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:
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.
Minutes:
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 of the accomplishments of the last 14 years under the previous administration. He highlighted achievements such as lower unemployment rates, improved education outcomes, and the recruitment of 20,000 police officers. Councillor Kolade stressed the importance of addressing antisocial behaviour and highlighted the previous administration’s efforts in this area, such as restoring the graffiti removal service and introducing the Violence Against Women and Girls Plan. He concluded by recognising the new government's mandate while expressing a cautious optimism, comparing it to "the proof will be in the pudding."
Councillor Patsy Cummings who seconded the motion, spoke about the new Labour government’s plans as outlined in the King’s Speech, which included 40 new bills aimed at improving national and local economic stability and growth. She mentioned key initiatives such as the Renters’ Rights Bill, the Crime and Policing Bill, and the Equality, Race, and Disability Bill, aimed at addressing inequality and improving workers’ rights. Past emphasized the significance of these changes for local residents facing the cost of living crisis and commended the government's efforts to ban zero-hour contracts and enhance protections for working people. She also highlighted Labour’s commitment to addressing violence against women and girls, affordable housing, and border security, among other priorities.
Councillor Samir Dwesar expressed cautious optimism toward the new government but criticized the motion’s language, particularly its reference to "14 years of failure." He acknowledged the achievements of the previous administration, such as the national living wage, improved unemployment figures, and higher educational outcomes, while stressing the importance of a fair assessment of the past 14 years. He noted that although he would abstain from voting on the motion, he looked forward to working collaboratively with the new government.
Councillor Matt Griffiths concluded by expressing hope for cross-party cooperation and stating that despite the challenges ahead, he looked forward to a government that prioritised competence and public service over political spectacle.
The motion was put to the vote and
This Council RESOLVED 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:
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.
Mayor Jason Perry responding to the motion, congratulated the new Prime Minister and acknowledged the Labour government’s strong mandate. He expressed his willingness to work with the new administration to restore hope and pride in the local area.
Mayor Perry outlined several initiatives already underway, such as local economic plans, youth programs, infrastructure investments, and collaborations with the NHS to improve public services. He reaffirmed his commitment to public service and community engagement, noting that this collaborative, people-first approach would continue under his leadership.
Mayor Jason Perry emphasised the importance of building on existing progress while working constructively with the new government to improve outcomes for the local community.