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Agenda and minutes

Venue: Council Chamber, Town Hall, Katharine Street, Croydon CR0 1NX. View directions

Contact: Annette Wiles 020 872 6000 x64877  Email: annette.wiles@croydon.gov.uk

Items
No. Item

40/18

Minutes of the Previous Meeting pdf icon PDF 191 KB

To approve the minutes of the meeting held on 8 October 2018 as an accurate record.

 

Minutes:

The minutes of the meeting held on Monday 8 October 2018 were agreed as an accurate record.

 

41/18

Disclosure of Interests

In accordance with the Council’s Code of Conduct and the statutory provisions of the Localism Act, Members and co-opted Members of the Council are reminded that it is a requirement to register disclosable pecuniary interests (DPIs) and gifts and hospitality to the value of which exceeds £50 or multiple gifts and/or instances of hospitality with a cumulative value of £50 or more when received from a single donor within a rolling twelve month period. In addition, Members and co-opted Members are reminded that unless their disclosable pecuniary interest is registered on the register of interests or is the subject of a pending notification to the Monitoring Officer, they are required to disclose those disclosable pecuniary interests at the meeting. This should be done by completing the Disclosure of Interest form and handing it to the Democratic Services representative at the start of the meeting. The Chair will then invite Members to make their disclosure orally at the commencement of Agenda item 3. Completed disclosure forms will be provided to the Monitoring Officer for inclusion on the Register of Members’ Interests.

 

Minutes:

There were no declarations of pecuniary interests. Members confirmed their disclosure of interest forms were accurate and up-to-date.

 

 

42/18

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.

Minutes:

There were no items of urgent business.

 

43/18

Announcements

To receive Announcements, if any, from the Mayor, the Leader, Head of Paid Service and Returning Officer.

Minutes:

Madam Mayor, Councillor Bernadette Khan, provided Members of Council with her announcements. She had recently had the honour of visiting many Croydon schools, including Croydon College, to present graduates with their degrees and diplomas.

 

Madam Mayor had the honour of attending the Civic Awards that gave recognition to those who had made a significant contribution to improving the lives of others.

 

Madam Mayor also attended the Star Award Ceremony in celebration of the talent, success and achievements of looked after young people, who went on to achieve amazing outcomes. 

 

Madam Mayor had proudly attended the Metropolitan Police Service Commendation Ceremony where Croydon police officers and members of the public were honoured for going above and beyond the call of duty in service of others. The pride felt by Madam Mayor and the Croydon Borough Commander whilst presenting the awards was noted.

 

Madam Mayor was delighted to have hosted an interfaith celebration of Eid and Diwali in Croydon Town Hall as an expression of Croydon’s diversity.

 

Lastly, Madam Mayor gave thanks to all those involved in organising a concert in aid of the Mayor’s charity for Cancer Research UK.

 

Madam Mayor invited the Leader of the Council, Councillor Tony Newman, to make his announcements. Councillor Newman reported that a response had been received from the Home Office to the Council’s letter. However, there was still no clarity on any settlement regarding the £7 million that Croydon was underfunded for the costs of care provided to Unaccompanied Asylum Seeking Children. Further, that the next Cabinet meeting would see a paper on the implications of Brexit and the potential risks for and damage it could do to the borough.

44/18

Croydon Question Time pdf icon PDF 68 KB

a)    Public Questions (30 minutes)

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

 

b)    Leader and Cabinet Member Questions (105 minutes)

To receive questions from Councillors.

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The Mayor began the item with questions from members of the public.

 

Priscilla Jones asked a question relating to start-up loans for new businesses. Councillor Shahul-Hameed, Cabinet Member for Economy and Jobs, responded that the Council provided enterprise funds from £1k to £50k to those who would like to start their own business.

 

Monica Bins asked a question seeking an update on the Westfield development. Councillor Newman, Leader, responded that Westfield was on track to be successful and the Council was targeting big high street brands in order to maintain the retail sector in Croydon.

 

John Burtenshaw asked a question relating to the Blackhorse Lane Bridge. Councillor King, Cabinet Member for Environment, Transport & Regeneration (job-share), responded that the replacement of the bridge was a significant undertaking and he was confident that this would be resolved as quickly as possible.

 

Alan Corline asked a question relating to the sub-letting of social housing. Councillor Butler, Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Homes & Gateway Services, responded that the new General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) regulations had placed restrictions on naming and shaming in public those who broke the sub-letting rules. However, those who did break the law on sub-letting would be prosecuted.

 

Keith Cooper asked a question relating to bin obstructions. Councillor Collins, Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Clean Green Croydon, responded that residents should be leaving their bins at the curtilage for collection. The private contractor was to take bins from the curtilage and return them to the same point after emptying. Residents would be contacted if their bins were unintentionally left on the highway. For other areas in the borough where there were issues around access, the private contractor was to operate a different system of bin collection.

 

Alexander Hughes asked a question relating to spending on speed limit signs.  Councillor King responded that speed limit signs was a legal requirement following the Council’s decision to reduce speed limits to 20mph in all residential roads in Croydon.

 

Andrew Rendle asked a question in relation to MMR vaccinations. Councillor Avis, Cabinet Member for Families, Health & Social Care, responded that Croydon was working closely with the Clinical Commissioning Group to identify GP surgeries where parents were not taking-up the MMR vaccination for their children. The Council is also working closely with Public Health England. Promotional letters had been sent to parents and social media was being used to promote MMR vaccinations.

 

Vanessa Webster asked a question in relation to assisted collections. Councillor Collins responded and acknowledged the issues some residents were experiencing with assisted collections. He sent his apologies to Vanessa Webster on behalf of the contractor for the poor service experienced. The Councillor committed to follow-up and ensure a better service would be provided.

 

 

The Mayor then moved the item to Councillor questions to the Leader, Councillor Tony Newman.

 

Councillor Tim Pollard, Leader of the Opposition, asked a question on assisted bin collections for vulnerable residents and the poor service received. The Leader responded that there had been a remarkable change  ...  view the full minutes text for item 44/18

45/18

Member Petitions pdf icon PDF 87 KB

To receive notice of petitions presented by Members on behalf of local residents.

Minutes:

A Member Petition was presented by Councillor Andy Stranack on behalf of residents regarding a Council Tax Refund. It was agreed that Councillor Simon Hall, Cabinet Member for Finance and Resources, would respond in writing.

 

 

46/18

Council Debate Motions

To debate any motions submitted in accordance with Council Procedure Rules.

Minutes:

The Mayor began the item with the first debate motion, submitted by the majority group, which read as follows:

 

Croydon is home to a large population from the Windrush Generation. It is also home to long established institutions set up by the Windrush Generation to self-help their settlement in the UK, not least Croydon Caribbean Credit Union, which is the oldest credit union in the country, and Croydon African Caribbean Family Association.  We also have many residents who are members of national organisations such as the Nurses Association of Jamaica UK and the Association of Jamaicans UK Trust which have branches in Croydon.

 

On 22 June 2018, Croydon Council became the first local authority in the country to establish and celebrate an annual Windrush Day in recognition of the rich diversity Commonwealth Citizens have brought to the Borough.

 

Croydon Council is mortified by the Hostile Environment inspired by Conservative Central Government that has led to detentions, deportations and other restrictions being applied to some British Citizens of the Windrush Generation, coupled with adverse financial and emotional impacts for those affected.

 

Croydon Council resolves to:

·       call upon Conservative Central Government not to cap compensation amounts payable to victims of the Hostile Environment under its compensation scheme or to apply confidentiality agreements, time limits and other arbitrary restrictions,

 

·       support the call for fees for naturalisation to be waived for all who have been affected,

 

·       oppose the criminalisation of Windrush families under the Hostile Environment,

 

·       demand that the Government fully supports advice agencies in their work to achieve justice for all those affected, in Croydon and elsewhere,

 

·       continue to review our own policies and procedures to ensure that we support those affected, and

 

·       press the Prime Minister to call for an independent public inquiry into the Windrush scandal”.

 

Councillor Patsy Cummings, moving the motion, stated that although the Council did not have full figures, Croydon was believed to be the home to hundreds of members of the Windrush Generation from countries across the globe.  Members of the Windrush Generation had made contributions to the country and the borough with their children going on to do the same. Croydon was proud be the only Councito raise a Windrush flag on its seventieth anniversary on 22 June 2018. There were many people that had been deported and had not been contacted by the Windrush Taskforce. The Government should have a compensation scheme that would recognise and value all emotional and monetary loss in addition to the impact of the Government’s policy on family life. Compensation should be determined on an individual, case-by-case basis. The introduction of a capped or partial compensation scheme questioned the value, the merit and the transparency of Government apologies and undermined the commitment to resolve this issue. This Government had shown a refusal to acknowledge the effect on individuals and families who had been traumatised as a result of the scandal and ongoing hostile environment.

 

Councillor Patsy Cummings took the opportunity to reiterate recognition offered for the work of  ...  view the full minutes text for item 46/18

47/18

Recommendations of Cabinet or Committees referred to Council for decision pdf icon PDF 62 KB

To consider the recommendations made by Cabinet since the last ordinary Council meeting relating to the following matters:

 

1.    General Purposes and Audit Committee: Minimum Revenue Provision Policy

2.    General Purposes and Audit Committee: Independent Non-voting Member Recruitment

3.    Cabinet: Adoption of the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance working definition of antisemitism

4.    Licensing Committee: The Gambling Act 2005 - Review of London Borough of Croydon Statement of Principles

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The recommendations as set out in the report were put to the vote and carried. Council RESOLVED:

 

General Purposes and Audit Committee:

1.    Revision of Minimum Revision Statement Report: To adopt the revised Minimum Revenue Provision (MRP) policy statement appended to the report (required by SI 2008/414).

 

2.    Independent Non-voting Member Recruitment: To confirm the appointment of Nousheen Hassan for the remainder of the municipal year and that said appointment be subject to the Code of Conduct for Non-Voting Co-optees.

 

Cabinet:

3.    Adoption of the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance working definition of antisemitism: To adopt the IHRA definition of antisemitism as part of its commitment against any form of discrimination as set out in the report.

 

Licensing Committee:

4.    The Gambling Act 2005 - Review of London Borough of Croydon Statement of Principles: To adopt the revised Statement of Principles as endorsed by the Licensing Committee.

48/18

Exclusion of the Press and Public

The following motion is to be moved and seconded where it is proposed to exclude the press and public from the remainder of a meeting:

 

“That, under Section 100A(4) of the Local Government Act, 1972, the press and public be excluded from the meeting for the following items of business on the grounds that it involves the likely disclosure of exempt information falling within those paragraphs indicated in Part 1 of Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act 1972, as amended.”

 

Minutes:

Not Required.