Agenda not available for this meeting.

• 01

  Apologies for Absence

  

  To receive any apologies for absence from any Members.

• 02

  Minutes of the Previous Meeting

  

  To approve the minutes of the meeting held on 9^th October 2024 as an accurate record.

   

  Minutes - 9 October 2024

• 03

  Disclosure of Interests

  

  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.

   

• 04

  Urgent Business (if any)

  

  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.

• 05

  Announcements

  

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

• 06

  Croydon Question Time

  

  a)    Public Questions (30 minutes)

   

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

   

  1. There has been a marked increase in the anti-social behaviour in the Addiscombe West area since the implementation of a PSPO order around the town centre. Daily residents witness drug deals being openly done. The addicts then sit on garden walls, doorsteps and the alleys between houses to take drugs. They can be verbally abusive if challenged. I have phoned police only to be told there are no cars available - I was not given a CAD number. What further action are the authorities taking to improve this situation and make the area safer. 

   

  2. What steps has the Mayor taken to ensure that squatters, persistent noise disturbances, drug activity and anti-social behaviour are addressed immediately thy are reported and what assurances can be given to Croydon residents facing these situations that they will not be continually ignored? 

   

  3. Has the Council received the police report back regarding Croydon Council mismanagement of the finances? If so, what action is the police taking? Also, if there was any criminal investigation from the police report will the Council go through the proceeds of crime to retrieve money back? 

   

  4. The Fairfield Halls, one of the largest arts venues in South London has hosted high profile names including the Beatles, Morecambe and Wise to Level 42 and Jimmy Carr. Movies including The Da Vinci Code were filmed there.

   
  What about local groups using the Fairfield Halls? A music school is leaving, a resident chamber orchestra is not playing frequently, a local community choir has moved, and a small theatre company closed after 23 years.

    
  Can the council investigate returning the Fairfield Halls back into local control? It could serve its community fully as well as being a high-profile arts venue. 

   

   

   

  Responses to Public Questions

• 07

  The Croydon Debate

  

  For Members to debate the following Member Petitions:

   

  1.    Zebra crossings have been proven effective in reducing pedestrian accidents by up to 70% (source: Department of Transport UK). By implementing one on Harold Road, we can ensure the safety of our children and all residents who need to cross this busy street daily. A zebra crossing between Chevening Road and College Green would provide a clearly marked and safe crossing point, enhancing visibility and encouraging drivers to adhere to the speed limit.

   

  Harold Road has become increasingly hazardous due to the frequent parking of vehicles back to back, which significantly obstructs the view of drivers and pedestrians alike. This situation is of particular concern given the proximity of Harold Road to Westow Park and the local shops where many children and families visit after school hours. The current conditions pose a serious risk to their safety, as visibility is severely limited and pedestrians, especially young families may find it difficult to cross the road safely.

   

  We urge the local council of London Borough of Croydon and Transport for London to take immediate action.

   

  A zebra crossing would not only improve safety but also provide peace of mind to all who use Harold Road and visit Westow Park. The safety of our children and local residents should never be compromised.

   

  2.    The sudden changes to our climate are the biggest threat to humanity and our way of life that we have ever faced. We know that these changes continue to be made worse by burning fossil fuels (coal, oil, and gas) and so we need to do all we can to stop that.

  
  Croydon Council should not be investing in supporting the extraction or burning of fossil fuels - it is completely immoral to try to make profits out of our own destruction.

  
  On 7 February 2022, Croydon council formally approved the Croydon Carbon Neutral Action plan (1), after declaring a Climate Emergency in 2019. This set the implementation of strong environmental, social and governance (ESG) policy for the pension fund, but did not set a deadline for divestment. Platform London calculates that £78.4M of Croydon’s pension Fund is invested in fossil fuels (2), and contributes to the £867.7M invested in fossil fuels by the London Collective Investment Vehicle (3).
  
  We, the undersigned, urge the council to build on its Responsible Investment Policy (4) and:

   

  • Divest all assets directly held in fossil fuel companies by May 2026: This should include companies directly contributing to the extraction, production, and refinement of fossil fuels.
  • Divest all assets indirectly held in fossil fuel companies by May 2030: This should include companies directly involved in the supply chain of the fossil fuel industry, who are complicit.
  • Publish an annual summary of where assets are held: within, or as an addition to the Annual Report Pension Board.
  • Provide a clear breakdown of how Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) criteria is calculated by the Fund’s investment managers: Greater transparency of how this mechanism is used will help improve trust in divestment action, and allow for refinement of its calculation.
  • Create a public ESG portal: To help companies in Croydon understand how they can divest from fossil fuels.
  • Consult unions: Formally consult unions, representing Croydon’s Council’s workers, in investment decisions and explore formal representation of unions in the council’s investment decision processes.
  • Lobby LCIV: As a member of the London CIV, which was founded by London Local Authorities, and manages London Local Government Pension Scheme assets, apply pressure and work with other London Borough pension fund managers to ensure funds invested in align with the ambitions listed above.
  • Feedback to Full Council: Progress made on divestment should be reported to the Pensions Committee and Full Council every 6 months.

   

  3.    Croydon should not be investing public money in companies that support and enable regimes to commit war crimes, human rights atrocities, or genocide. Croydon residents have family and community connections to people across the world who are suffering, and our Council should not be supporting those abuses.

   

  Croydon Council not only has legal obligations not to support war crimes and genocide, it also has moral and ethical obligations. For example through the Croydon Equality Pledges (1), and specifically the George Floyd Race Matters Pledge (2), Croydon Council has a commitment to put anti-racist practices into its strategies, actions and behaviours. All of these should be recognised in decisions over where Council Pension Fund money is invested.

   

  We know that local authority pension funds collectively invest over half a billion in the arms trade and over £4.4 billion in companies complicit in Israel’s oppression of Palestinians (3). Croydon should not be trying to profit from atrocities. The Law Commission of England and Wales has issued guidance clarifying that “there are no legal or regulatory barriers to social investment” and reminded trustees bluntly that “it is possible to do well and do good at the same time.”

   

  The UK Government has already recognised the genocide being committed against Uyghurs and other groups in Xinjiang, China. There is also mounting evidence from recognised legal experts and international bodies, including agencies of the United Nations, of ongoing human rights violations, and accusations of apartheid genocide by Israel in the occupied Palestinian territories.

   

  The former Leader of Croydon Council issued a statement in support of Ukraine following the invasion by Russia and residents have highlighted the ongoing crimes and atrocities being committed in Yemen, West Papua, Western Sahara, Democratic Republic of Congo, and Sudan. This list is not exhaustive but each of them is a clear example of conflicts that Croydon Council should not be making any worse.

   

  Aside from the immediate impact on local populations, the world’s militaries combined, and the industries that provide their equipment, are estimated to create 5% of all global emissions, with little transparency or accountability (4). Croydon Council’s recognition of the climate emergency is yet another reason to divest from these activities.

   

  Therefore we, the undersigned, are calling on Croydon Council to:

   

  • Specifically identify and disclose its investment in, or other financial relationship with, companies that support or enable war crimes, human rights atrocities, or genocide - including any investments that are likely to include these companies or lead to these activities.
  • Divest all funds administered by the Council within 6 months of completion of the review from the harmful companies identified in that review, and immediately freeze any new investment in the top 100 arms-producing and military services companies and any companies complicit in Israel’s genocide and apartheid.
  • Significantly build on its Responsible Investment Policy (5) and adopt an ethical investment framework which:

   

  1)    Prohibits investment in companies that contribute to or enable war crimes, human rights atrocities, or genocide;

   

  2)    Explores divestment options and implements divestment from direct ownership and any commingled funds that include investments in firms that derive any revenue from arms or weapons, and companies working in illegally occupied territories (as recognised by the United Nations); and

   

  3) Actively seeks to invest in companies that have an express policy commitment and strategy for respecting and protecting human rights and explores climate, nature-based and community-positive solutions.

   

  • Endorse the global movement for the Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions (BDS) of companies and entities that are complicit in the oppression and exploitation of the Palestinian people, as part of this Council’s broader commitment to human rights.

   

  • Formally consult unions, representing Croydon’s Council’s workers, in investment decisions and explore formal representation of unions in the council’s investment decision processes.
  • As a member of the London CIV, which was founded by London Local Authorities, and manages London Local Government Pension Scheme assets, apply pressure and work with other London borough pension fund managers to ensure there are funds available to invest in, that align with the ambitions listed above.
  • Report back to Full Council and the Pensions Committee on progress on these areas twice a year.

   

   

• 08

  Reports to Council

  

• 08

  Equality Annual Report 2024

  

  To note the Annual Report detailing progress made in delivering the Equality Strategy 2023-27.

   
  
  

   

  Report

  Appendix 1 - Croydon Equality Annual Report 2024

• 08

  The Gambling Act 2005 - Review of London Borough of Croydon's Statement of Principles

  

  To approve and adopt the Statement of Licensing Principles 2025-2028.

  Report

  Appendix 1 - Statement of Principles 2025-2028

  Appendix 2A - Report to Cabinet 20 November 2024

  Appendix 2B - Appendices to Cabinet Report 20 November 2024

• 08

  Amendment to the Pay Policy Statement 2024-25

  

  To approve the adoption of the amended Pay Policy Statement 2024-2025.

  Report

  Appendix 1 -Croydon Council Pay Policy Statement - 2024-25

  Appendix 2 - Market Supplement Policy and Procedure

• 08

  Treasury Management Strategy Statement and Annual and Investment Strategy Mid-Year Review 2024-25

  

  To consider the contents of the mid-year report on the treasury management activity for 2024-25.

  Mid-Year Treasury Management Report

• 08

  The Youth Justice Plan

  

  To endorse the Youth Justice Plan in line with statutory obligations detailed in the Crime and Disorder Act 1998.

   

  Report

  Appendix A1 - Report to Cabinet 30 October 2024

  Appendix A2 - Croydon Youth Justice PLan 2024-25, 30/10/2024 Cabinet

• 08

  Proposed Changes to the Constitution

  

  To agree the proposed changes to the Constitution.

  Report

  Appendix 1 - Report to General Purposes Committee 5 November 2024 - CPRs Review

  Appendix 1 - Sub App 1 - Part 4A CPRs with track changes

  Appendix 1 - Sub App 1a Part 4A CPRs with accepted track changes

  Appendix 1 - Sub App 2 - Part 4C BPF with track changes

  Appendix 1 - Sub App 2a - Part 4C BPF withaccepted track changes

  Appendix 2 - Report to General Purposes Committee on Miscellanous Changes to the Constitution

  Appendix 2 - Sub App 1 - Part 4E & 4F

  Appendix 2 - Sub App 2 - Part 6D

• 08

  Council Calendar 2025-26

  

  To agree the Council Calendar 2025-26.

  Report

  Appendix A - Draft Council Calendar 2025-26 by Committee

  Appendix B - Draft Council Calendar 2025-26 by Date

• 09

  Questions to Mayor and Executive

  

  To receive questions from Councillors.

• 10

  Appointments

  

  To agree any in-year changes to appointments.

• 11

  Council Debate Motions

  

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

   

  Conservative Group Motion

   

  This Council RESOLVES that:

   

  Council notes the Labour Government’s first Budget, which increases the rate of Employer National Insurance and lowers the threshold at which it starts to apply. This will require Croydon Council, as well as external contractors, to pay more tax for each employee hired.

   

  Council notes that the Government has said it will provide some support to the public sector for these costs, but the amount of support is not yet clear. Furthermore, there is no guarantee that this support will cover the costs borne by Croydon Council's external contractors - especially in Adult Social Care.

   

  Council urges the Government to ensure that Councils across the country are compensated for the full cost of the rise in Employer National Insurance, especially given its potential impact on the Adult Social Care sector.

   

   

  Labour Group Motion

   

  This Council RESOLVES that:

   

  This Council believes women and girls are not safe enough in Croydon.

   

  This Council welcomes the leadership the new Government is bringing to this important issue and supports its target to reduce by half violence against women and girls within a decade. 

   

  This Council welcomes the VAWG strategy and delivery plan as an important step but feels it should be strengthened in the following ways:

   

  1. Include numerical targets to sit alongside statements of intent.

   

  2. Adopt Labour’s target of halving violence against women and girls in a decade and incorporate it into the council’s plan.

   

  3. Distribute a printed hard copy directory of VAWG services in the community.

   

  4. Recruit and train 100 Domestic Abuse champions from the community to help prevent VAWG.

   

  This council reaffirms its commitment to work with partners, including the Government, as part of a whole-system approach to safeguard victims and pursue perpetrators.

   

   

   

   

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• 

  Minutes - 9 October 2024

• 

  Responses to Public Questions

• 

  Report

• 

  Appendix 1 - Croydon Equality Annual Report 2024

• 

  Report

• 

  Appendix 1 - Statement of Principles 2025-2028

• 

  Appendix 2A - Report to Cabinet 20 November 2024

• 

  Appendix 2B - Appendices to Cabinet Report 20 November 2024

• 

  Report

• 

  Appendix 1 -Croydon Council Pay Policy Statement - 2024-25

• 

  Appendix 2 - Market Supplement Policy and Procedure

• 

  Mid-Year Treasury Management Report

• 

  Restricted enclosure

• 

  Appendix A1 - Report to Cabinet 30 October 2024

• 

  Report

• 

  Appendix 1 - Report to General Purposes Committee 5 November 2024 - CPRs Review

• 

  Appendix 1 - Sub App 1 - Part 4A CPRs with track changes

• 

  Appendix 1 - Sub App 1a Part 4A CPRs with accepted track changes

• 

  Appendix 1 - Sub App 2 - Part 4C BPF with track changes

• 

  Appendix 1 - Sub App 2a - Part 4C BPF withaccepted track changes

• 

  Appendix 2 - Report to General Purposes Committee on Miscellanous Changes to the Constitution

• 

  Appendix 2 - Sub App 1 - Part 4E & 4F

• 

  Appendix 2 - Sub App 2 - Part 6D

• 

  Report

• 

  Appendix A - Draft Council Calendar 2025-26 by Committee

• 

  Appendix B - Draft Council Calendar 2025-26 by Date

• 

  Report

• 

  Appendix A2 - Croydon Youth Justice PLan 2024-25, 30/10/2024 Cabinet

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