Agenda item

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

 

The following two Motions, one from the Administration and one from the Labour Group, will be debated:

 

Conservative Administration Motion

 

This Council RESOLVES:

 

 

Labour Group Motion

 

This Council RESOLVES:

 

This year, Croydon proudly joins the nation in celebrating 'Windrush 75’, marking 75 years since the Empire Windrush's arrival at Tilbury in 1948, bringing 1,027 passengers from the Caribbean including 500 from Jamaica.  

This saw the start of the ‘Windrush Generation’ defined as people who arrived in the UK from the Caribbean between 1948 and 1973, invited by the British government to help rebuild the mother-country after World War II.  

 

Croydon Council salutes the 'Windrush Generation,' their contribution to post-war Britain and enrichment of our borough's cultural diversity.

As we celebrate Windrush 75, we recognise that the country must address ongoing fallout from the ‘Hostile Environment,' which leaves many Windrushers still seeking fair and just compensation for the adverse impact on their lives. 

 

We also recognise that legacies of the past still manifest themselves today in inequitable outcomes for Windrush descendants as evidenced in the educational attainment of Black boys who are disproportionately excluded from mainstream education. These issues require robust policies to address them. 

 

We affirm Croydon’s commitment to becoming an anti-racist Council and extend our apology for past unjust Council policies, like the 'Ban on Bashment' affecting Reggae, Grime and Hip-Hop performers, that was introduced in 2008 and lasted for a decade. 

 

Croydon Council is resolute in supporting cultural expressions and commits to fostering a thriving, inclusive, night-time economy for all.

 

May Windrush 75 remind us of our shared history and our unwavering commitment to social justice and inclusivity in Croydon.

 

 

Conservative Group Motion

 

Councillor Lynne Hale in moving the Conservative Group Debate Motion, spoke in favour of the motion and argued that:

·       The Council’s most valuable work, in terms of potential outcomes, must be focused on the borough’s diverse local communities, grassroots organisations that understood exactly what their local communities needed and could deliver better value for money and more agile solutions.

 

·       The Council would have to do less until the finances stabilised but could still listen and empower residents to do more for themselves.

·       While the events of the past few weeks have been extraordinarily distressing and difficult, it had been incredibly moving to see how so many diverse communities had pulled together.

 

Councillor Leila Ben-Hassel spoke to the motion on behalf of the Opposition and stated that:

·       The Opposition welcomed the motion and was dedicated to ensuring that local voices were heard and all residents were treated fairly with respect and dignity and solutions provided to the issues facing residents despite the council's financial situation.

 

·      Though the Council had not been able to help in some issues such as homelessness, but could work collectively with local residents as they were happy to get more involved but wanted to be better supported.  Community groups were well resourced networks and had the ability to respond and transform local assets to meet their own needs. Also, Councillors should be fully informed of the Council’s initiatives and engaged to work in partnership with the Council in putting residents first.

Councillor Ola Kolade, the Cabinet Member for Community Safety, seconding the motion argued that:

·       The Council was listening to its diverse communities and taking action to tackle the key issues in the borough and this meant true partnership, fostering relationships with voluntary and community groups and faith groups, listening to residents, empathizing and addressing the issues that mattered to them.

 

·       The Council was also listening to the business community and actively seeking opportunities to support town and district centres and local businesses in areas that have been let down for too long.

·       Diverse committee groups had played a key role in co-creating and co-delivering over 30 projects with over 50 schools engaged in community safety.

 

·       The introduction of the Residence Charter and a community safety engagement board, the Blitz Clean-up campaign was evidence that the Council was listening to its diverse communities and taking action to tackle the key issues facing local residents.

 

Councillor Rowenna Davis, Chair of Scrutiny argued that:

 

·       Whilst the Opposition would vote for the motion, it had no confidence in the words due to the results of past attempts. She stated that the passion expressed in the community meetings after the recent tragic events showed that residents were desperate to get involved. 

 

·       She advised that Council should have given residents opportunities to help design and lead solutions to the violence in the borough or explore examples of best practice from other London boroughs such as Islington Council’s Fairness Commission on Newer Citizens Assemblies.

The motion was put to the vote, with Council voting UNANIMOUSLY in favour of the motion.

 

RESOLVED, that:

 

1.    The Council was committed to listening to, respecting and working in partnership with Croydon’s diverse communities.

 

2.    The Council was dedicated to ensuring that local voices were heard and were at the heart of every work and that all residents were treated fairly, with respect and dignity.

 

The Executive Mayor speaking in response to the debate stated:

·       He was grateful for the cross-party support and advised that the Residents Charter was an important living document, that demonstrated the Council’s commitment to listening to residents and encouraging their involvement in the decisions which impact on their lives such as the appointment of house service repair contractors and the regeneration of Regina Road.

 

·       The new homelessness prevention team was now up and running and the new staffing structure would be aiming to ensure that the maximum wait time for new cases would be two weeks; emergencies could be seen  to within 48 hours with a new focus of preventing homelessness at the earliest opportunity and ensuring that residents were treated fairly with respect and dignity.

 

 

Labour Group Motion

 

Councillor Callton Young OBE, the Deputy Leader of the Opposition and Shadow Cabinet Member for Finance in moving the Labour Group Motion stated:

 

·       That this year, Croydon proudly joined the nation in celebrating 'Windrush 75’, marking 75 years since the Empire Windrush's arrival at Tilbury in 1948, bringing 1,027 passengers from the Caribbean including 500 from Jamaica.

 

·       He explained that this saw the start of the ‘Windrush Generation’ defined as people who arrived in the UK from the Caribbean between 1948 and 1973, invited by the British government to help rebuild the mother-country after World War II. Croydon Council saluted the 'Windrush Generation,' their contribution to post-war Britain and enrichment of our borough's cultural diversity.

 

·       Councillor Callton Young advised that as Windrush 75 was being celebrated, the country must address ongoing fallout from the ‘Hostile Environment,' which had left many Windrushers still seeking fair and just compensation for the adverse impact on their lives.

 

·       He stated that it was recognised that legacies of the past still manifested themselves today in inequitable outcomes for Windrush descendants as evidenced in the educational attainment of Black boys who were disproportionately excluded from mainstream education. These issues required robust policies to address them.

 

·       Councillor Callton Young affirmed Croydon’s commitment to becoming an anti-racist Council and apologised for past unjust Council policies, like the 'Ban on Bashment' affecting Reggae, Grime and Hip-Hop performers, that was introduced in 2008 and lasted for a decade. Croydon Council was resolute in supporting cultural expressions and committed to fostering a thriving, inclusive, night-time economy for all. He called for Windrush 75 to remind us of our shared history and our unwavering commitment to social justice and inclusivity in Croydon.

 

Councillor Andy Stranack, the Cabinet Member for Culture spoke in favour of the motion and stated that:

 

·       He had agreed with the Executive Mayor that this year as the London Borough of Culture, a spotlight must be shone on the rich, diverse communities that make up Croydon. It was the reason the year started with the successful Caribbean Influences exhibition which would be on display at the National Portrait Gallery until middle of February 2024.

·       Croydon had played an important role in the celebrations nationally and local events were held which celebrated the vital contribution that the Windrush generation had made to Croydon, but also did not shy away from personal testimonies of the hostile environments that newcomers faced even before and after they arrived in the UK.

 

·       Thankfully, so many of this first generation showed courage and perseverance through the discrimination and had created the diverse communities present today, there was a need to learn and continue to learn and shine a spotlight on their experiences to overcome existing barriers and prevent the erection of new ones.

 

·       Over the next six months, the Borough of Culture would certainly continue to support events that highlighted and celebrated the Windrush generation.

Councillor Patsy Cummings speaking in favour of the motion argued that:

 

·       A hostile environment policy introduced in the late 2000s to deter illegal immigration, required the Windrush generation to provide documents going back decades. Unfortunately, due to various reasons, they were unable to provide this, resulting in significant challenges to their rights and legal status.

 

·       The consequences of these policies brought about unimaginable suffering for some people who had lived in the UK for most of their lives, who suddenly faced deportation, were wrongfully detained and denied access to health care and employment, and some lost their homes.

 

·       The scandal that erupted in 2018 shed light on the government's mishandling of their legal status and triggered an official inquiry. The Home Office promised to resolve the situation, acknowledging that the Wind Rush Generation had been treated wrongly.

 

·       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 had brought to the borough and the Windrush Flag was raised.

 

·       In December 2018, Councillor Callton Young and Councillor Patsy Cummings moved a motion which was carried unanimously to call upon the Conservative Central Government not to cap compensation amounts payable to victims of the hostile environment and to continue to review by our business policies and procedures to support those affected, and to press the Prime Minister, at the time, to call an independent public inquiry into the Windrush scandal.

 

·       Councillor Patsy Cummings in conclusion, stated that the Windrush Generation encapsulated a significant chapter in the history of recent migration in the UK, while some steps have been taken to rectify those historical wrongs, and while this local authority was playing its part, it remained essential to remember the Windrush generation, who played a pivotal role in rebuilding culture.

 

Councillor Joseph Lee speaking in favour of the motion stated that:

·       He was a child of the Windrush Generation and was proud of the contributions they had made to enrich the UK, culturally, economically, and socially. He commended their resilience, hard work, and unwavering commitment to a better future for themselves and for the United Kingdom.

 

·       The legacy of Windrushers was woven into the fabric of our society, and it was a legacy that should be honoured, cherished and celebrated. The fact that legacy still affected outcomes for Windrush descendants could not be ignored such as was seen in the education attainment of Black boys who were disproportionately excluded from mainstream education.

 

·       The Council’s commitment to becoming an anti-racist organisation needed working together to dismantle the barriers in the way of a more equitable future that was fair, inclusive for all where everyone, regardless of their background, could thrive and contribute to the vibrant tapestry of Croydon.

Councillor Callton Young exercising his right of last reply argued that:

·       The government had promised to right the wrongs done to the Windrushers but five years later, too many victims were still fighting.  He advised that the finding of a public review in 2017 was that the 'Ban on Bashment' policy had been written into the Council’s licensing policy for almost a decade. He stated the Council must become an anti-racist Council and never again should it be allowed to attack a cultural expression best celebrated as part of the Croydon’s collective diversity.

 

The motion was put to the vote, with Council voting UNANIMOUSLY in favour of the motion.

 

RESOLVED, to:

 

1.    Affirm the Council’s commitment to becoming an anti-racist Council and extend apologies for past unjust Council policies, like the 'Ban on Bashment' affecting Reggae, Grime and Hip-Hop performers, that was introduced in 2008 and lasted for a decade.

 

2.    Affirm the Council’s resolution and commitment to supporting cultural expressions and fostering a thriving, inclusive, night-time economy for all.

 

The Executive Mayor speaking in response to the debate stated:

·       That the contributions by the Windrushers to the country should be commended but many governments had mistreated them over time and those injustices should be put right. He commended Councillor Callton Young for stopping the 'Ban on Bashment' Policy in his party within those ten years.

·       The Executive Mayor stated that the Council had adopted a refreshed Equality Strategy, tonight building on the adoption of the George Floyd Race Matters pledge. Ensuring the Council had an accurate and relevant Equality Strategy that was anti-racist was pivotal to success in the provision of essential services to all London Borough of Croydon residents.

·       He concluded the Council must be committed to tackling social justice, injustice and ensuring inclusivity so that all Croydon residents felt valued  and respected.

 

 

The first Debate Motion submitted by the Executive Mayor was MOVED by Councillor Lyne Halewho spoke in favour of the motion and argued that:

• The Council’s most valuable work, in terms of potential outcomes, must be focused on the borough’s diverse local communities, those grassroots organisations who understood exactly what their local communities need and could deliver better value for money and more agile solutions.

 

• Going forward, understandably, the Council would have to do less until the finances were stabilised but could listen to and empower residents to do more for themselves.
  
  
• While the events of the past few weeks have been extraordinarily distressing and difficult, it had been incredibly moving to see how so many diverse community growth had pulled together.
  
  

Councillor Leila Ben- Hassiel spoke to the motion on behalf of the opposition.

• The opposition welcomed the motion and was dedicated to ensuring that local voices were heard and all residents were treated fairly with respect and dignity and solutions provided to the issues facing residents despite the council's financial situation.

 

·      Though the Council had not been able to help in some issues such as homelessness but could working collectively with local residents as they were happy to get more involved but wanted to be better supported.  Community groups were well resourced networks and had the ability to respond and transform local assets to meet their own needs. Also, Councillors should be fully informed of the Council’s initiatives and engaged to work in partnership with the Council in putting residents first.

Councillor Ola Kolade, the Cabinet Member for Community Safety seconding the motion stated that:

• The Council was listening to our diverse communities and taking action to tackle the key issues in the borough andthis meant true partnership, fosteringrelationships with voluntary and community groups and faith groups, listening to residents, empathizing and addressing the issues that matter to them.

 

• The Council was also listening to the business community and actively seeking opportunities to support town and district centres and listening to local businesses in areas that have been let down for too long.
  
  
• Diverse committee groups had played a key role in co-creating and co-delivering over 30 projects with over 50 schools engaged in community safety.

 

• The introduction of the Residence Charter and a community safety engagement board, the Clean-up Blitz campaign was evidence that the Council was listening to our diverse communities and taking action to tackle the key issues facing local residents.

 

Councillor Rena Davis then stated that:

 

·       Whilst the opposition would vote for the motion they had no confidence due the results of past attempts. She stated that the stark and desperate passion expressed in the community meetings due to the recent tragic events showed that residents were desperate to get involved. 

 

·       She advised that the Council should have given residents ways to help design and lead solutions to the violence or looking at examples of best practice from other boroughs such as Islington Fairness Commission on New Newer Citizens Assemblies.

 

The Executive Mayor excising his right of reply in closing stated:

• He was grateful for the cross-party support and advised that the Residents Charter was an important living document, that demonstrated the Council’s commitment to listening to residents and encouraging their involvement in the decisions which impact on their lives such as the appointment of house service repair contractors and regeneration of Regina Road.

 

• The new homelessness prevention team was now up and running and the new staffing structure would be aiming to ensure that the maximum wait time for new cases would be two weeks and emergencies could be seen within 48 hours with a new focus of preventing homelessness at the earliest opportunity ensuring that our residents were treated fairly with respect and dignity.

 

 

The motion was then put to the vote, with Council voting UNANIMOUSLY in favour of the motion.

 

RESOLVED:

 

That the Council was committed to listening to, respecting and working in partnership with Croydon’s diverse communities.

 

The Council was dedicated to ensuring that local voices were heard and were at the heart of every work and that all residents were treated fairly, with respect and dignity.