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Agenda item

Developing a sustainable economic recovery and renewal plan for Croydon

Officer: Shifa Mustafa

Key decision: no

Decision:

The Leader of the Council delegated authority to the Cabinet to make the following decisions:

 

RESOLVED: To

 

1.    Record its thanks to the Council’s partners in the public, private and voluntary and community sector who have come together as one borough to respond to the Covid-19 crisis.

 

2.    Note the approach now proposed for the Council to work in partnership towards a sustainable economic renewal strategy.

 

3.    Approve the establishment of a cross-sector Croydon Sustainable Economic Renewal Board to lead and coordinate the borough’s renewal plan.

Minutes:

The Leader informed Members that a large amount of work was being put into a sustainable economic recovery and renewal plan and that the council was playing an integral role in bringing together a number of sectors and organisations to support this work. It was noted that the redevelopment of Croydon and the district centres would be important aspects of focus for the economic renewal of the borough following covid-19.

 

It was noted that huge challenges would be experienced by the culture and hospitality industries following lockdown easing and that it was important that the council ensured that the economic recovery of the borough was sustainable and swift. The Leader stated that the sustainable agenda was an important aspect of the recovery agenda during the economic crisis.

 

The Cabinet Member for Environment, Transport & Regeneration (voting – Job Share) noted that it would be easy to put tackling the climate emergency on the back burner, however it was the council’s intention that there was a clear link between economic renewal and sustainability.

 

Members were informed by the Cabinet Member for Economy & Jobs that the council was seeking to shape a green and inclusive economy. With the reopening of businesses, training would be a key area of focus to support residents in acquiring new roles and to tackle skills shortages in particular sectors, such as the care sector. The Cabinet Member noted that women were more likely to work in sectors which had been closed during the lockdown and this inequality needed to be addressed.

 

Inward investment was key to the economic renewal of the borough and the council, it was stated, would look to encourage investment in the borough including large and medium sized businesses which were seeking to relocate outside of inner London.

 

The Cabinet Member informed Members that there was an enquiry taking place on post-pandemic economic growth which the council would feed into.

 

The Cabinet Member for Environment, Transport & Regeneration (non-voting – Job Share) stated that it was important that planning would play a key role in achieving a better environment during the economic recovery. Whist it was important to continue to develop the borough, it was also important to recognise the changed environment as an outcome of covid-19.

 

The Leader informed Members that the council had received positive correspondence from Westfield in recent weeks in terms of the redevelopment of Croydon town centre which was welcomed. In spite of this positivity, the Leader stated that whether it be Westfield or another developer it was important that the redevelopment of the town centre was not stalled, however it was recognised that the redevelopment would need to evolve given the changes to the retail market in recent times. Furthermore, it was stated that the town centre would be redeveloped on a more human scale with fewer larger complexes and more open spaces. It was confirmed to Members that the Leader had spoken to Chris Philp MP and it had been agreed that cross party agreement was important to a successful redevelopment of the town.

 

In response to Member questions, the Leader noted that it was intended there would be a number of work streams as part of the renewal board which would look at specific areas and would welcome contributions from different businesses and organisations. Cabinet Members would also welcome the contribution of Shadow Cabinet Members.

 

The Cabinet Member for Culture, Leisure & Sport stated that he was proud of the administration’s record of investing in the borough’s cultural network and noted that just before the pandemic, the borough had been awarded Borough of Culture status for 2023 in recognition of this work. In response to questions, the Cabinet Member informed Members that the matter of pianos being removed from Fairfield Halls was for the operator.

 

In terms of the Fairfield Halls reopening, the Cabinet Member stated that it was important clarity was provided by the government on dates cultural sites could reopen and the arrangements that were needed to be put in place. Members were informed that BH Live remained committed to the running of Fairfield Halls.

 

Concerns were raised in relation to the ending of the under-18 travel concession in London, which had been imposed on TfL as part of the government financial bailout. It was noted that Croydon had the largest number of young people in London and that the impact of this cut would be far reaching. Concerns were raised that a number of young people would be unable to continue with their studies with the additional costs and the council would be required to fund travel costs of those who were covered statutorily which had previously been covered by TfL.

 

In response to these concerns, the Cabinet Member for Environment, Transport & Regeneration (voting – Job Share) stated that there was a statutory obligation on local authorities to provide home to school travel where criteria had been met, however no London borough had the apparatus in place to support this as this had been managed by TfL since 2005. It was noted that the entitlement only covered home to school travel and so did not provide for weekend, school holiday or after school travel which would impact young people. The Cabinet Member stated that cross-party lobbying was required to raise this impact upon the young people of London.

 

The Leader of the Council delegated authority to the Cabinet to make the following decisions:

 

RESOLVED: To

 

1.     Record its thanks to the Council’s partners in the public, private and voluntary and community sector who have come together as one borough to respond to the Covid-19 crisis.

 

2.     Note the approach now proposed for the Council to work in partnership towards a sustainable economic renewal strategy.

 

3.     Approve the establishment of a cross-sector Croydon Sustainable Economic Renewal Board to lead and coordinate the borough’s renewal plan.

 

Supporting documents: