Home > Agenda item

Agenda item

Ambitious for Croydon 2018 to 2022

Officer: Julian Ellerby

Key decision: no

Decision:

The Leader of the Council has delegated to the Cabinet the power to make the decisions set out below.

 

RESOLVED to:

 

  1. Note and endorse the ambitions of the administration for 2018-22

 

  1. Note and endorse the delivery of a new Corporate Plan

Minutes:

The Leader introduced the item by outlining that the report sought to highlight the key themes form the manifesto and would inform the Corporate Plan that would be taken to the Cabinet meeting in September 2018. While it was noted that the future for Croydon looked strong, with the Westfield Hammerson announcement, there remained huge challenges for the borough; and it was important to ensure that everyone shared and benefited from any development.

 

A short film was shown to Cabinet which can be viewed on the meeting webcast.

 

The Statutory Deputy Leader noted that one of the key ambitions for the next four years was to provide safe homes for all, and that combating street homelessness would remain a key priority. To ensure homes were being delivered for Croydon residents across the borough the council would continue to work with Brick by Brick. The Cabinet were informed that over 900 residents had registered an interest in the Brick by Brick homes that were due to be delivered.

 

It was further noted by the Cabinet Member for Safer Croydon & Communities that to provide safe homes, the safety of communities was a clear responsibility for the council which was a key theme for the next four years. Work would continue to scrutinise the work undertaken to ensure that a public health approach of early intervention was being undertaken to ensure the safety of young people who were the future of the borough. The Cabinet Member acknowledged that partners in the voluntary sector would be key in delivering the prevention strategy, and commitments had been made to invest £6 million into the sector.

 

The Cabinet Member for Children, Young People & Learning confirmed that children and increasing opportunities for young people would remain a focus going forward. A youth festival would be delivered and further work would be undertaken to reduce youth unemployment.

 

Furthermore, it was stated by the Cabinet Member for Economy & Jobs that it remained the aspiration of the council to open a university in the borough to further increase opportunities for young people. While it was noted that the opening of Westfield would bring new jobs it would be important to ensure that young people were supported to get apprenticeships.

 

The Cabinet Member for Environment, Transport & Regeneration (Job Share) noted that more jobs would be created over the next four years and that work would be undertaken to build the economy further. Ensuring good infrastructure was in place, it was stated, would be integral to delivering the development including; better transport connections, delivering the cycling strategy and the air quality commitments, planting 3,500 street trees, and installing 400 electric vehicle charge points.

 

The Cabinet was informed by the Chair of the Health & Wellbeing Board that over the next four years it was the intention to build upon the foundation of the Board, and work would continue with the Cabinet to reduce health inequalities.

 

In response to a query regarding the Cabinet Member Job Share the Leader confirmed that a briefing note would be circulated which would outline how the role will function. It was noted that the model of a Cabinet Member Job Share was functioning in the London Boroughs of Lambeth and Lewisham, and that it was the Leader’s ambition to utilise the talent of councillors wherever possible.

 

The Leader of the Opposition suggested the 2018 Local Election had shown an increasingly polarised borough with residents in the south of the borough feeling that things were done to them rather than with them, or for them. The Leader of the Council stated that the administration was there for all of Croydon, and that it was his hope that the two parties would be able to find common ground and utilise their passion for Croydon to deliver for the residents.

 

The Cabinet Member for Families, Health & Social Care further noted that dementia was a condition experienced by a higher number of residents in the south of the borough, and the council was committed to help these residents and their carers. The Cabinet Member committed to ensuring that where there health conditions experienced across the borough that the budget would be fairly spent.

 

The council was committed to being a London Living Wage employer and the Cabinet Member for Finance & Resources further confirmed that work would continue to ensure more contracts with local businesses were formed, where possible. To ensure delivery for residents the Cabinet Member stated it was important to focus resources on meeting their needs.

 

The Leader of the Council delegated to the Cabinet the power to make the decisions set out below.

 

RESOLVED to:

 

  1. Note and endorse the ambitions of the administration for 2018-22

 

  1. Note and endorse the delivery of a new Corporate Plan

Supporting documents: