Leader of the Council Cabinet Member Bulletin Councillor Tony Newman July 2020

LATEST NEWS

Rough Sleeper Update

Croydon achieved significant success in 2019 by halving its rough sleeping figures for a fourth year in a row. As soon as the pandemic broke the Council adopted the ‘Everybody In’ approach, providing accommodation both for rough sleepers verified by the Council’s commissioned outreach service, Croydon Reach, and those at risk of rough sleeping. Rough sleepers were accommodated in locally procured first-stage emergency accommodation or were referred by Croydon Reach to hotels procured by the Greater London Authority (GLA) across London. The GLA procured hotel spaces for COVID-Protect accommodation in Croydon. All GLA provision was made available on a pan-London basis, with a centralised assessment and allocations process.

Some existing homeless services with shared sleeping spaces were closed due to COVID-19 infection risk, such as the somewhere safe to stay assessment hub and local night shelters. All residents were referred to procured self-contained hotel rooms, which were allocated dependent upon health and support needs

Croydon created a taskforce providing five day food parcels for rough sleepers with covid-19 shielding without a kitchen in temporary accommodation with the help of our partners at Night watch and Croydon churches floating shelter. This proved to be hugely effective in reducing the spread of coronavirus.

The Council has begun moving all rough sleepers into longer term housing solutions, working with key internal and external partners mapping the need and demand across those accommodated in hotels and first-stage temporary accommodation developing a number of work-streams to help achieve successful ‘move-ons’. Croydon continues working alongside partners to source Private Rented Sector (PRS) accommodation to support move-on from hotel accommodation that is due to close, and from first stage emergency accommodation.

However, the issue with assisting those with No Recourse to Public Funds (NRPF) remains a huge one. Going forward we must ensure everyone who needs a place to stay is helped, even those denied assistance by the Government. The council, along with other London Councils is campaigning strongly and calling on the government to take the urgent action needed to ensure restrictions on some European Economic Area (EEA) nationals and on people who have NRPF does not undermine the collective effort to end rough sleeping.

AMBITIOUS FOR CROYDON Homes & Gateway Services Cabinet Member Bulletin Councillor Alison Butler July 2020

Community Connect/Food Stop and Local Collection Points

All three existing Food Stops (at Family Centre in New Addington, St Francis Church in Selsdon and Parchmore Methodist Church and Community Centre in Thornton Heath) have continued to operate throughout the COVID-19 crisis. They have each tweaked their service delivery in line with guidance such as implementing social distancing measures or introducing a delivery service (e.g. for residents who are shielding).

All are going over and above to support Croydon residents at this time and we are in regular communication with them and supporting them as needed. The Family Centre have also set up Food Stop Plus on Friday mornings to provide a shopping time specifically for residents over 65 to do their Food Stop shopping.

A Food Stop in the South of the borough has always been part of the Community Connect/Food Stop roll out plans – at Old Lodge Lane Baptist Church (OLLBC) in Purley. These plans were fast tracked because of COVID-19 and Food Stop No. 4 was launched on 10th April 2020. Food Stop at OLLBC is currently running mainly as a delivery service with the help of volunteers and OLLBC will revert to the traditional ‘shop’ model as soon as practicably possible.

The Food Stops have been supporting over 240 households per week during COVID- 19.

Community Connect Local Collection Points (LCPs) - SCALE UP

As part of Community Connect/Food Stop there were two existing FareShare Local Collection Points in Croydon pre-COVID-19 – at The Family Centre in New Addington and at Parchmore Methodist Church and Community Centre in Thornton Heath.

A Local Collection Point is a central point for local charities, community groups, schools and others to collect surplus food from weekly. Becoming LCP members enables these organisations to provide food and/or nutritious meals as part of their respective services, consequently strengthening the local offer and spreading the benefits to more residents. The Local Collection Points are delivered in partnership with FareShare, the UK’s longest running food redistribution charity, who believe that no good food should go to waste.

FareShare fees were waived for organisations supporting residents during COVID-19, we quickly worked with community partners and scaled up existing LCPs to enable more organisations to access FareShare food. We also set up two new LCPs to ensure as much FareShare food came into Croydon as possible (at Old Lodge Lane Baptist Church (OLLBC) and Croydon Voluntary Action (CVA).

AMBITIOUS FOR CROYDON Homes & Gateway Services Cabinet Member Bulletin Councillor Alison Butler July 2020

We’ve gone from 2.3 tonnes of food coming in to Croydon per week pre-COVID-19 to 6.3 tonnes of food coming in each week during COVID-19.

Our Community Connect/Food Stop moves the Council’s innovative Gateway approach beyond the local authority and its public sector partners into the community. It is a community-led, multi-agency (‘Alliance’) solution focused model that provides stability to those who need it most, including homelessness prevention support, employability support and food poverty solutions for the most vulnerable residents, ensuring residents become financially stable, maximise their income and gain employment.

The Food Stop is a key part of this. Residents who sign up as members receive £15- £20 worth of fresh fruit, vegetables, meat, dairy and other foods each week for £3.50 per week, helping them save an average of £500-£700 per year on their food shopping bills. The scheme supports residents who are affected by welfare reform, in rent arrears, in financial or employment difficulties, at risk of homelessness and more.

For more information please contact Anita Konczak, Community Resources Delivery Manager - [email protected]

Landlord Licensing

CPRPL 2020

A draft application for a new Scheme is at an advanced stage. Officers have held meetings with civil servants from MHCLG which has helped with the format of the application to be made. It is proposed to submit a single application outlining the two designations agreed by Cabinet.

Unfortunately, there are no guarantees on decision turnaround time from the Government but MHCLG will keep Croydon informed of progress so the Council can manage the end of the current Scheme and the proposed commencement date of the new Scheme of 1 February 2020.

The Council is receiving a lot of queries from landlords about the proposed new Scheme and meetings with landlords are to be offered to share information, though these will currently be held online as opposed to in person forums.

If Croydon gets approval for a new Scheme we would then need to advertise that for a 3 month period. Therefore any protracted delay from Government may well impact on the proposed start date of 1 February 2021 for the new Scheme.

AMBITIOUS FOR CROYDON Homes & Gateway Services Cabinet Member Bulletin Councillor Alison Butler July 2020

CPRPL 2015

We have 3 months remaining of the current Scheme. Officers are planning for the conclusion, ensuring all licences are issued and also managing enforcement cases and landlords who have and will not have licensed.

Some initiatives –

Gas safe – landlords applying during COVID are being asked to upload their most recent gas safe certificate. The enforcement team will advise landlords of the need to manage gas safety until a contractor can visit their premises.

Properties with an EPC of F or G – For licensed landlords the opportunity to get advice on energy improvements and access to grants – ECO and Mayor with partner Happy Energy. The Council will work with all landlords to see how the Minimum Energy Efficiency rating of E is achieved.

Enforcement against unlicensed addresses – In April & May 2020 up to 60% of licensing applications were as a direct result of the work of the enforcement team. In 2019/20 the Council continued to receive in excess of 200 applications a month.

Financial penalties and prosecutions – 48 financial penalties (including intentions to impose – the first stage) have been imposed. We still have some prosecutions in the pipeline for more serious offences often linked with not-licensing.

Number of applications received for a licence – 38,243 (end May 2020)

New Regulations

Electrical Safety Standards in the Private Rented Sector (England) Regulations 2020 - are in force and the first compliance deadline comes up on the 1st July 2020.

Landlords of privately rented accommodation must:

Ensure the electrical installations in their rented properties are inspected and tested by a qualified and competent person at least every 5 years.

Obtain an electrical safety report, act on the results and note the next inspection and test date.

Supply a copy of this report to the existing tenant within 28 days or new tenants from the 1st July 2020.

AMBITIOUS FOR CROYDON Homes & Gateway Services Cabinet Member Bulletin Councillor Alison Butler July 2020

Landlords were informed of the regulations in the June newsletter and will be reminded again in the July newsletter.

New council homes at Longheath Garden

18 tenancies have now been granted to our excellent new council homes built by Brick by Brick at Longheath Gardens, with 3 waiting to be allocated. As part of our local lettings plans, in the first instance these homes were offered to those living locally in housing need.

Reshaping Shrublands

A number of sites have been identified for potential new homes on the Shrublands estate, in Shirley. The majority of these are being considered by Brick by Brick but one site has been earmarked exclusively for community-led housing, offering the chance for local community group to develop and then manage permanently affordable housing.

To ensure a holistic approach to maximising the opportunities that these sites can collectively deliver for Shrublands, the council has worked on a joint community engagement programme with Brick By Brick focusing on residents’ priorities for the estate. Named, Shaping Shrublands, the programme has aimed to gather the views of residents about a range of things including: the types of new homes they would like

AMBITIOUS FOR CROYDON Homes & Gateway Services Cabinet Member Bulletin Councillor Alison Butler July 2020

to see; green spaces on the estate; what could be included on the community-led housing site; and parking in the local area.

Shaping Shrublands has included a number of estate walk arounds and one-to-one interviews. A community day event was planned in late March but unfortunately due to COVID-19 restrictions had to be cancelled. The council and Brick By Brick have instead produced a booklet which will be delivered to all residents offering them the chance to have their say. The information collected will be used to help shape both the community-led housing programme and Brick By Brick’s development sites on the estate.

Updated Covid-19 guidance for people in shared homes

The council has sent updated Covid-19 guidance on contact tracing and hygiene advice to thousands of tenants across the borough living in private shared properties.

There are around 1,000 Houses in Multiple Occupation (HMO) in the borough, most of which have between three and six unrelated individual people living under one roof with separate bedrooms and shared facilities.

When lockdown restrictions began in March, the council sent out Covid-19 guidance outlining related restrictions and health advice for residents in council-run and private accommodation, including HMOs. This went to over 12,000 council properties, around 650 households in emergency accommodation, management companies that run around 2,000 temporary accommodation units and thousands more in private rented accommodation.

Updated guidance has now been sent that includes advice on contact tracing and reminders around social distancing and good hygiene practices in shared accommodation. The leaflet can be found on the council website.

Throughout lockdown, the council has also provided regular updates to council tenants and residents in temporary accommodation, as well as setting up an advisory group including local accommodation managers.

AMBITIOUS FOR CROYDON Homes & Gateway Services Cabinet Member Bulletin Councillor Alison Butler July 2020

Fairfield Homes approved

Brick by Brick’s (BBB) proposals for 421 homes, shops, open public space and improved town centre pedestrian access on the site of a demolished multi-storey car park has been approved. The site is next door to the historic Fairfield Halls arts venue, which reopened last autumn after a major refurbishment. Once BBB homes are built, money from sales will pay for the estimated £42.6m cost of having extensively restored Fairfield Halls to its former glory.

The new homes – a mix ranging from studios to two, three and four-bedroom family- sized apartments - will be built in five blocks ranging from seven to 29 storeys in height. The scheme will include:

• A 1,000 sqm space for an NHS health centre

• Shops

• More than 40 specially-designed flats for people who use wheelchairs

• Step-free access to improve pedestrian links between Fairfield Halls, neighbouring developments and towards East Croydon station

• 750 sqm landscaped open space, including a children’s play area

• Sustainable energy measures such as solar panels and air-source heat pumps

• More than 780 cycle spaces

• 13 disabled parking spaces and 12 car club parking bays

The development will be built next to The Fair Field public open space, a project funded by the council and Coast to Capital to revitalise land between Fairfield Halls and Croydon College. The project is set to reintroduce the fun of the fair, reinstating the area’s original name and including a wide range of facilities such as a water mirror, innovative lighting and landscaping when developed in 2021.

AMBITIOUS FOR CROYDON Clean Green Croydon Cabinet Member Bulletin Councillor Stuart Collins July 2020

Reopening of Household Waste and Recycling Centres The fantastic work of our staff and contractors in responding to the COVID 19 pandemic continues apace and I want to extend my thanks for the tremendous effort of all the staff involved in the reopening of our Household Waste and Recycling Centres which had been closed for several weeks following Government Advice. I know a lot of planning went into the reopening of these sites, including making changes to the layout of the sites to maintain social distancing and putting traffic management measures in place outside the sites. Together with Veolia, the Council’s Waste Management Team, supported by Enforcement and Highways have really gone the extra mile, working long hours and coming in over the weekends and bank holidays to ensure as many people were able to use the sites as possible. I‘ve received several compliments from fellow Councillors and residents alike about how well organised it was. There was a very high demand for these sites and whilst there was inevitably some queuing, my experience of using the sites was that staff were polite, informative and cheerful. Thanks to the hard work of officers and Veolia, many thousands of vehicles have been processed through these sites, highlighting what useful facilities they are for our residents. After a busy few weeks the demand has reduced considerably and officers are working with Veolia to re-introduce a greater range of materials that can be recycled at the site. Thanks to all involved for a terrific job!

Recycling for flats above shops Prior to the pandemic, plans were in place to introduce a recycling service for flats above shops. Unfortunately COVID 19 meant these plans had to be put on hold, but I’m pleased to announce that plans are in place to introduce the service within the next two months. Residents living in flats above shops, who previously have not had a dedicated recycling collection, will be provided with coloured sacks for both refuse and recycling which they can present every week. This will provide a welcome addition to residents living in these properties who will now be able to recycle their waste and also help boost our recycling rate even further. The coloured sacks should also make it easy to identify waste that is presented illegally, meaning enforcement action can be taken against those businesses who are trying to pass off their commercial waste as household.

AMBITIOUS FOR CROYDON Finance and Resources Cabinet Member Bulletin Councillor Simon Hall July 2020

Financial Impact of Covid-19 The budget for 20/21 was approved by Council at the beginning of March. Whilst that budget did have challenges, plans were in place to deliver that budget and manage the risks inherent in delivering that budget. Covid-19 has, of course, totally changed the situation Croydon, and other councils around the country, find themselves in. The Local Government Association has indicated that the current impact, made up of direct costs of dealing with the pandemic, lost income and undeliverable savings, is nearly £11billion for England. In response to this, local government has received, or been promised, less than £4billion. Other funds paid to local government effectively pass through their books, e.g. business rates grants, so do not assist with councils’ finances. At the beginning of the pandemic, the Secretary of State, Robert Jenrick, told councils that they should spend whatever they needed to and that they would be fully reimbursed. However, as can be seen from the previous paragraph, that commitment is not close to be being delivered. Indeed, MHCLG minister Simon Clark has, in a letter dated 3 July, talked about “shared financial pain”. Some 80% of councils in England have stated that they are at risk of having to issue a s.114 notice (which is when a council does not have sufficient fund to carry on operating normally or plans to balance the financial position). As detailed below, Croydon is taking active steps to draw up plans to balance the financial position, so that we do not find ourselves in that situation. MHCLG made an announcement of what was supposed to be a comprehensive settlement for local government on 2 July. However, as recognised by the Tory-led Local Government Association, the Tory-led County Council Network, London Councils and many others, this was barely a sticking plaster over the financial gaping wound. And this is against the backdrop of a decade of severe austerity for local government, which has seen a high percentage cut in central government spending than any other part of the public sector. Croydon, as other authorities, has been completing monthly returns to MHCLG. In its latest return, it is showing a shortfall of some £65million. The announcements made on 2 July will reduce this figure, although it is not possible, at the point when I am writing this bulletin, to be precise on the extent to which it helps, it will leave us with a very substantial gap to fill. For more than two months, considerable work has gone on to look at options, as well as lobbying both as a Council and collectively through London Councils and the Local Government Association.

AMBITIOUS FOR CROYDON – DELIVERING FOR CROYDON Finance and Resources Cabinet Member Bulletin Councillor Simon Hall July 2020

In May, a Finance Review Panel was set up to support the activities of tackling this financial challenge. It is independently chaired, has a number of external members, as well as the Council’s Executive Leadership team and Cllr Butler and myself. Its role is to challenge and support the work going on regarding the finances, both in terms of immediate measures, but also financial processes and the development of a revised medium term financial strategy. Its recommendations go to the Leader and myself and are then discussed by Cabinet as a whole. Very significant work has already been achieved by senior officers and cabinet members working together, with a number of decisions and actions already taken. These include some really tough decisions having to be taken or considered, given the scale of the financial challenge and the abject failure of central government to deliver. We will be updating Cabinet on 20 July regarding the progress made to date.

Unaccompanied Asylum Seeking Children (UASC) As members will know, this administration has been lobbying very hard to get increased funding for UASC. Indeed, the opposition has supported those efforts. The Home Office announced an increase in the daily rates that local authorities whose UASC, as a proportion of the population of under 18s, was above the Home Office’s recommended maximum. As a result, Croydon should get an additional £4m in 20/21. This compares favourably with the budget assumption of an additional £2.7m. However, this still does not recognise the particular pressures for Croydon, given its responsibilities as a gateway authority, or the additional costs caused by the continued failure of the voluntary national dispersal scheme which means that Croydon has more than four times as many UASC as it should according to the Home Office formula, nor the knock-on consequences in terms of care leavers or No Recourse to Public Funds. Whilst this additional money is hugely welcome, it still leaves us with an estimated shortfall of £4-5m., which is a pressure that falls on Croydon residents. In the last three years, the net cost has been some £20m.

AMBITIOUS FOR CROYDON – DELIVERING FOR CROYDON Finance and Resources Cabinet Member Bulletin Councillor Simon Hall July 2020

Business Rates The Council has responded through Covid-19, by • Processing the revised bills for those newly entitled to reliefs as a result of legislative changes • Paying grants of £10,000 and £25,000 on a timely basis, after carrying out the checks that MHCLG made clear they expected local authorities to make • Dealing sympathetically with businesses who needed extra time to pay their business rates as a result of Covid-19 • Suspending enforcement action during the main lockdown period.

Council Tax A lot of residents have been impacted by Covid-19. There are a series of actions that the Council has taken to help residents with Council Tax. First of all, and in accordance with MHCLG rules, those working age residents previously in receipt of council tax support have had their bills reduced by £150 (or reduced to £nil where their bill was already less than £150). Secondly, we have chosen to extend this £150 reduction to new Council Tax Support claimants and those who are not eligible for council tax support but who have lost income due to Covid-19. Thirdly, we put in place a scheme where residents could defer their council tax payments for two months. In addition, we suspended enforcement action and have been responding sympathetically to those needing to establish payment plans as a result of Covid-19.

PPE The council continues to have sufficient PPE stocks for frontline staff and has stocked up on face masks for staff who are returning to work and planning to commute using public transport. We continue to support care home and home care providers with emergency PPE supplies 7 days a week and the PPE team have provided over 300 emergency packs to date (supporting nearly 130 providers) via a dedicated email inbox. In June, PPE support was also extended to the many Croydon schools who have reopened, with each school that was planning to reopen given a basic supply of PPE to use in line with government guidance.

AMBITIOUS FOR CROYDON – DELIVERING FOR CROYDON Finance and Resources Cabinet Member Bulletin Councillor Simon Hall July 2020

Adults Commissioning and Placements and Brokerage The Adults Commissioning and Placements and Brokerage teams have been responding to the covid-19 pandemic in • Supporting the NHS in discharging residents from hospital within 2 hours of a doctor agreeing that they can either be sent home or going to a care home. • Ensuring that our residents living at home get the right care during covid-19 to prevent them from entering hospital. • Providing advice and support to all Home Care and Care Home providers. This has included seminars, public health direct one to one support and emergency PPE as some examples of work carried out. • Financially supporting our providers so they are still financially sustainable and recognising the increased costs of our key partners. Since the end of March 2020 we have supported our NHS colleagues in discharging over 660 residents either back home or into a care home. The teams will continue to support the hospital and care sector over the coming months and have plans in place to support both in the event of any 2nd peak or increased number of cases.

Care Homes We continue to support care homes closely to reduce infection rates and help them cope with the impact of the pandemic. This involves daily monitoring of key data reported by homes and regular calls to homes. It is positive that over the six weeks we have seen a continued decline in both the number of homes reporting Covid 19 and the number of residents reported to have Covid 19 symptoms. However there is still much to do, including working with Public health and the CCG to improving our oversight of testing across care homes and reduce risk if there is a second wave. Our care homes support plan was submitted to central government on the 29th May and outlines all the actions we have been taking across the partnership Croydon to support care homes. Two representatives from Croydon Care Homes attend a weekly strategy group with council and health leads to provide helpful feedback challenge on the impact our support is having, and what more we need to do. Over the past few weeks the commissioning team have been busy distributing over £2m of funding to our social care providers from central government (the Infection Control Fund).

AMBITIOUS FOR CROYDON – DELIVERING FOR CROYDON Finance and Resources Cabinet Member Bulletin Councillor Simon Hall July 2020

Croydon Park Hotel Due to Covid-19, the operator of Croydon Park Hotel went into administration in June. The administrators have now handed back the building to the Council. We have secured the building and are looking at options of how to use the building in the short term, whilst we consider the longer term options for the site. When we bought the building, we knew it would provide an income stream but also had development potential and the rent received since acquisition is substantially in excess of the interest paid on the loans taken out to fund the purchase.

Human Resources Key activities are: • Enhanced support, including occupational health and mental health for all staff during the pandemic period. • We have successfully paid staff and pensioners with remote working technology since technology and have competed successful testing and upload of the recent cloud update for the My Resources system • We introduced a risk assessment for those staff who have been working at BWH and have adapted this as an all staff assessment to ensure their welfare is paramount during the pandemic. This is also identifying where staff are best placed to do their work from, as we open up our buildings to staff in a socially distanced way. • The Learning and OD team have produced a series of wellbeing activities to support staff working in different arrangements as well as guidance for managers to effectively manage staff remotely. • The L&OD team have also produced a guide to re-introduce staff into BWH with the new health and safety arrangements. • We successfully recruited 22 Social workers from South Africa in March and are currently awaiting confirmation from UK Visas & Immigration in relation to their sponsorship with Croydon. Subject to the Visa office in South Africa reopening imminently, the expectation is that the first 12 will start with us August/September. • During June and July the recruitment team are planning and testing the transition to ‘Fluid’ Taleo recruitment. This is a refreshed look and feel to our existing Taleo recruitment system and will include anonymised shortlisting and will be live the end of July.

AMBITIOUS FOR CROYDON – DELIVERING FOR CROYDON Finance and Resources Cabinet Member Bulletin Councillor Simon Hall July 2020

Remote Meetings As Members will be aware, since 23 April, the Council has been holding a number of meetings remotely. This has been able to happen as a result of two things. Firstly, new regulations under the Coronavirus Act 2020 have allowed us to lawfully hold remote meetings for the first time in history. The second enabling factor was a significant programme of work undertaken by officers from Democratic Services, Croydon Digital Services and the Corporate Legal Service. This ambitious programme of work included interpreting the new regulations, benchmarking with other local authorities, amending constitutional procedure rules, designing a solution and then testing and learning how a remote meeting system would work. That testing included support being offered to all 70 Councillors to ensure that every elected Member can participate in remote meetings. By the end of June, 12 remote meetings will have been held, enabling a wide range of Members to participate in a range of decision making and scrutiny. A further seven meetings are due to be held remotely in July, including two meetings of the full Council. I would like to take this opportunity to thank Members for their support in making remote meetings work as well as they have and to thank all of the many officers whose exceptional hard work has enabled so many remote meetings to take place.

Schools Admissions Appeal For the same reasons that formal council meetings now have to be held remotely, so too has this year’s round of school admission appeals held over the summer months. Which school a child goes to is of paramount importance to every parent and the complexities of having to hold appeal hearings remotely has made this more challenging than ever. I am proud to be able to report to Members that the remote School Appeals programme is running exceptionally well. Having trained every volunteer panel member and every clerk, the first appeals were held on 9 June and every appeal will have been heard remotely by 22nd July. In total over seventy appeals will be heard, with every parent provided with support to attend and participate remotely.

Electoral Services The annual electoral registration canvass will be commencing in July and run through to December. There will be some changes to the way in which the canvass is conducted following reforms introduced by the Government. Plans for canvassing activity may need to be adapted as the canvass progresses, because of Covid19.

AMBITIOUS FOR CROYDON – DELIVERING FOR CROYDON Finance and Resources Cabinet Member Bulletin Councillor Simon Hall July 2020

Croydon Digital Service CDS have enabled the council to respond to the COVID19 situation with the minimum of disruption. This includes meeting the requirement to rapidly enable the entire workforce to work remotely. Our core technology infrastructure has remained stable throughout despite the additional pressure thanks to the efforts of our internal team as well as our partners Littlefish and Capita. Other work completed to support the council’s work during the pandemic include the development of four brand new digital services using the new ‘low code’ development tool. These include a case management app for shielded residents and the business support grant service. The council’s website continues to be completely redesigned and rewritten. The pages on waste, births, deaths and marriages as well as adult social care have now gone live. Planning content is being reviewed before going live imminently. Projects to implement new systems in adult social care and education continue to be delivered to scope and deadline, and the implementation of a new housing system has commenced.

iWireless - 4G small cells deployed in the Town Centre Croydon has installed its first 4G Small Cell antennae in the town centre this week, bringing enhanced mobile coverage for businesses, residents and visitors. The borough is the first in the country to follow DCMS guidance, offering non-exclusive, open access approach to telecoms operators. The installation commenced on 23 June. iWireless deployed the first antennae on lampposts near Croydon University Hospital and West Valley Hospital in East Croydon amongst other locations within the town centre. Installation will continue to additional locations later in the summer and in early 2021

Facilities Management The FM team have done amazing work in keeping Bernard Weatherill House open throughout and designing plans for the full reopening of the building, including detailed risk assessments, one-way systems, marking of seats and desks. This has included a training video for all staff coming into the building. They have also ensured that the appropriate enhanced and regular cleaning has taken place and is planned. They are also working to ensure other council buildings can open. AMBITIOUS FOR CROYDON – DELIVERING FOR CROYDON

Environment, Transport and Regeneration July 2020

Councillor Paul Scott (Job Share) Councillor Stuart King (Job Share) Lead for Planning and Regeneration Lead for Environment and Transport

AMBITIOUS FOR CROYDON

Environment and Transport Cabinet Member Bulletin July 2020

. The introduction of a 1.2km long light segregated cycle lane along London Road. This will provide a safe cycling route along a busy congested corridor, and is expected to be completed by the end of July 2020.

. The introduction of a 20mph speed limit on the section of London Road covered by the abovementioned cycle lane, as well as around the Crystal Palace triangle on those roads maintained by Croydon.

The Council has a programme to install further measures between now and October subject to funding from TFL and Government being released. Contact Officer: Tabrez Hussain, Team Leader - Highway Improvements, Highways Service. Email: [email protected] & telephone number: 020 8726 5475

Parking update

The return of traffic over the last month has created a need for all London Boroughs to resume a normalisation of parking management that was relaxed over the lockdown. We therefore restarted parking charges on 26th May and enforcement on 8th June, issuing warning notices for bay contraventions in the first week. Some resident permit renewals have lapsed during the lockdown and further allowances are currently maintained, while the applications backlog catches up. Our approach to restarting parking enforcement (including the timing of it) has been consistent with the approach employed by other London boroughs, all of whom have been working to the same guidance notes that have been issued.

The new emission-based parking charges, which were first introduced for Resident Permits in October 2019, is now applied to all permit types, including Businesses, Community Workers and Members. The scheme rewards drivers of the least polluting cars with low parking charges. This completes the 2nd phase of the emissions scheme. Preparation for the final phase (for pay and display bay parking) is now under way.

A special Key Worker Parking Dispensation for critical health and social care staff was introduced on 23rd March, to support essential access to care facilities and vulnerable residents. The Dispensation is also associated with reserved parking bays in London Road at the Croydon University Hospital (CUH). The scheme was originally designed to operate until 30th June, subject to a review of its ongoing demand. The good news is that the Covid-19 crisis point has largely passed at CUH and the scheme might not need extending. We continue to support parking access for voluntary sector organisations that will distribute food and other supplies to vulnerable and isolated residents for some time to come.

AMBITIOUS FOR CROYDON

Environment and Transport Cabinet Member Bulletin July 2020

Under 18s travel concessions

Local Authorities (LAs) are required to provide free transport for all pupils of compulsory school age if their nearest suitable school is for example:

• beyond 2 miles for under-8s • beyond 3 miles for those aged between 8 and 16

In addition, children aged 5 to 16 must be given free transport if they go to their nearest suitable school and there’s no safe walking route.

Since 2006 children’s travel concessions in London have been provided by Transport for London (TfL) who made bus and tram travel free for children under the age of 18. Alongside this TfL’s rail and Tube services were made free for children under the age of 11. TFL also provide free off-peak travel for visits to educational, sporting and cultural venues in London for school groups

As a result of the Government’s emergency funding deal for TfL, the Government instructed TFL to suspend free travel for children and young people under the age of 18 from the start of the new academic year - September 2020. It is not clear how long the suspension of free travel will remain in place and one influential Government adviser has indicated he thinks it should be permanent.

This is a hugely regressive step and will have a significant and adverse impact on all our young people, in particular those from poorer and more disadvantaged households. Current estimates suggest that as many as 70% of pupils will no longer be entitled to free travel – creating a financial pressure on households at a time when many are struggling.

Croydon has the largest population of 0-17 year olds in London (almost 95,000). For the 2020/21 academic year (Reception to Year 11) the school population is 55,730 pupils, so the impact of this measure is considerable and far reaching.

Launch of the 404 Bus Service to Tollers Lane and Cane Hill

After calls over many years to bring a bus service to the Toller’s Lane Estate, and council officers and contractor working to make necessary changes to the estate roads, the 404 bus began operating within the Estate on 21st March. As London was going into lockdown, the 404 route was:

• extended from Coulsdon Library to Cane Hill Drive, providing the Cane Hill residential development with a bus service; and • changed to serve the Tollers Lane Estate in Old Coulsdon.

AMBITIOUS FOR CROYDON

Environment and Transport Cabinet Member Bulletin July 2020

It has been operating as a Sunday service. A new timetable will be introduced when London comes more strongly out of lockdown. The frequency will increase to a bus every 30 minutes.

The new service has offered improved transport options for critical workers making essential journey during the Covid-19 pandemic.

Croydon Council and local residents’ groups have campaigned for many years for a bus to serve the Tollers Lane Estate. I am confident that this new service will make a huge difference to many people living in the area.

Launch of climate commission

After a unanimous decision at July Cabinet 2019, Croydon declared a Climate and Ecological Emergency. Working with the Campaign Company and the New Economics Foundation respectively, the Council held a Citizen’s Assembly on Climate Change and launched the Croydon Climate Crisis Commission to make Croydon carbon neutral by 2030.

On the 12th March 2020, climate change action groups, residents, pupils and businesses came to Croydon College to hear from Miatta Fahnbulleh, CEO of New Economics Foundation, who was appointed as the commission’s independent chair at the beginning of this year. She was joined by speakers Caireen Mitchell, principal of Croydon College, Councillor Tony Newman, leader of Croydon Council, and Lucy Hill, from Croydon’s newly-established Citizens’ Assembly.

Launched at the start of the year, the Citizens’ Assembly is a representative group of 40 people from across the borough. The Commission will be picking up the recommendations from the Citizens’ Assembly, driving practical ‘decarbonisation’ action, and providing independent scrutiny to ensure Croydon reaches its goal of becoming a carbon neutral borough by 2030.

At the launch, the audience had the opportunity to question a panel which included commission Chair Ms Fahnbulleh and fellow commissioners Dr Candice Howarth, Policy Fellow at the London School of Economics; Councillor Muhammad Ali, deputy cabinet member for environment, transport and regeneration, and Peter Underwood, Chair of Croydon Friends of the Earth.

Topics for discussion ranged from food consumption and recycling to a sustainable economy and zero-carbon homes.

School Streets

Facilitating walking and cycling to school is an essential element of the national strategy for Covid-19 recovery. Its rationale says that exercise builds resilience to ill- AMBITIOUS FOR CROYDON

Environment and Transport Cabinet Member Bulletin July 2020

health, including being good for mental health. Exercise is therefore an important protective measure against Covid-19, just as distancing and sanitation are. Although government asks parents and children who return to school not to crowd public transport, it has specifically also asked us all to walk and cycle wherever and whenever possible. A car-based approach to phasing in the post-Covid school attendance would result in air pollution and inactivity. It should be remembered that prior to the Covid situation, Croydon had the highest level of childhood (0-9 years) hospital admissions for asthma in London and air pollution resulted in 205 premature deaths in the borough each year. This is not a situation to which our communities would want to return.

The Traffic Management Advisory Committee on 8th July will consider the outcomes of resident engagements that took place in February 2020. Subject to its recommendations, we are looking to introduce up to 10 new School Streets for the 1st September – in time for the start of the new school year.

The 10 proposed locations are:

School Post code Ward Christ Church CofE Primary School CR8 2QE Purley Oaks & Riddlesdown Downsview Primary School SE19 3XE Norbury Park Ecclesbourne Primary School CR7 7FA Bensham Manor Harris Primary Academy Hailing Park CR2 6HS South Croydon Keston Primary School CR5 1HP Old Coulsdon Kingsley Primary Academy CR0 3JT Broad Green Oasis Academy Rylands SE25 4XG Woodside Ridgeway Primary School CR2 0EQ Sanderstead St Thomas Becket Catholic Primary SE25 5BN Woodside St Joseph’s Catholic Junior School SE19 3NU Crystal Palace & Upper Norwood

In locations where time and resources do not allow us to consider a School Street in advance of the new school year, we are continuing to support the schools with active travel and alternative distancing measures. Parents who must drive their child should always be advised to park at least 2-minute walk from the school entrance, to support air quality and road safety and to avoid encroaching on space needed to secure pedestrian distancing.

Network Rail CARS consultation

Network Rail is asking residents and commuters to give their views on plans to greatly improve the Brighton Main Line and to transform East Croydon Station. The proposals are intended to significantly increase the frequency, speed and reliability of trains through East Croydon, Norwood Junction, Selhurst and beyond. The project involves rebuilding East Croydon Station, with a large concourse and two more platforms. Networks Rail’s online consultation began 1 June and ends 20 September 2020. The proposals can be viewed online here. During the consultation Network Rail’s project

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Environment and Transport Cabinet Member Bulletin July 2020 team will be available to ‘speak’ with, using a live online chat facility. Those wishing to phone can do so using the consultation hotline 020 7118 0684.

This is a once in a generation opportunity to transform Croydon Town Centre and its connectivity. The principle of the scheme is most welcome, but there is also a lot that Cabinet colleagues and I feel that Network Rail need to do to improve the proposals further. The scheme would represent a huge investment and vote of confidence in Croydon. I urge all residents, passengers and businesses to participate in the consultation and have their say on the scheme. Together we need to ensure a much better, not just much bigger East Croydon.

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Planning and Regeneration Cabinet Member Bulletin July 2020

Place Regeneration Update

Over the last three months, we have been reviewing our programme of work in the ‘places’ of Croydon and looking to ensure we maximise the opportunity to support the economic renewal of each place through the projects, programmes and resources we have available to us.

Critically, we have been working to support our district centres to open safely as shops and other non-essential retail outlets were given the green light to open on the 15th June. We are now supporting the hospitality sector to re-open safely, in line with government guidance.

Through the existing South Norwood Good Growth Fund programme, we are continuing to programme investment in the high street and support local businesses and community groups to take a lead in the renewal of the area. We also still await to hear if we have been successful in our application to Historic England for £1.1m of external funding from their High Street Heritage Action Zone.

In Kenley, we are delighted to have been awarded c.£900k of funding from the Mayor of London through the Good Growth Fund and we are currently working with local community partners and ward councillors to focus that resource in the best way possible to support the good growth of the area and deliver against some of the priorities coming out of the Community Plan consultation. The results of that consultation will feed into the final version of the Kenley Community Plan which we hope to publish shortly: (https://www.croydon.gov.uk/planningandregeneration/regeneration/places/kenley/kenley- community-plan).

Ward members in Selsdon have also taken a lead in developing a Community Plan for the area, supported by the Council. Following a number of engagement events and online submissions, over 400 responses were received which are now being analysed in order to publish a draft Community Plan shortly. More information is available here: https://www.croydon.gov.uk/planningandregeneration/regeneration/places/selsdon- regeneration/selsdon-community-plan-2020-2025

Regeneration Frameworks are currently in development for both Purley and Thornton Heath. Each of these Frameworks will take a holistic view of the growth happening in each area and will be rooted in a strong programme of community engagement to ensure such growth meets the needs and aspirations of the local community and feeds into the Local Plan review currently underway. Creative engagement techniques are being deployed to ensure community voices can feed into the shaping of these frameworks despite the current restrictions in place around group gatherings.

In Thornton Heath, the plans to reactivate Ambassador House forecourt continue. Whilst events planned with Timberland for the April had to be cancelled due to

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Planning and Regeneration Cabinet Member Bulletin July 2020 lockdown, we are working with Timberland to establish a new programme of activation and greening that works with the current social distancing guidance.

A multi-disciplinary design team, led by Avanti Architects, was appointed in February to lead on the plans to develop a Wellbeing Centre for New Addington. The team of architects, urban designers, landscape architects and planners have just completed the first stage of establishing the brief for the new building and will now be working to develop up the designs. Newman Francis has been commissioned alongside to support resident engagement in developing the designs and they are currently working with the Council team to establish a programme that will enable resident’s voices to be heard at a time when community events are not possible.

Partial review of the Local Plan update

The Local Plan review is progressing following the issues and options consultation undertaken between November 2019 and January 2020. There were a number of ways and platforms to respond, which were designed to get a broad set of views from as many people and organisations as possible. This successfully achieved over 1000 responses, providing a wide range of thoughts on the topics. These responses were all able to be processed and were ready for analysis before the Covid 19 lockdown occurred. As a consequence no pace in the programme has been lost and the work has been able to progress. However, the Local Plan review will look to support and facilitate the Council’s Covid 19 response, particularly linked to economic renewal, the importance of quality housing and sustainable growth.

During the lockdown, how we live in our homes, use our townscape and green spaces has changed. There have been huge impacts and challenges, but changes to the environment such as the dramatic reduction in traffic and as a result, the welcome reduction in air pollution. As we start to get back to a new normal this experience will be used to inform and help the development of the revised local plan alongside the renewal response. As far as possible, these experiences will help to inform the spatial vision for the future that the Local Plan review will frame over the next 20 years.

The Local Plan review is necessary to reflect the changes in the emerging London Plan, which was expected to be adopted by this stage. The Secretary of State, who has the final say, has requested some changes of which the most significant for the borough are the reduction in the housing target, confirming a small housing site target and challenging the employment land policy. The reduction in the housing target does not remove the need to plan for housing growth as there is a housing crisis. However, it does mean that there is no longer the basis to consider housing in the Green Belt, an option considered in the Issues and Options consultation. The employment changes require some additional evidence gathering, which will be used to inform the final Local Plan review. There will be another round of consultation again in the autumn on the revised Local Plan. The consultation may not be able to be undertaken in the form that it was before and how this may be undertaken is being explored to ensure that this is effective and safe. This said, I look forward to your continued engagement in the Local Plan Review. AMBITIOUS FOR CROYDON

Planning and Regeneration Cabinet Member Bulletin July 2020

In June I released an ‘interim bulletin’ giving an update on our delivery targets for much needed new homes and our likely direction of travel on some key aspects of our updated local plan. These reports are copied below.

Housing delivery in the Croydon Local Plan review

When considering ‘housing targets’ we need to remember that they are being set to help everyone in our society to have a decent home they can afford.

The draft London Plan following Secretary of State direction to amend

The Secretary of State has directed the Mayor of London to amend his London Plan before it can be adopted. Two of the changes have a particular impact on how the Croydon Local Plan review evolves in terms of housing targets and delivery.

1. Change 1 affects paragraph 0.0.21 of the draft London Plan. The Secretary of State has amended it so that it says “The Plan provides an appropriate spatial strategy that plans for London’s growth in a sustainable way. The housing targets set out for each London Borough are the basis for planning for housing in London. Therefore, boroughs do not need to revisit these figures as part of their local plan development, unless they have additional evidence that suggests they can achieve delivery of housing above these figures whilst remaining in line with the strategic policies established in this plan.”

2. Change 2 affects Policy D3 of the draft London Plan. The Secretary of State has added three new clauses to the policy that say:

a. “The design of the development must optimise site capacity. Optimising site capacity means ensuring that development takes the most appropriate form for the site. Higher density developments should be promoted in areas that are well connected to jobs, services, infrastructure and amenities by public transport, walking and cycling. b. Where there are existing clusters of high density buildings, expansion of the clusters should be positively considered by Boroughs. This could also include expanding Opportunity Area boundaries where appropriate. c. Gentle densification should be actively encouraged by Boroughs in low- and mid- density locations to achieve a change in densities in the most appropriate way. This should be interpreted in the context of Policy H2.”

These changes, coupled with the fact that Policy H2(A)(5) of the draft London Plan sets out minimum targets for development on small sites (sites of less than 0.25ha) for each borough, mean the following for Croydon and the Local Plan review.

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Planning and Regeneration Cabinet Member Bulletin July 2020 Our housing target for the Croydon Local Plan review

It is thought by officers that a housing target for the period 2019 to 2039 would look as follows:

Component Total Intend to Publish housing target 2019 – 2029 20,790 Small sites allowance rolled forward 2029 – 2039 6,410 Strategic Housing Land Availability Assessment – 6,296 total Constrained Capacity TOTAL housing required 2019 – 2039 33,496

However, the change to paragraph 0.0.21 means that that the housing target in Policy H1 of the new London Plan should now be seen as a minimum target. So a minimum of 33,496 homes should be built in Croydon between 2019 and 2039. This compares to the current Croydon Local Plan 2018 which sets a target of a minimum of 32,700 homes between 2016 and 2036, of which (as of 31/03/2019) 6,109 have already been built (leaving a residual of 26,591 left to be built).

In terms of average annual housing delivery figures (to make it directly comparable) it means the following:

Croydon Local Plan Draft London Plan 2018 (original minimum (minimum annual rate annual rate of housing of housing delivery delivery required for required 2019-2039) whole plan period 2016- 2036) 1,635 1,675

As such the draft London Plan represents an increase of just 40 homes a year over the current Croydon Local Plan 2018. In terms of development on small sites (commonly either through converting a house to flats, or demolishing an existing house(s) and building a block of flats), over the 20 year plan period, Policy H2 of the draft London Plan says a minimum of 12,820 homes should be built on small (windfall) sites (less than 0.25ha). This is a minimum target. It works out at 641 homes a year on small sites. In comparison the current Croydon Local Plan sets a target of 591 homes a year on small sites.

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Planning and Regeneration Cabinet Member Bulletin July 2020

The different sources of new homes in Croydon from 2019-2039 (under Option 2 of the Issues and Options consultation)

Under option 2 of the Issues and Options consultation a total of over 46,000 homes were proposed as follows:

Component of housing supply Total homes from housing supply (2019- 2039) Homes already under construction 5,372 Unimplemented planning permissions 5,482 Large sites outside of Purley Way and 4,113 Croydon Opportunity Area Sites in Croydon Opportunity Area 9,799 Small sites (windfall) 12,069 Total (excluding Purley Way) 36,835 Sites on Purley Way A minimum of 3,685, up to 9,000 Total (with Purley Way) At least 40,519, up to 45,835

Summary of implications for the Croydon Local Plan review

As can be seen, even without any development on the Purley Way (including that already proposed in the Croydon Local Plan 2018), it is likely that the new London Plan’s housing requirement would be met in Croydon. This is also with a small sites rate that is actually slightly lower than the new London Plan’s.

Furthermore, the effect of the change to paragraph 0.0.21 makes the overall borough target in Policy H1 a minimum as well. This means that the small sites element of our housing target cannot be substituted by an increase in development on larger sites in the borough. It is a fixed minimum that we will have to plan for in the Croydon Local Plan review. Hence, we cannot use increased housing delivery in the town centre and along Purley Way to reduce the amount of development in the suburbs.

However, the small sites target is not substantially different from what we already have in the Croydon Local Plan 2018, the delivery of which is supported by SPD2 – Suburban Design Guide. The ethos of SPD2 is essentially to support the evolution of the suburbs. This is essentially the same as the change directed by the Secretary of State on the new London Plan that “Gentle densification should be actively encouraged by Boroughs in low- and mid- density locations to achieve a change in densities in the most appropriate way.” As such SPD2 can continue to support the future Local Plan review in Croydon to help meet the new London Plan’s target for development on small sites without a substantial change in approach.

The Secretary of State’s direction to amend the new London Plan to encourage the expansion of existing clusters of high-density buildings may also be applicable in Croydon. The approach could be particularly applicable in some locations which AMBITIOUS FOR CROYDON

Planning and Regeneration Cabinet Member Bulletin July 2020 typically have homes on larger plots immediately adjacent to a higher density location (as can be found in some of the borough’s town centres, and along some main roads in the borough).

Adherence to the evolution of the suburbs approach set out in SPD2 coupled with the application of the Secretary of State’s directed change to expand clusters of existing high-density buildings should mean that the draft London Plan small sites target is met. At the same time some of the pressure on the borough’s suburbs might be reduced, particularly those areas which have very poor public transport accessibility, and there would be no need to support significant ‘intensification’ away from District and local Centres.

As the overall borough target is in effect a minimum, we can look to explore further the capacity of the borough’s existing infrastructure to service growth. It would make a powerful case if we could say that we can deliver the new London Plan housing target, but if you (The Mayor) invest in our infrastructure we can deliver a third more homes. This is being explored through the Purley Way Masterplan commission, and a Corridors Transport study.

Summary

In conclusion, it is likely that we will need to plan for a minimum of circa 33,500 new homes over the next 20 years, with around 12,000 of those delivered through the “gentle densification” of the suburbs. The transformation of the Purley Way industrial and retail parks could not be included within this minimum target and would not allow for reductions elsewhere. Given the opportunities for ‘good growth’ providing many benefits to the local residents and the borough as a whole we should though include these additional, much needed, homes.

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Planning and Regeneration Cabinet Member Bulletin July 2020 Currently Proposed Direction of Travel for the Partial Review of Croydon’s Local Plan

In response to the consultation on the issues and options, and given the directions on the new London Plan from the Government we can identify the following significant ‘directions of travel’. These will help inform a series of cross-party workshops that will help to develop our ‘preferences and options’ for the next stage of the CLP consultation.

We are considering:

• Recognising that following the Government’s intervention it is anticipated that the new London Plan will increase our housing targets by an equivalent of c.6,900 new homes overall and will require a significant proportion of those to be delivered through the intensification of our suburbs.

• Accepting that we cannot meet the full housing need for the borough over the next 20 years which would require circa 70,000 new homes. This would be unachievable without substantial transformation (demolition and redevelopment) and expansion of the built area. We can though exceed the new London Plan target through the transformation of the Purley Way industrial and retail parks with limited impact on existing residents.

• Supporting a Specific Strategic Spatial Option – we proposed 3 strategic options for accommodating 46,000 new homes. These were:

o Option 1 – Growth distributed across all neighbourhoods in the borough requiring quite significant change in some suburban areas (a lot more than is currently being delivered) o Option 2 – Transformation of the Purley Way industrial and retail parks into a high density, mixed use new ‘quarter’ well connected into the town centre. This approach would take the pressure off the suburbs, although still assumes approximately 600 new homes in these areas per year. o Option 3 – Release of a limited amount of green belt for new homes. This approach would also reduce the impact on suburban neighbourhoods.

We will be moving forward with a variant of Option 2. This was our preferred approach although we could not express this in the consultation, and it was clearly the most strongly supported by local residents.

The situation with the new London Plan does alter the scenario somewhat. Option 1 falls away as we anticipate having to deliver a minimum of 33,500 homes excluding those along Purley Way. The Government will not allow development along Purley Way to offset their “gentle densification” in the suburbs.

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Planning and Regeneration Cabinet Member Bulletin July 2020 There was a clear preference against releasing green belt as way of reducing the amount of intensification in existing residential neighbourhood.

Our preferred option going forward would be meeting the new London Plan housing target plus an additional 4,000 to 9,000 homes on the Purley Way, creating a range of 37,500 to 42,500.

• Building New Homes in the Suburbs (Suburban intensification on ‘Windfall’ sites) - as directed by the government we are required to plan for the “gentle densification” of the suburbs with an average 641 new homes per year.

o Confirmation that no residential development is proposed on any of our Green Belt or Metropolitan Open Land (essentially the same thing). Only important public social infrastructure will be considered for location on green belt land where there is no suitable alternative sites. This in particular relates to schools where a lot of open space is needed to provide play grounds and sports pitches.

o Confirmation that all our parks and designated public spaces will remain protected from development.

o Definition of the very misleading government designation of ‘local green space’ (LGS) as ‘very special community local green space’ to help avoid further confusion. (Note: Local green space designation allows local communities to protect green spaces of local importance for reasons including setting and nature conservation. Local communities can identify green spaces through their local and neighbourhood plans, which will then receive protection equivalent to green belt land.)

o Identify whether the circa 40 ‘very special community local green spaces’ which the council are working with local communities to determine whether they meet the very demanding government criteria to achieve formal Local Green Space designation.

o Publish maps illustrating all of the protected open land in the borough.

• Focused Intensification Areas (FIA): Reconsidering the current Intensification Areas and the introduction of additional areas including the following potential options.

o Omitting the Shirley FIA as it looks increasingly unlikely that significant improvements to the public transport capacity in the Shirley area will be delivered over the period covered by the local plan and hence the area only has capacity for limited future growth. The limited development potential significantly reduces the AMBITIOUS FOR CROYDON

Planning and Regeneration Cabinet Member Bulletin July 2020 strength of the argument for major transport investment, although improvements are needed from a sustainability perspective.

o Reducing the size of the Kenley FIA to just the area immediately around the railway station. This is in response to the findings of the Kenley transportation study carried out by the Council.

o Introducing carefully considered urban extension areas around parts of Purley and Coulsdon town centres, and link them with a new FIA running along parts of the Brighton Road A23 corridor. These areas have good public transport provision. This approach is encouraged by the Government’s response to the new London Plan.

• Explore the level of development potential of all existing suburban residential areas in the categories to include:

o Very low levels of development – conservation and local heritage areas, existing medium density areas such as those with predominantly terraced or modest sized semi-detached houses, modern housing estates with small plots, and areas with poor access to public transport and limited capacity for parking. o Moderate levels of development – low density areas that are close to public transport and/or other local amenities (typically within 800m of a district centre or railway station). o High levels of development and transformation to be limited to the main town centres, Purley Way retail and industrial areas, and areas very close to good levels of public transport and/or other local amenities.

• Develop a strongly defined and protected ‘green grid’ across the borough linking the countryside to south through to the parks, allotments and gardens in the north.

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Planning and Regeneration Cabinet Member Bulletin July 2020 My Scrap Book As I walk around the borough I often visit recently approved development sites to see how the delivery of new homes is progressing. Below are some of the schemes that I have seen recently:

1. Brick by Brick's Kindred House tower on the former Wandle Road Car Park is rising rapidly

2. Demolition has started on the 5-9 Surrey Street site

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Planning and Regeneration Cabinet Member Bulletin July 2020

3. L&Q have commenced piling on thier site on Addiscombe Road

4. Works are nearing completion on 101 George Street

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Planning and Regeneration Cabinet Member Bulletin July 2020

5. 3 of the 4 new buildings on the former Taberner House site have been topped out, whilst the 35 storey tower has reach 2/3rd of its final height

6. An attractive 'contemporary reinterpretation' scheme replacing a single house with a small block of flats on Woodcote Grove Road

7. A new apartment block on Brighton Road near Coulsdon town centre

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Planning and Regeneration Cabinet Member Bulletin July 2020

8. A striking new building on the corner of Brighton Road and Stoats Nest Road

9. A dramatic roof on these new homes on Brighton Road

10. The scale of these new homes along Old Lodge Lane is reduced by glazed links between the brick blocks

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Planning and Regeneration Cabinet Member Bulletin July 2020

11. This new small block of flats in the East India Estate Conservation Area nestles in well between two older, less sympathetic buildings

12. These new homes on Grasmere Road have been designed to blend in well with their neighbours

13. A new mews with a terrace of modern styled houses off Warren Road

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Planning and Regeneration Cabinet Member Bulletin July 2020

14. A new apartment block in Shirley reflects the design of its neighbours

15. A pair of new small blocks of flats fits in well along The Glade

16. This block of flats blends into the street-scene on Orchard Way

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Planning and Regeneration Cabinet Member Bulletin July 2020

17. Dramatic clouds over the new skyline along Cairo New Road

Update on major development

Edridge Road A resolution to grant planning permission was made by the Planning Committee on 21st May for the erection of a part 33 storey, part 11 storey and part single storey building providing 230 residential units, communal roof terraces and amenity spaces. 43 affordable rented and 3 intermediate (shared ownership) homes were secured as affordable housing.

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Planning and Regeneration Cabinet Member Bulletin July 2020

Fairfield Homes A resolution to grant planning permission was made by the Planning Committee on 23rd April for the erection of five buildings ranging in height from 7 to 29 storeys to provide 421 residential flats, flexible commercial space at ground floor of Building A, C and E. 20% affordable housing was secured, offset against the Fairfield Halls refurbishment costs.

103-111 High Street This pre-application scheme was presented to Planning Committee on 23rd April and officers continue to work with the applicant on the erection of a 29 storey building to provide 121 residential homes, with flexible commercial space at ground and mezzanine. Officers anticipate an application being made soon.

The Fair Field This pre-application scheme was presented to Planning Committee on 21st May and officers continue to work with the applicant on Public Realm scheme to transform the Fair Field (also known as College Green and Fairfield Gardens) into a world class public Space. Officers anticipate an application being made soon.

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Planning and Regeneration Cabinet Member Bulletin July 2020 Update on major commissions

Growth Zone Update

Croydon town centre continues to see rapid change with new buildings under construction and plans for further developments in the pipeline. The Growth Zone programme consists of a range of transport, public realm, and social infrastructure and technology projects. They are deemed essential to mitigate the impact and maximise the opportunities of the growth planned for the Croydon town centre area, (as detailed in the Croydon Local Plan 2018, Croydon Opportunity Area Planning Framework 2013 and the London Plan), for the benefit of existing and future residents, businesses and visitors.

Place and Public Realm

The Minster Green has been developed to Stage 3 designs. Designs have been informed by stakeholders, Diocese, landowners and the Council’s Place Review Panel. Public engagement on the Stage 2 designs was undertaken in March 2019. The Stage 3 designs have been submitted to the diocese as part of the diocese consent process. Scheme delivery will follow diocese approval.

Projects likely to be progressed in 2020/21 will focus on the Old Town and Mid Croydon area and all to follow commencement of delivery of Minster Green. The proposals for the Fair Field public space are now progressing at pace. Following a public consultation in February /March 2020, the design was then presented to Planning Committee as part of the pre planning application process in May and to a second Place Review Panel in June.

The proposals embody the balance of Croydon's dynamic past and exciting future, juxtaposing history and modernity, natural and manmade, in a fun, playful, open and inclusive spirit which embraces the myriad of possibilities and opportunities for the future of Croydon.

The current opportunities include extended lawns and soft landscaping, a central water feature that can be drained and used for various events, and three kiosks, playful interpretation of Croydon landmarks, which offer both vantage points and may host a variety of uses when they open. The designs will be submitted for planning permission in July 2020.

Corridors

Three roads have been identified as the key ‘movement corridors’ serving the Growth Zone these are; London Road, Brighton Road & Mitcham Road/Roman Way, it is essential that their design, and the priority afforded to each transport mode, responds appropriately to the future needs of Croydon Town Centre. The nature of interventions will be determined by the design process and engagement with residents and

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Planning and Regeneration Cabinet Member Bulletin July 2020 businesses in the area, and the council’s objectives for these key routes align with the Mayor’s Transport Strategy focus on prioritising walking, cycling and public transport. Croydon Council are working with TfL to prepare and model improvements to Lombard roundabout, Thornton Heath Ponds gyratory and the Purley gyratory, which form part of the broader corridor programme. Healthy Streets assessment and projects list for London Road Corridor has been completed.

Transport, Walking and Cycling, Parking

Key schemes include:

• approval to commission the West Croydon Station development project next design stage; • initiation of key bus priority projects and movement into the ‘delivery pipeline’; • ongoing work in relation to Network Rail’s Croydon Area Remodelling Scheme (CARS),as the project moves towards public consultation mid-2020. • In relation to CARS, working with London Continental Railways to take forward a Strategic Regeneration Framework (SRF) for the East Croydon Station Area; • completion of GZ Controlled Parking Zone review; • officers are also working with TfL on the development of a multi-modal transport corridors improvement study, including looking at the potential for tram extensions, supporting housing growth, reducing traffic pollution, promoting healthier, greener lifestyles and helping tackle the climate emergency etc

Social Infrastructure

We are at feasibility stage for the Clocktower and Town Hall building refurbishment, working with the various services in the building to improve the public offer and access to this valued community hub. Building on the masterplan developed in 2017 for Park Hill Recreation Ground, we are planning phased improvements to this site, principally focusing on creating spaces for young people and children’s play alongside other changes to the park landscape and infrastructure. There are a series of public workshops and activities in March focused upon improving the signage, entrances and navigation around the park, and we are planning a series of pop up play events starting from Easter. We are undertaking an analysis of community space in central Croydon, to map and understand the existing availability, quality and accessibility of community space for use and hire, alongside an assessment of the pipeline of new community facilities being delivered as part of new development within the Town Centre. This work aligns with the council’s recently published Voluntary and Community Sector Strategy. We have commissioned a research partner, Social Life, working with academic support from UCL, to develop a framework to gauge and monitor the social impact of the town centre regeneration programme. The first stage survey work and report should conclude this Autumn. AMBITIOUS FOR CROYDON

Planning and Regeneration Cabinet Member Bulletin July 2020

Smart City

SLP INNOVATE IoT project; Croydon will be taking forward a Digital Town Centre Hub project to help local businesses and residents engage on a digital platform. Businesses will be able to promote their business and share current offers with the local community. Supported by footfall sensors, businesses, residents and the council will be able to access real time information about the high street and target public messaging as well as news and events. The hub will help businesses to directly with customers and the local community and support economic renewal in the borough. We are currently identifying high street/district centres to launch the platform.

• 4G Small Cells - the first 4G small cells have been installed by iWireless near Croydon University Hospital and West Valley Hospital in East Croydon. Other sites in the town centre will also brought forward be for the end of July boosting 4G connectivity for residents, businesses and visitors.

• Full Fibre Broadband - Croydon has been allocated £1 million funding by the GLA Connected London team to bring Full Fibre broadband. We have put forward a prioritised list of Public assets and developing plans to deploy later in the year.

• Full Fibre to Social Housing - rollout by Community Fibre and Openreach is progressing well despite delays during the lockdown period

Construction Logistics

The Construction Logistics efforts in the Growth Zone continue to progress effectively with traffic levels remain relatively unaffected by construction traffic due to measures undertaken to manage HGV’s, overall vehicle speed has actually increased and journey time decreased on the major routes to and from the Town Centre during peak periods which is an improvement over the 2016 baseline figures. Sites continue to undertake loading/unloading in protected areas and holding areas are being provided to reduce the number of on-street HGV’s. There is a significant uptick in the use of the holding areas due to the additional restrictions on the Town Centre highway network as a result of COVID-19 and the increase in construction traffic. It is anticipated that the existing holding area will need to undergo its pre- planned Phase 2 expansion over the summer. Implementation of permitted construction routes and prescribed delivery hours in particular, limits the HGVs in the peak periods with ongoing efforts to enforce these where breaches are detected, albeit that some of the restricted delivery times have been relaxed on a case by case basis during the COVID-19 crisis in line with government guidance due to the lack of school and rush hour traffic. However it has been made clear to sites that these relaxations are temporary and will end when traffic levels rise to a point that congestion is experienced again and/or when schools return. Our efforts in this regard were shortlisted for over a dozen national awards this year of which we have won three, with several more ceremonies in abeyance awaiting a safe time to host them. A key

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Planning and Regeneration Cabinet Member Bulletin July 2020 headline remains that there continue to be no construction-related HGV accidents for the entire duration of our efforts so far, a figure that is significantly less than the statistical average. During the COVID-19 crisis there was a significant decrease in construction traffic for some time due to shortages of materials and the need to reconfigure sites for staff safety. Whilst this has delayed many projects, the level of activity in construction logistics has recovered relatively rapidly and is now approaching normal levels again.

Fairfield

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Planning and Regeneration Cabinet Member Bulletin July 2020

Purley Way

Architects and urban design teams from We Made That and Hawkins Brown have been leading a team of specialists to develop a strategic masterplan for the Purley Way, to shape how transformational change should come forward in this area. The high level masterplan is informed by an in depth evidence base, which includes a detailed survey of local businesses, analysis of local demographics and economy, an urban design study of the environment and character of Purley Way, an assessment of infrastructure and an assessment of the current property market sector. AMBITIOUS FOR CROYDON

Planning and Regeneration Cabinet Member Bulletin July 2020

The strategic masterplan provides high level principles for where mixed use development growth should be focused, structured around the establishment of new local centres that provide space for housing, along with community and commercial uses. The masterplan also explores the opportunity for expansion and intensification of employment space in the areas designated Strategic Industrial Locations that respond to both local and regional demand. The strategic masterplan will set out the required physical and social infrastructure improvements to facilitate this growth, providing a phased approach to ensure new housing and employment space are sufficiently supported. It will directly inform the Purley Way transformation area chapter as part of the Local Plan Review.

Design collective Resolve, who are also part of the wider consultant team, have delivered an online digital platform - www.purleywayfinders.com - to enable the public to engage with the project and provide thoughts and ideas about Purley Way, whilst COVID-19 restrictions are in place. I would encourage all those interested in the future of the Purley Way to participate. The team have also engaged with the commercially focussed Purley Way Forum.

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Planning and Regeneration Cabinet Member Bulletin July 2020

Homes that are Accessible to Everyone

The Council would ideally like to see lifts suitable for use by people who use wheelchairs installed into all blocks of flats, along with level access to the front door and shared amenities such as gardens and stores. We do though need to follow the relevant planning policy and building regulations requirements which are set out below. A key issue is the installation and maintenance costs of lifts in small blocks of flats where there are only a few homes on each floor, where the costs are likely to be prohibitive for the future occupiers. This particularly relates to ‘minor applications’ where there are less than 10 homes proposed. The policies and regulations do make provision for this viability concern. The hilly terrain in some parts of the borough unfortunately can also make it impractical to provide access for people in wheelchairs on some sites.

From a Planning Perspective

Policy 3.8 of the current London Plan seeks to ensure that Londoners should have a ”genuine choice of homes that they can afford and which meet their requirements for different sizes and types of dwellings in the highest quality environments. There are a number of subsections to this policy and subsection C states

“C. ninety percent of new housing1 meets Building Regulation requirement M4 (2) ‘accessible and adaptable dwellings’ d ten per cent of new housing2 meets Building Regulation requirement M4 (3) ‘wheelchair user dwellings’, i.e. is designed to be wheelchair accessible, or easily adaptable for residents who are wheelchair users”

The supporting text to this policy goes on to say:

“The application of requirement M4 (2) has particular implications for blocks of four storeys or less, where historically the London Plan has not required lifts. Boroughs should seek to ensure that dwellings accessed above or below the entrance storey in buildings of four storeys or less have step-free access. However, for these types of buildings this requirement may be subject to development-specific viability assessments and consideration should be given to the implication of ongoing maintenance costs on the affordability of service charges for residents. Where such assessments demonstrate that the inclusion of a lift would make the scheme unviable or mean that service charges are not affordable for intended residents, the units above or below the ground floor that cannot provide step free access would only need to satisfy the requirements of M4(1) of the Building Regulations”.

Further advice on this point is set out in the GLA’s Housing SPG. It states

“Analysis of the viability and affordability impacts of M4(2) may require ‘bespoke’ assessments of site-specific circumstances. Where necessary, for developments of four stories or less, the requirements of Policy 3.8Bc should be applied flexibly to ensure that residential or mixed use development is deliverable”.

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Planning and Regeneration Cabinet Member Bulletin July 2020 Therefore whilst the current plan seeks to provide step free access to flats within blocks of up to 4 storeys. The policy and the supporting guidance recognise the difficulties this can create in relation to maintenance cost, affordability and viability of a scheme. Therefore there is not an absolute policy requirement for the provision of flats in blocks of flats of 4 storey or less.

It should also be noted that the Mayor of London is in the process of producing a new London Plan for adoption. A review of this document indicate the GLA’s proposed direction of travel in relation to this point. Again a policy is proposed which deals with Accessibility. Policy D7 of the emerging London Plan requires that a suitable choice of housing is provided. As with the existing London Plan the Policy requires 10% of new dwelling dwellings to be Part M4(3) (wheelchair Accessible) compliant and the remainder to be Part M4(2) Accessible and adaptable dwellings compliant.

The justification for the Policy does however recognise that there are some exceptions where some flexibility to this Policy may be required. One of those exceptions is in relation to small scale infill sites. In relation to Small infill sites it is stated that “Homes located on the ground floor on minor developments should meet the requirements of Policy D7 Accessible Housing. Homes that are not on the ground floor on minor developments can comply with the M4(1) standard, which does not require step-free access, where provision of step-free access would be unfeasible”.

Whilst the emerging London Plan has not yet been adopted it does hold some weight in planning decision and it is does indicate the direction of travel in terms of Policy.

Therefore whilst at present there is a policy which seeks to provide step free access in blocks of up to 4 storey, the policy allows for flexibility so that in some case potentially unachievable requirements do not have a negative impact on the delivery of homes. The emerging policy in response to the difficulties of providing a lift in blocks of 4 storeys or less will only require step free access to homes on the ground floors of blocks of 4 storeys and under if it is unfeasible to provide step free access to the upper floors.

It is necessary for planning applications to be determined in accordance with the Development Plan which includes the Policies within the London Plan

From a Building Regulations perspective:

1. The Building Regulations 2010 make requirements in relation to the provision of lifts a. Schedule 1 parts B5 (Access and facilities for the fire service) and M4 (Access to and use of dwellings) make requirements b. Guidance is given in Approved Documents B Volume 1 and M Volume

2. This is based on the advice of the Approved Documents as to what is considered, in common building situations to be an acceptable level of performance.

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Planning and Regeneration Cabinet Member Bulletin July 2020 a. The guidance to Part B5 in Approved Document B Volume 1 advises that a fire fighting shaft will be necessary where there is an occupiable floor situated more than 18m above ground level. i. This would necessitate the provision of a fire fighting lift. ii. This requirement would likely come into effect if there are 6 or more floors (7 stories) in the building, depending on the height of the stories. b. The application of Part M4 is dependent on the level of performance implemented as a condition of the planning permission i. The basic requirement under the regulations is M4(1) 1. At this level the advice does not suggest that a lift should be provided but considers what would be appropriate in terms of size and appointment if one is. ii. If the planning permission makes optional requirements M4(2) or M4(3) applicable to any flats above or below the access level to the building the Approved Document advises that access to this accommodation should be step free. 1. This effectively requires the provision of a suitable lift and this would be the case no matter how many floors the building contains. a. If the building is two storey and accommodation of the first floor is deemed to be M4(2) or M4(3) by the planning approval, a lift will likely be necessary in order to comply. 2. Where planning permission is granted requiring M4(2) or M4(3) accommodation above or below access level and no provision is made in the design approved under Planning Permission, Building regulations would consider these levels of performance unreasonable and likely implement M4(1) unless the design of the building were to be changed to incorporate a lift. 3. If the building were of 4 stories and the optional requirements M4(2) and M4(3) were either not implemented or were incorrectly implemented by the planning approval then there would be no requirement to provide a lift under Building Regulations.

(With thanks to Cllr Canning for prompting this article through a council question)

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Culture, Leisure and Sport Cabinet Member Bulletin Councillor Oliver Lewis July 2020

Overview

Since the lockdown in March, our initial focus was on closures and the swift and effective decommissioning of services; libraries, museum and in a supporting role for leisure centres and the Fairfield Halls. We have been supporting services on the front line; preparing for our library buildings to be used as potential locality hubs for distribution of food and medicines, which was not mobilised in the end. Some of our staff have also been redeployed across other frontline services.

Culture

We have been able to set up a Cultural Relief Fund of £135k with support from the GLA, has to date received over 28 applications to the first two rounds. Grants have been awarded to 23 organisations to the value of £86,663k, averaging just over £3k per award. The final deadline is at the end of June.

Most importantly, we are continuing to stay in close touch with the cultural sector with a weekly roundup of news, updates and opportunities. We are also circulating a regular survey to try and collect up to date intelligence on the state of our cultural organisations. Our sector has worked with us to develop a detailed submission to the DCMS enquiry into the impact of COVID on the cultural sector which we sent through last week.

Creative Enterprise Zone

The CEZ activity during this time has focused on ensuring the ongoing survival of the sector in Croydon through this difficult time. This has been through supporting businesses and organisations in finding appropriate support and funding, repurposing funds in response to the crisis, supporting revised delivery models and contributing to lobbying efforts.

Despite the challenges thrown up by COVID we have been able to successfully pilot a joint initiative between Croydon College and FMM Popup. This has been designed to build links between the creative sector and HE/ FE institutions in the borough to support the creation and delivery of work experience placements in the sector.

Croydon Music City

During the lockdown CMC has focused on working with local venues, directing them to potential sources of support, locally (via the culture relief fund), regionally (via the

AMBITIOUS FOR CROYDON Culture, Leisure and Sport Cabinet Member Bulletin Councillor Oliver Lewis July 2020

GLA’s “Culture at Risk” team) and nationally (through organisations such as the Music Venues Trust).

We have also been working with organisations who have previously received grant funding to help them look at how they may continue to deliver, albeit with some changes due to COVID. This in currently in progress, and come to the fore now that some government guidance has been provided around venues and licensed premises.

Sports and Leisure

We have been sending out regular detailed communication to our sports sector with advice and guidance on available support for sports organisations and clubs. Croydon clubs have already benefitted from around £40k of emergency funding from Sport England. Several organisations joined us in a round table to discuss the impact of COVID on the sports sector in Croydon and the results of these discussions have been fed through to the DCMS in response to the public enquiry. In addition we have been developing our digital communications with residents to promote information and online activities relating to physical health.

Greenwich Leisure closed down the leisure facilities in Croydon following the advice from Government in March. We are currently in discussion with them about plans to reopen on a phased basis when Government guidance changes and leisure facilities are allowed to re-open.

Tennis courts and lawn bowls were amongst the earliest sports facilities to be allowed to re-open nationally.

AMBITIOUS FOR CROYDON Culture, Leisure and Sport Cabinet Member Bulletin Councillor Oliver Lewis July 2020

Parks and Greenspaces

Now more than ever, our diverse and beautiful greenspaces have been shown to be incredibly important for our residents and we are happy that individuals are making use of the natural surroundings for their health and wellbeing. We are also extremely grateful for all the staff and individuals involved in keeping these greenspaces open, clean and fit for use.

Since lockdown in March, we have worked to ensure that all our greenspaces remained open, which wasn’t necessarily the case across London, and that we have been keeping in line with central government guidance as and when it has been released. This includes some vital work to close and cordon off some of our recreational areas like playgrounds and outdoor gyms. Again, we are thankful for the majority of Croydon residents who are abiding by these regulations and not using these facilities.

It has also been important to ensure that the right messaging about responsible behaviours has been available for visitors to our greenspaces. For this reason, our messaging has been both on-site and online. Even though the majority of public behaviour has been positive, there is always room for improvement and we would like to place a call out to everyone to support our parks staff and to stay safe in these two simple ways: • Litter – Please use the litter bins available or, better yet, take your litter home with you! • Follow the guidance about what facilities you can and can’t use.

Finally, as the lockdown restrictions continue to ease we will continue to work hard to reopen facilities and enable activities when we are able to do so safely and responsibly. We thank you for your patience and support with this and hope that you continue to enjoy the benefits of using our wonderful parks and greenspaces.

AMBITIOUS FOR CROYDON Culture, Leisure and Sport Cabinet Member Bulletin Councillor Oliver Lewis July 2020

Library Services

Across the library and museum services we have greatly increased our online offer and have seen an increase in membership with over 1,000 new individuals joining libraries online since 20th March when the libraries closed.

Digital issues for April and May are the highest we have ever recorded and growing. Since joining The Libraries Consortium, Croydon Libraries have increased all online resources, now providing over 40,000 eBooks/eAudio books, over 750 popular magazines, and thousands of eNewspapers in over 100 languages. Total eBook issues have increased 308% and eAudio by 188%. The enhanced online offer/programming continues to increase engagement through social media with regular craft events online every Saturday afternoon, rhymetimes and storytimes produced by library staff familiar to local audiences, and higher profile events such as the popular Storytime with local author and illustrator Ciara Flood as part of the Pyjamarama initiative from Booktrust. In ordinary times, Ciara Flood would visit a library and share her books and drawings with 50-60 local schoolchildren; online her story and drawing demonstration had 1,716 and 497 engagements.

The home delivery service has been paused but we have stayed in touch with over 20 of our home library service customers through a befriending calls programme in the meantime.

The Start-ups in London Libraries project, delivered in partnership with the British Library’s Business and IP Centre, has flourished online. Croydon’s Project champion has been providing webinars and one to one support sessions with 9 other London boroughs. The programme webinars have supported 273 new businesses across London, and 29 additional businesses have signed up for support in Croydon. Croydon businesses can sign up for free weekly one to one sessions here: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/11-business-information-session-with-start-ups- in-london-libraries-tickets-102882722994

Summer Reading Challenge 2020 online

This year, with the disruption caused by COVID, the Reading Agency has launched an all-new digital version of the Summer Reading Challenge. The aim is to keep children reading over the summer, supporting parents and carers with children already at home. The theme for this year is Silly Squad and focuses on funny stories and tales. Croydon readers aged 4 – 11 are challenged to read 6 books with the Silly Squad, an adventurous team of animals created by children’s illustrator Laura Ellen Anderson. Our young readers can enjoy all different kinds of funny books now in the Croydon

AMBITIOUS FOR CROYDON Culture, Leisure and Sport Cabinet Member Bulletin Councillor Oliver Lewis July 2020

Libraries eBooks and eAudio collection here: https://llc.overdrive.com/library/youth. Full information about the challenge is here: www.summerreadingchallenge.org.uk and on social media pages.

Croydon Libraries are also launching a Silly Tales Competition for children aged 4 – 7 and 8 – 11 to send in their own stories, poems and creations.

Museum & Archives

The Museum of Croydon in response to COVID-19 closed its physical offer on 20th March. Since then it has launched a totally virtual and interactive museum offer benefitting from a brand new website and enhanced social media presence through Twitter, Facebook and Instagram. The exhibition programme ‘What’s Your Croydon?’ has continued online with the following offer:

• Croydon Natural History & Scientific Society – a selection of postcards from the John Gent collection. • Good Wolf with an interactive storytelling activity for the family • Play for Progress launched their exhibition ‘Roots and Branches’ online with: o an online gallery o music tracks o weekly arts and music sessions.

We have launched a number of online campaigns including VEDay75 with a premiere of our Home Front and VE Day video as a result of Nation Lottery Heritage Fund (NLHF) supported project with Digital Drama. We explored the history of Croydon’s pubs through our Virtual Pub Crawl in honour of National Beer Day. We also took part in the national #museumfromhome day with coverage from the BBC. Finally, on Windrush Day we proudly shared some stories to celebrate the contribution of the Windrush generation and their descendants in Croydon.

AMBITIOUS FOR CROYDON Culture, Leisure and Sport Cabinet Member Bulletin Councillor Oliver Lewis July 2020

As curators of future exhibitions, we have been actively collecting resident’s stories and experiences of life in lockdown during COVID-19 with our Letter from Lockdown. We have also been sharing the Coronavirus Time Capsule, documenting the lives of young people through C3 and led by Croydon Music & Arts.

Our volunteers have continued working with us during closure by researching biographies of Croydonnites who have portraits at the National Portrait Gallery, as part of our work on the NLHF supported Citizen Project. The volunteers have been delving further into our oral history collection, and have been transcribing, researching and creating virtual handling boxes. It’s been great to continue our work with volunteers and we’ve been keeping in touch with Zoom calls and a quiz.

Finally, we’re continuing to provide access virtually to collections and have increased information on our website with regards to what materials we have and how they are accessible during closure. We have been answering archives enquiries throughout the lockdown period.

AMBITIOUS FOR CROYDON Families, Health and Social Care Cabinet Member Bulletin Councillor Janet Campbell July 2020

Welcome to my July Bulletin,

This is my first bulletin as Cabinet Member for Families, Health and Social Care, so I would like to open by telling you a bit about myself…

I have been a resident of Croydon since the 1970s, my core beliefs are centred on empowering a community to be self-sufficient, achieving good mental health and social justice for all.

I am looking forward to continuing to work closely with my colleague Cllr Jane Avis and all my colleagues within Health, Wellbeing and Adults.

We have all been working in challenging times, we are still dealing with Covid-19, adapting to the changes with lockdown rules, looking out for our families and friends and managing our budgets against increasing demand.

I want to thank all our staff, partners and voluntary sector colleagues for their hard work responding to the current COVID-19 outbreak. The work that everyone is doing is making a difference to so many people. In this bulletin I am sharing examples of just some of the great work that has been happening.

We were also all shocked by the horrific killings of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor and Ahmaud Arbery which generated many emotions and conversations around the world, and of course, here in Croydon.

We condemn all forms of discrimination - there is no place or tolerance for racism at Croydon.

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LIFE team increased working hours mean capacity in Croydon University Hospital

Adult social care in Croydon University Hospital (CUH) moved out of the hospital at the end of March 2019 to support the LIFE discharge service based at Lennard Road. In line with the new guidance issued at that time (19/3/2020) adult social care was required to focus on assessments at home for people discharged from acute hospitals.

A handful of social care staff stayed to work alongside key areas at CUH to assist flow; Integrated Discharge Team, A&E, Palliative Care and Stroke Ward.

All other staff joined up with the LIFE integrated service which included therapists, nurses from Rapid Response, doctors and consultants. Within a week we moved LIFE operating hours to support the hospital flow and from the end of March the service has been working 7 days per week from 8am to 8pm. Current working hours are being reviewed in line with work demands.

The service has accepted referrals for all hospital discharges for people returning home to their own home in Croydon including discharges from hospitals outside the borough e.g. St Georges, Kings College and the Princess Royal University (PRU).

Care is put in place on the day of discharge and the person is assessed at home within 24 hours.

Staff have organised equipment, care and support, emergency food supplies, medication supplies, access to emergency bedding, clothes and incontinence pads as well as Telecare, access to therapy or medical support as needed.

Referrals for LIFE have a target of 63 per month. Current figures for referrals are;

● March 2020 – 158 referrals (last year at the same time was 98) ● April 2020 - 247 referrals ● May 2020 – 284 referrals

The staff in the service have worked extremely hard throughout and despite being affected by staff illness and shielding, they have managed to keep the service running and meet demands which has in turn kept the acute hospitals working at optimum level, and with capacity across the wards for the first time in decades.

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Cherry Garden Centre donates plants for VE75 day

Croydon Commitment put together some packages for some of the veterans in the borough to mark75 years since VE day.

Amongst the other gifts was a plant donated by the Cherry Garden Centre, which has had to pause its activities.

Normally it’s supported by volunteers with disabilities and runs sessions to teach horticulture, providing a space for people who find looking after plants to be a rewarding and enriching activity

The garden centre is open for business Monday – Friday 9:30am -12pm, and there are now dedicated parking spots for customers.

Looking after our Shielded residents

At the early stages of the COVID-19 pandemic people who have underlying health conditions were written to by the Government advising them to stay at home for 12 weeks – these people are our ‘shielded’ residents.

Croydon has supported them in many ways.

The project to contact all shielded residents, by text, phone, email, and letter or, if needed, home visits was developed. A core team of redeployed council staff were trained and able make contact to check how people were and if they needed any additional support, which included medication collection, food and social contact.

If the resident needs food urgently, maybe because of cultural or dietary needs, or that their Government box hadn’t arrived or they had small children, referrals are made to the LBC hub for a delivery the same day. Food was sourced very quickly by working with Boxpark, local restaurants, Marks and Spencer, Iceland Co-op and many more organisations for the LBC Hub. Other residents are referred to Croydon Voluntary Action (CVA) and Age UK Croydon who have been coordinating and providing essential food parcels and food banks. We have

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also been able to refer our residents to the The Mutual Aid group which is co-ordinated by the CVA.

This consists of 60+ organisations registered to give support, for example assistance with shopping, food deliveries or a hot meal.

Along with the need for essentials, a pressing need is social contact, as some people have been alone for a long time. Working with Age UK Croydon and the CVA the Companion Line was developed, connecting people together. Our call handlers have been able to refer residents to this, as well as the NHS volunteer responders.

Colleagues across the council have worked even closer together then previously. Adult Social Care, Childrens Social Care, Gateway and Housing have collaborated to protect vulnerable families and people who are Shielding.

We are sharing information about the support that is available to our residents via our website, by text message and a leaflet.

Croydon Digital Service worked incredibly quickly to pull together the database of all our Shielded residents so accurate records can be kept of all resident contacts.

The figures at 10/6/20 are:

● 7,714 shielded residents contacted ● 7,028 - requiring no support ● 686 – referred for additional support ● 166 – residents visited due to unknown whereabouts and on government shielded list ● 1,611 - emergency food packages delivered In additional the Health and Care coordination group was formed which consists of people from the Council, SLAM, GP’s alliance, Croydon University Hospital, Carers Centre, One Croydon, Age UK Croydon, Croydon Voluntary Action, Public Health and the CCG.

This group are able to look strategically at the needs of Croydon’s vulnerable population and make quick decisions to ensure needs were met. Data sharing across all partners has sometimes been a tricky problem, but by working together, sharing best practise and expertise an agreement was developed which meant our residents experience a more joined up approach from Croydon as a whole.

If you need support:

● The NHS Volunteer Responders programme can help with food, prescriptions and essential items - Call 0808 196 3646. ● If you need urgent help or assistance, please call Croydon Council 020 8604 7787. AMBITIOUS FOR CROYDON

● Visit www.croydon.gov.uk/coronavirus for Croydon updates ● Visit www.gov.uk/coronavirus for Government updates

Dedicated support for people living with dementia during lockdown

Singing, painting and reading together are part of the inclusive range of activities taking place over the phone with Croydon residents who are living with dementia at home since the Covid-19 lockdown.

As Croydon Council’s day centres are currently closed due to the pandemic, council officers from Marsh Willow and Langley Oaks centres carry out welfare checks on people with the condition at home who would regularly attend their events. Their time together on the phone offers stimulating activities for their mental and physical health and wellbeing.

For people with dementia who are not living in a care home, short respite breaks and personal assistance at home are provided by the council and local agencies to those who are most vulnerable and more in need of help.

People can also contact the council directly if they need support for someone with dementia on 020 8726 6500.

Karren Savory, a day services officer at Croydon’s Langley Oaks Day Centre said: “The clients who would normally attend the day centre tell me how much they are missing us. It is important for people living with dementia to keep up a regularly routine as much as possible. When I call them, some are familiar with my voice and we often sing or reminisce together or just spend the time talking. We also speak to their family or friends who are their carers to signpost them to support services and help them with the different types of activities like simple exercises, painting and crafts they can do with the person with dementia as they are now looking after them at home all day.”

Prior to the lockdown, Croydon Council had been working with the Croydon Dementia Action Alliance, a partnership of more than 20 local organisations making the borough a dementia friendly town and raising awareness of the condition.

Their inclusive projects have included Dementia Friends awareness sessions – also with children and young people, and organising special film screenings at Croydon’s David Lean Cinema to make the cinema more accessible for people with the condition. They have also set up dementia cafes in the borough and have hosted a number of tea dances.

Their work is highly commended by Alzheimer’s Society, the UK’s leading dementia charity and it will continue when we can safely resume our shared community activities.

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Virtual hubs help adults with disabilities combat isolation

Newly-formed virtual hubs are helping adults with learning disabilities and autism combat isolation during lockdown by supporting them to connect with their friends online.

Staff working for the council’s Active Lives Service, which provides tailored activities and support for people with disabilities, have been facilitating online video sessions for people who would usually meet at their hub centres around the borough including the Cherry Hub in St James’ Road. When open, these hubs offer a range of facilities and activities, including dance classes, cookery and a sensory rooms.

The Friends Connect social groups, which run for an hour a day Monday to Friday, were set up after several service users told Active Lives staff they were missing the friends they had made at the borough’s hubs. To help them reconnect, the staff have used Microsoft Teams to create virtual hubs where they facilitate group video chats, connect smaller friendship groups and individual friends online to prevent feelings of isolation

and a decline in emotional wellbeing and mental health.

As well as the Friends Connect sessions, Active Lives staff have been using the platform to involve hub users in online keep fit classes, quizzes and virtual discussion groups about the current situation caused by Covid-19, giving advice and useful tips on what people can do to maintain their wellbeing.

Richard St John-Roberts, the carer of two clients using the virtual hub, said: “Errol and David are enjoying being able to see and talk to their friends on Microsoft Teams. Being able to participate in an exercise workout with Heidi [an Active Lives team member] is an added bonus and we all feel better afterwards. Both definitely give it the thumbs up.”

In addition to the group sessions, Active Lives staff are using the virtual hubs to continue their dance and drama sessions with the BRIT school and outreach work staying in touch with individual club regulars, with the Whitehorse and Beulah hubs each holding sessions with over 20 people a week. AMBITIOUS FOR CROYDON

Residents to benefit from free stop smoking programme

Residents in Croydon can get help from the council’s free health and wellbeing programme to quit smoking and reduce their risks of severe symptoms if they get Covid- 19.

In response to the pandemic, anyone over 16 years old is being offered one-to-one support from Croydon Live Well advisers during a focused 12-week stop smoking programme.

The advisers are available on the phone number 0800 019 8570 and email, [email protected]. There is also online advice and free tools to quit smoking on the council’s health website www.justbecroydon.org/be-smoke-free/

Croydon Council is also endorsing the Quit for Covid campaign where Public Health England, the Chief Medical Officer and The Association of Directors of Public Health are calling for people to stop smoking to protect themselves and others.

Although there are now fewer cases of coronavirus in the borough, smokers still have a higher risk of becoming seriously ill if they contract the virus, as smoking damages the lungs, weakens the immune system and causes a range of severe respiratory problems.

Quitting smoking quickly improves your circulation, breathing and reduces the risks of other long term health problems such as heart attacks and stroke.

In the longer term, quitting is also linked to reduced depression, anxiety, and stress and improved positive mood and quality of life compared with continuing to smoke.

The NHS is still here for you

If you have a health concern and need to speak to a GP/need advice from a GP, the NHS is still here for you and can provide care if you need it.

Please don’t wait until it gets worse, GPs are offering advice in new ways by phone or video to provide you with healthcare advice and reduce the need for travel. They have put in a number of new safety measures across practices in Croydon.

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Our NHS teams are particularly concerned about people who may have experienced any new lumps or other cancer symptoms during lockdown and are unsure on what steps to take next. Please know that the NHS is here for you.

Your GP can easily assess, advise and refer through video and phone appointments, you just need to contact your GP in the usual way to get the advice you need

When it comes to cancer, no one should be left feeling alone. A five-minute appointment could be the first step to getting the clarity you need, so don’t brush cancer symptoms aside.

Early diagnosis is the best way to ensure a successful and full recovery and your GP is always here for you.

Remember, if you have COVID-19 related symptoms, follow the current advice and do not visit your practice. Call NHS 111 if you have urgent care needs and call 999 in an emergency.

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I hope you find this bulletin interesting, if you would like to contact me about anything, please do so on:

Correspondence: Business phone: 07783152344

c/o Town Hall Email: [email protected]

Katharine Street Online information

Croydon

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AMBITIOUS FOR CROYDON Safer Croydon and Communities Cabinet Member Bulletin Councillor Hamida Ali July 2020

Equality and Diversity

Response to Black Lives Matter movement following the tragic murder of George Floyd

On 2nd June, Croydon stood in solidarity with Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic (BAME) communities around the world as it lit the town hall purple to remember George Floyd. Croydon wanted to show the world that it stands with strength and pride in its support of those protesting peacefully against racism and injustice across the world.

A number of initiatives have taken place to support staff members which includes; • Staff mental health / emotional wellbeing support – providing information through intranet • Providing opportunities for staff to talk about how they feel with others in a trusting and supportive environment • BAME staff network conversations • Executive Leadership Team discussion on equality, racial injustice and the council’s commitment to tackling racism • Lets’ Talk about Race sessions • Internal communications campaign

Summary of our equality and inclusion work to date

• Reassurance regarding ongoing Covid-19 risk assessments • Ongoing mental health and wellbeing support for staff affected by recent events • Further opportunities for staff to talk (e.g.’ coffee and chats’)

Culture Board task and finish group identifying urgent actions to take:

• Recruitment: anonymous shortlisting, diverse shortlists, diverse interview panels • Creation of data observatory to bring together diversity and inclusion data regularly AMBITIOUS FOR CROYDON Safer Croydon and Communities Cabinet Member Bulletin Councillor Hamida Ali July 2020

• Craft a small number of key diversity and inclusion metrics and targets • Clarify guidelines on areas left to managers’ discretion • Learning and development refresh for all managers on the public sector equality duty

Informing our wider equality strategy

We are required to review our equality objectives currently set out in our Opportunity and Fairness Play, 2016-2020 and will be developing an equality strategy on which we will shortly consult through a public engagement planned July – August 2020 via online focus groups, online survey and telephone interviews. The draft strategy will be brought to Cabinet in the Autumn. We will also be working in partnership through the Local Strategic Partnership to address inequality in Croydon.

Safer Croydon

Collaborative approach to violence reduction to be at the heart of new community safety strategy

A collaborative approach to reducing and preventing violence in Croydon will be at the heart of the borough’s new community safety strategy.

The process of developing the new three-year-strategy will cement the holistic, public health approach to reducing violence currently adopted by the council’s Violence Reduction Network (VRN).

We have published a new strategic assessment which provides an analysis of crime data and anti-social behaviour in Croydon over the last three years. It identifies several common themes and factors of violence which will drive the new strategy and be the focus of future public engagement, which will ensure the borough’s communities and those directly impacted by different types of violence - including victims, their families and perpetrators - are at the strategy’s core.

Views, experiences and ideas will be sought from residents, communities and partners, including those from the voluntary sector involved in violence and safety work, to ensure a diverse range of voices, experiences and representatives of Croydon’s community contribute to the development of the strategy, which is expected to be adopted next year.

Tackling domestic abuse will be a key focus, after data showed the crime has and continues to be a key driver in other forms of violence in the borough. The statistics show the offence not only impacts the victim themselves, but is also a common factor

AMBITIOUS FOR CROYDON Safer Croydon and Communities Cabinet Member Bulletin Councillor Hamida Ali July 2020 in the lives of a number of young people who become high risk of serious youth violence.

Other themes to be discussed and considered as part of the strategy’s development include protecting young people from violence and exploitation; disproportionality within the criminal justice system and the impact this has on how they experience violence; and resilience, trauma and trust, which will explore the protective factors in individuals and communities.

To make a significant impact and reverse the year-on-year rise in crime Croydon has seen over the last three years, we must continue our borough wide multi-agency partnership working. We must also strengthen it further by working directly with more community groups, and in particular those affected by crime, as part of our efforts. This collaborative approach - engaging with a wide range of residents and professionals on key themes including domestic violence, serious youth violence and disproportionality in the criminal justice system, coupled with using data to identify patterns and trends - will not only enable us to gain a better understanding of the key issues and how they impact on violence in Croydon, but to develop a strategic approach that evolves to really address the actions needed to reduce crime.

Croydon off-licences and supermarkets highlight domestic abuse support

Off-licences and supermarkets across Croydon continue to highlight services and support available to survivors of domestic violence through a campaign in partnership with the FJC and Croydon Police. The campaign saw the posters detailing the contact number for Croydon FJC and the free 24-hour domestic abuse helpline, put up in every one of the borough’s 400 off-licences and at supermarkets across Croydon, publicising where domestic abuse victims can seek help.

AMBITIOUS FOR CROYDON Safer Croydon and Communities Cabinet Member Bulletin Councillor Hamida Ali July 2020

The supermarkets were also offering safe spaces within their store, where those seeking help will be given access to a phone, where they can call for support and advice. Police Safer Neighbourhood Teams also distributed posters around the borough to ensure as many residents as possible are aware of the help available and where to find it. New statistics have revealed in the six weeks up to 19 April there were 200 domestic abuse arrests – almost five a day - in Croydon. The police were also called to 561 domestic abuse offences in the borough during this period – around 13 offences a day. Croydon FJC team increased its opening hours and is now providing a seven day a week service during lockdown to ensure week-long support is available to domestic abuse victims. The team is there to listen and provide advice to ensure people are able to leave their homes if they are at risk and are also able to provide advice on housing and legal concerns. This new campaign is vital to make sure that anyone facing domestic abuse knows help is available in Croydon and where they can access it. It’s really positive that off- licences and supermarkets in the borough are working with us to help publicise this important message.

The FJC doesn’t share its address publicly to help protect those using its service. If you need help, support or advice please call 020 8688 0100. Further information is available at https://www.croydon.gov.uk/community/dabuse/fjc

AMBITIOUS FOR CROYDON Safer Croydon and Communities Cabinet Member Bulletin Councillor Hamida Ali July 2020

Those needing support outside of the centre’s opening hours can call the free 24-hour National Domestic Abuse Hotline on 0808 2000 247. In an emergency, call the police on 999. Communities

Croydon’s Voluntary and Community Sector COVID-19 Emergency Fund

In March 2020, the council established a emergency grant fund to support local voluntary and community groups supporting vulnerable residents through the COVID- 19 crisis. We committed £250,000. 76 local VCS groups applied for grants of up to £10,000 to strengthen their work and help residents through the pandemic. Applications included support for costs for food to be distributed to those in need, Personal and Protective Equipment (PPE), volunteer expenses and ICT associated with having to work and deliver services remotely because of the need to social distance.

Two organisations that were successful in their bid for grant funding were Cassandra Centre (CC) and Advice Support Knowledge Information (ASKI).

CC and ASKI partnered up to deliver hot meals to the elderly and vulnerable in Norbury, Thornton Heath and surrounding wards. CC chief executive, Jennifer Mcdermott, said: “When lockdown started we acted quickly and started delivering food to elderly people, to those with mental health concerns and to those suffering domestic abuse.”

The charity secured a private donation which initially enabled volunteers to deliver the cooked meals four weeks ahead of securing the council’s £7,668 grant funding. Jennifer added: “We started with 30 residents in Croydon, but soon demand grew and we were preparing over 100 meals a week.”

AMBITIOUS FOR CROYDON Safer Croydon and Communities Cabinet Member Bulletin Councillor Hamida Ali July 2020

As well as delivering quality food, the charities are also working to help reduce the isolation and anxiety of those who are self-isolating by helping them sustain their wellbeing. This support has been offered through weekly online exercises sessions, and by increasing their access to other support and essential services via a telephone call to each person each week to check on their needs.

One vulnerable young man, who has epilepsy, and complex mental health needs is finding lockdown very hard. He lives a long way away from family, and the isolation has been making him feel very anxious. He has been finding it very difficult to sleep, which is a big concern for his family, as the sleep deprivation can trigger seizures. His mum, Brenda, was full of praise for the charities: “Thank you so very much for helping my son. The care and hot meals you provide for him are greatly appreciated. He received a lovely meal on Thursday and was very glad of it. “He is far from home and it’s reassuring knowing he isn’t totally alone. He isn’t managing well at the moment. These difficult times and circumstances are especially hard for him. Thank you again for all the help - your work is amazing.”

Croydon Covid-19 Mutual Aid group (CCMA) received a £5,000 grant to continue its work to promote emergency food assistance.

• The group, set up with just a few people on Facebook who wanted to help their community in response to the pandemic, but it quickly expanded to encompass more than 3,800 volunteers.

• Residents from every part of Croydon are volunteering with CCMA, working together to make sure vulnerable and housebound local residents are supported.

• This includes everything from buying shopping and collecting medication, to delivering emergency food supplies and connecting residents to specialist support services.

Another example funding was Good Food Matters. The organisation has been running since 2006, have been supplying quality meals to vulnerable people and since the start of the Covid lockdown, has seen demand rise from 40 meals a week to 220. Its £8,780 grant has helped it meet this demand by providing funding to buy more ingredients, with food distributed via food banks in New Addington and Fieldway, and through Croydon Voluntary Action and Croydon BME Forum food distribution points.

The group also supplies the council’s Food Stop in New Addington, which helps families in need by providing very low-price groceries. At the end of May the fund was closed as the budget was close to exhaustion and a number of pending bids were still being assessed. The table below sets out the grants we made through the fund.

AMBITIOUS FOR CROYDON Safer Croydon and Communities Cabinet Member Bulletin Councillor Hamida Ali July 2020

Organisation Project Name

South West London Law Croydon Covid Response Centres

Gage The Lioness Circle

British Bangladeshi Society Food Bank, Cooked Meal For NHS, Soup Croydon (BBSC) Kitchen For Homeless And Food Delivery Services For Elderly

WCMC Drop-In & WCMC Drop-In & Community Centre Community Centre

Another Night Of Sisterhood Tea & Biscuit Club

Croydon Vision 2 Assurance Crisis

His Grace Evangelical His Grace Foodbank Outreach

Legacy Youth Zone Legacy Youth Zone’s Emergency Community Response

Jags Foundation Covid-19 Keeping Our Children Safe

Age UK Supporting Local Need: Food And Essentials Hub And Telephone

Centre Of Change #Hope2020

Samaritans Of Croydon And Maintain The Running Of The Branch Sutton

Croydon Drop In Croydon Drop In

Upper Norwood Library Trust Virtual Connections – Unlt Response To The (Unlt) 2 Covid-19 Crisis

Good Food Matters 2 Elderly Wellbeing Zone

Arcc Arcc Covid 19 Food Bank And Care Packs

AMBITIOUS FOR CROYDON Safer Croydon and Communities Cabinet Member Bulletin Councillor Hamida Ali July 2020

St Francis Monks Hill St Francis Food Stop

Home-Start Croydon Home Visiting

Caridon The Caridon Foundation Big Staycation

New Addington Baptist Community Family Project Church

Revivify Cic Community Care Package

Croydon Covid19 Mutual Aid CCMA

Cva1 - The Community Food The Community Food Hub Hub

Cva 2 - The Volunteer The Volunteer Response Response

Guiding Hands Foodie Friday’s Lets Cook Saturdays

All Inclusive Advice & Financially Inclusive Communities Training

Pamper Indulge And Give Holistic Wellness Hub (HWH)

Freedom Together Cic Support 4freedom

Croydon Refugee Centre Befriending And Mentoring Unaccompanied Minors

Citizens Advice Croydon Remote Advice For Croydon

Linguahouse Young People Development

Purley Oaks Children’s Purley Oaks Pantry Centre

Elim Pentecostal Church Alive Community Centre Food Bank

South Norwood Community SNCK Covid 19 Community Aid Kitchen

AMBITIOUS FOR CROYDON Safer Croydon and Communities Cabinet Member Bulletin Councillor Hamida Ali July 2020

Project 4 Youth Covid-19 community support Empowerment CIC

Cassandra Learning Centre Reach Out and ASKI

The Family Centre Food Stop Plus

We Good Food Matters Cooking for the community value and are extremely appreciative of the strong relationships we have with our community and voluntary sector who have been a vital part of the response in Croydon to the pandemic – way above and beyond their usual activities.

We are so grateful to every community organisation and volunteer across the borough for all they have done in the toughest circumstances to support those who needed it most.

Details of other funding support available for the sector can be found on our webpage.

AMBITIOUS FOR CROYDON Economy and Jobs Cabinet Member Bulletin Councillor Manju Shahul‐Hameed July 2020