High Streets need support.

·       that Mayor Jason Perry has our support in lobbying for help from the Government for Croydon’s small businesses.

Labour Group Motion

This Council is embarrassed that under the Croydon Conservative administration, our town has become the fly tip capital of the UK.

This Council calls on the Executive Mayor to proactively deal with fly tipping through tougher enforcement and not simply clean up after those who dump rubbish on our streets.

The Council should:

1.    Resume the practice of confiscating and crushing of vehicles used for fly tipping.

2.    Publish on the council's website the number of fly tipping incidents each month.

3.    Publish the details of enforcement cases where the fly-tipper receives a fine, so residents can see whether fly-tippers are being held to account.

4.    Publish on the council’s website all street cleansing dates for residential roads so that residents know the dates their streets are due to be swept.

This council believes these measures will ensure that Croydon is no longer considered an easy place to fly tip. It will ensure that Croydon is a cleaner, safer, and healthier place for all Croydon residents and businesses.