WHO RUNS? Croydon 1 More information is available online at www.whorunslondon.org.uk Operation Black Vote 18 Victoria Park Square London E2 9PB T 020 8983 5430 www.obv.org.uk Contents Introduction p4 Overview p6 Mission statement p8 Local government in Croydon p10 What do Councillors do? p13 How do I make a change to a Council-run service? p19 Greater London Authority (GLA) p21 Your representatives p25 Copyright © October 2010 Operation Black Vote 4 Introduction The governance of How can ordinary residents effectively interact with and influence the our local authorities kaleidoscope of public bodies and and cities has become institutions that make decisions on a daily basis on our lives? increasingly complex: where does power lie? Central to Operation Black Vote’s (OBV) work has been the Who, at a local level empowerment of Black and minority has responsibility for ethnic (BME) communities so that they can play a full and positive role in our education, litter civic society and thereby have greater collection or indeed control over day to day decisions. A key aspect of empowerment is to have representing our views an increased understanding of key and concerns on the public decision-making bodies such as the local authority, national health Council? trust, and many others. Operation Black Vote (OBV) in a unique and ground breaking partnership with the London Empowerment Partnership Targeted Support Programme, managed by the London Civic Forum are bringing you a unique set of materials - this booklet and a website - to unlock the decision making process in your local area: Croydon. 5 Overview 341,800 people 33.4 sq miles 73.4 % registered voters The London Borough Croydon contains London’s third main central business district after of Croydon covers 33.4 Docklands and the City of London. A square miles and a large urban economy in its own right, it is South London’s main business resident population centre. Construction of the first phase of 341,800 (Office of of the East London Line Extension to West Croydon is under way north of the National Statistics Thames, improving Croydon’s public 2008). This is the largest transport connections to central and inner East London. population of any London Borough. 6 One in three people in London describe themselves as Black Minority Ethnic. Croydon is ranked 125 out of 354 local During the course of this booklet we authorities in England in terms of average will try to explain how the powers and deprivation. (Where 1 is the most responsibilities that affect the borough deprived). There are 220 Super Output are distributed, how democratic Areas (SOAs) in Croydon, and 5 of those structures work, how these can be are in the top 10% most deprived. accessed and also provide you with other useful information. As of May 2010 it has 250,905 registered voters; the Council is led by the Conservatives and the official opposition is the Labour party. Elections were held in May 2010 and take place every four years. 7 Mission Statement Operation Black OBV recognise that building a future Britain in which African, Asian, Caribbean Vote (OBV) is the first and other minority ethnic communities initiative to focus have a voice is a long term project. There is an entrenched cynicism about politics exclusively on the within the Black community, especially Black democratic amongst young people, which cannot be addressed easily, or overnight. deficit in the UK. We believe that without a In addition, overcoming stereotypical attitudes and institutional racism strong political voice for African, Asian, Caribbean and other ethnic minorities, the ideal of equality of opportunity regardless of race and colour - will remain a dream. 8 Operation Black Vote is a non-party political campaign, supported by a broad coalition of mainly Black organisations. within the dominant cultural and OBV is a non-party political campaign, political establishment will require a supported by a broad coalition of mainly new willingness to communicate and Black organisations. cooperate from both Black and White. Our main objectives are to: OBV has a comprehensive programme — urge Black people to register to vote that includes political education, — enable the Black community to claim participation and representation. Our its place in British democracy goal is for a fair, just and inclusive — demonstrate a collective community democracy, one that allows our creativity, potential that could significantly energy and talent to fulfil it’s potential and influence the outcome in many seats enhance British society. at the General Election — confront politicians with the reality of what it means to be Black in Britain and force them to address the inequality of opportunity faced by Black people — encourage them to recognise our unique perspective and positively promote the cultural diversity of British society in the best interests of society as a whole 9 Local Government in Croydon The London Borough The Council’s responsibilities include: social services; many arts and leisure of Croydon is one of 32 services; street cleaning; roads; and local boroughs in Greater planning. London. Croydon Education Council runs most of the Each London Borough acts as the Local day-to-day services in Education Authority for its area. Each LEA has certain legal responsibilities and the borough. functions which include the provision of suitable education for each child, the improvement of local education, special needs assessment and recruitment of school governors. They also provide services such as educational psychology, school meals, maintenance and out-of- hours facilities. Each LEA is headed by a Councillor with political responsibility for education and learning, and a Chief Education Officer with legal and administrative responsibilities. Each borough has a scrutiny committee which monitors the work of the LEA. Planning The boroughs are responsible for dealing with all non-strategic planning applications in their area and applicants have the right to appeal against refusals 10 to the Secretary of State. However, the Health Mayor of London must be consulted on The Councils have a range of health planning applications that are considered and social care responsibilities covering to be of potential strategic importance. services for older people, mental He can comment on and support health, occupational therapy, public these applications or, if he considers it and environmental health, often working necessary on strategic planning grounds, in partnership with NHS bodies. The he can direct the borough to refuse Council has an elected councillor planning permission. The Mayor is not with executive responsibility for health able to direct approval of applications. If services. the Mayor issues a direction to refuse an application, he must set out his reasons for the decision and the borough will Waste disposal and the inform the applicant of these reasons. environment Each borough must produce a Unitary In collecting and disposing of waste, Development plan that addresses these they must take into account the Mayor’s issues as well as wider planning points. municipal waste management strategy. They also have a legal responsibility to They are also responsible for promoting provide appropriate housing for all their and co-ordinating local environmental residents. initiatives, in partnership with the Mayor and on their own. Benefits Although they operate within strict Contact the Council national guidelines from the Department Taberner House, Park Lane, for Work and Pensions, Housing Benefit Croydon CR9 3JS and Council Tax Benefit are paid for and T 020 8726 6000 administered by local authorities. www.croydon.gov.uk 11 Local Democracy — Shirley — South Norwood Croydon has 70 councillors all elected — Thornton Heath for a four year term. Elections were — Upper Norwood held in May 2010 and take place every — Waddon four years. These are ‘all out’ elections, — West Thornton when all the seats in each Council are — Woodside contested. In addition by-elections may be called in a ward during thisfour year Most of these wards elects three term, to replace representatives who councillors except: Fieldway, and New have resigned or who have died. Addington, which elect two councillors. Croydon is divided into 24 smaller Understanding which ward you live in, areas called local wards. These are: is the first step to contacting your local — Addiscombe councillors. If you don’t know which ward — Ashburton you live in, then the Council have a web — Bensham Manor page to help you find out: — Broad Green — Coulsdon East www.croydon.gov.uk — Coulsdon West — Croham — Fairfield — Fieldway — Heathfield — Kenley — New Addington — Norbury — Purley — Sanderstead — Selhurst — Selsdon and Ballards 12 What do Councillors do? It is a councillor’s role They hold regular advice ‘surgeries where you can meet with them privately to help individuals in and discuss your specific issues the local area. They make sure that the How do I vote for a councillor? Council is delivering If you are over 18, live in Croydon and are good services, decide a British, Commonwealth, or a European Union Citizen, then you are eligible to on priority areas that vote in all elections, local, regional, the Council should parliamentary, and European. be working on, sit on The next local elections are due to take committees which place in May 2014. make these decisions, To be able to vote you must register with as well as perform a the local Council. You can register to vote from the age of 16, although you scrutiny role. cannot vote until you are 18. Polling stations are open from 7am until 10pm for all UK elections. You can now take your children with you when you go to vote. If you’re unable to get to the polling station you can apply for a postal vote or arrange for someone else to cast your vote for you (a proxy).