To debate any motions submitted in accordance with Council Procedure Rules.
The following two Motions, one from the Administration and one from the Leader of the Opposition, will be debated:
Conservative Administration Motion
This Council regrets the unacceptable delay in taking remedial action over the issues found at Regina Road and across Croydon’s housing stock and welcomes the Mayor’s plan to consult on potential regeneration to provide a long-term solution that provides high quality housing for our Council Tenants and Leaseholders.
Labour Opposititon Motion
This Council recognises the suffering of so many Croydon residents who are struggling to pay their energy bills in the middle of the cost-of-living crisis.
This Council understands that the average energy bill of £3,000 takes a serious physical and psychological toll, with 60% of people reporting they are too anxious to turn on their heating.
This Council commends Croydon’s voluntary sector for leading the way on sourcing ‘Warm Banks’ - public spaces that people can turn to for heat and companionship when they don’t feel able to switch on the heating at home - including Croydon Voluntary Action, The Salvation Army and St George’s Church.
This Council notes that over 50% of Local Authorities in England are involved in setting up Warm Banks, according to Save the Children.
This Council recognises that given the difficult financial position of our Local Authority, we must do everything we can to help and that we can do so without adding extra pressure to our finances.
This Council therefore calls upon the Mayor to:
1. Promote Croydon’s existing Warm Banks on its website in the Cost-of-Living Support section as well as regularly through its social media channels.
2. Review the Council’s properties, particularly libraries, to see if any could be used as Warm Banks during existing opening hours.
3. Invite other organisations, including businesses, faith and community groups, to open their doors to Croydon’s citizens by serving as Warm Banks.
Minutes:
Councillor Lynne Hale MOVED and spoke on behalf of the Conservative Group motion, mentioning the appalling conditions residents had been left living in at the Regina Road estate. Councillor Hale stated that residents had been shown a lack of respect through the failure of the council to provide basic housing services in previous years, and that the Mayor had put rectifying the situation at the top of the council’s agenda through the Housing Transformation Programme.
Councillor Simon Fox SECONDED the motion and reserved his right of reply, after which Councillor Christopher Herman spoke on behalf of the Opposition, stating that tenants and leaseholders had been ignored due to a poor culture within the Housing Department. Councillor Herman stated that members had been assured issues had been resolved in the past when they had not.
Councillor Reshekaron, speaking on behalf of the Opposition, stated that she welcomed the Mayor’s plan for a consultation on the regeneration of the estate, and that the council was taking its first steps in a long process to improvement. Councillor Reshekaron thanked the Housing Director and officers working on this process for ensuring that residents’ voices were heard. Councillor Reshekaron asked why compensation had not been issued to tenants and leaseholders who suffered from the long-standing issues.
Exercising his right of reply, Councillor Fox stated that under the previous leadership action had been delayed, and residents’ cries for help were ignored. Councillor Fox blamed a lack of urgency that followed the adverse publicity about the Regina Road estate, which meant a previous Housing Improvement Plan was never signed off, and stated that the current Housing Transformation Programme was more comprehensive, and commanded support.
The motion was put to the vote and RESOLVED, unanimously to:
Consult on potential regeneration to provide a long-term solution that provides high quality housing for our Council Tenants and Leaseholders.
Councillor Rowenna Davis then MOVED the motion from the Opposition Group, stating that residents were too anxious to turn on their heating because of unaffordable energy bills. Councillor Davis commented that she had noticed the council had recently begun advertising council-owned public spaces and those provided by the VCFS that were available for residents to use during cold weather, but that no spaces were available on Sundays.
Councillor Brigitte Graham SECONDED the motion and reserved her right of reply, after which Councillor Andy Stranack stated his delight to support the motion and thanked officers for the hard work that had already been done. Councillor Stranack also outlined all the other ways the council was providing support to vulnerable residents over the Christmas holiday period.
Councillor Tony Pearson speaking on behalf of the Conservative Group iterated that the party was willing to work collaboratively for the good of Croydon residents.
Exercising her right of reply, Councillor Graham stated that signposting on websites was not enough, and that the council was relying too heavily on the VCFS.
The motion was then
put to the vote and Council RESOLVED, unanimously
to:
1.
Promote Croydon’s existing Warm
Banks on its website in the Cost-of-Living Support section as well
as regularly through its social media channels;
2.
Review the Council’s properties,
particularly libraries, to see if any could be used as Warm Banks
during existing opening hours; and,
3. Invite other organisations, including businesses, faith and community groups, to open their doors to Croydon’s citizens by serving as Warm Banks.