At a meeting of Croydon Council's cabinet, the allocation of funds for transport projects and potential new conservation areas were among the key items discussed and approved, while updates were presented on environmental enforcement and the council's financial performance. The cabinet also agreed to move to quarterly financial performance reports, with a summary published in the intervening months.

Here's a breakdown of the main topics:

Transport Funding

The cabinet approved recommendations for the allocation of Section 106 funding¹ to support strategic transport projects across the borough, as match funding for the three-year Local Implementation Plan (LIP) Delivery Plan from 2025/26 to 2027/28. They also agreed to submit a request to Transport for London (TfL) for LIP funding for 2026/27, and to continue implementing the three-year LIP Delivery Plan, subject to confirmation of TfL funding.

The council is seeking £3,358,000 in LIP funding from TfL for 2026/27 and a provisional £3,603,000 for 2027/28.

The proposed funding aims to support the regeneration of the town centre, provide support for businesses, reduce carbon emissions and improve transport options for residents.

The projects include:

• Addiscombe East - West
• Healthy Neighbourhoods
• School Streets
• Portland Road
• Mitcham Common - Wandle Park
• Lloyd Park - Addington Park
• Lloyd Park - South Norwood Country Park
• Kent Gateway
• Davidson Road
• Rolling Programme
• Micromobility
• Cycle Parking
• Cycle Training

The cabinet delegated authority to the Corporate Director of Sustainable Communities, Regeneration & Economic Recovery, in consultation with Mayor Jason Perry and Councillor Scott Roche, Cabinet Member for Streets and Environment, to finalise and approve the 2026/27 LIP funding submission to TfL, making any necessary adjustments following TfL's feedback.

Potential Future Conservation Areas

The cabinet agreed to a list of potential new conservation areas and an indicative programme for their designation. These potential designations will supplement the borough’s existing Conservation Area Appraisals and Management Plans (CAAMPs).

The proposed locations for further assessment, consultation and potential conservation area designations include:

• Whitgift Estate
• Croham Park Estate
• Brighton Road, Purley
• South End, Ye Old Market, St Peter's Road
• London Road (south end)
• Fairfield Civic Quarter
• Sanderstead Village
• Court Avenue, Coulsdon

The cabinet delegated to the Corporate Director for Sustainable Communities, Regeneration and Economic Recovery, in consultation with Mayor Jason Perry and Councillor Jeet Bains, Cabinet Member for Planning and Regeneration, the approval to consult on the draft statements.

Environmental Enforcement Update

The cabinet noted the progress made in delivering the refocused approach to environmental and regulatory enforcement across the Streets and Environment Department since April 2025. Since the new Community Compliance Team started in September, they have issued over 100 Fixed Penalty Notices for waste-related offences, with early indicators showing a reduction in reported fly-tipping in hotspot areas.

The report highlighted measurable progress since the refocused enforcement was introduced, including:

• Enhanced cleansing and enforcement across ten town and district centres.
• Digitisation of the Fixed Penalty Notice process.
• Action on waste on private land, household duty of care, and commercial duty of care.
• Joint operations with the police to address unlicensed waste transfer and nuisance vehicles.
• Enforcement of licensing requirements.
• Support for Street Champions and Friends groups.
• Seizure of illegal tobacco and vapes by Trading Standards.
• Confiscation of Blue Badges and action on parking and traffic offences.
• Completion of food hygiene inspections.

The cabinet agreed that future updates on enforcement performance are reported to cabinet on an annual basis, ensuring sustained visibility of progress and outcomes against the Executive Mayor’s Business Plan priorities.

Financial Performance Report

The cabinet noted the General Fund revenue budget outturn is forecast at Period 6 to underspend at financial year end by £23.8m, contributing to the target as required by the Stabilisation Plan. This would reduce the necessary level of capitalisation directions from £136m to £112.2m.

The cabinet approved the inter-directorate virement from Resources to Housing (General Fund) of £3.022m budget to align with where the cost of temporary accommodation management fees (non-claimable from Housing Benefit subsidy) now impacts.

The cabinet noted that service directorates have been asked to reduce their net expenditure below their budgets so that the annual budget can be balanced with reduced use of capitalisation directions, including achievement of the £27.3m Stabilisation Plan target.

The cabinet agreed to move the presentation of full Financial Performance Reports to Cabinet to a quarterly basis, with a shortened Financial Performance Summary being published for other months from Period 2 to Period 10 on the Council’s Corporate Performance and Finance Reporting webpage.

The cabinet noted the progress in Medium Term Financial Strategy (MTFS) savings achievement of £21.7m (86.2%) against the total savings target of £25.1m.

The cabinet noted the Housing Revenue Account (HRA) revenue budget forecast outturn is a breakeven position.

The cabinet noted the General Fund capital programme 2025-26 forecast underspend of £44.8m (16.2%) against the revised budget of £275.9m. The expected decrease in capitalisation direction usage owing to the Stabilisation Plan accounts for £27.3m of the forecast underspend.

The cabinet noted the HRA capital programme 2025-26 forecast underspend of £26.8m (22.2%) against the capital budget of £120.5m.

The cabinet noted the Council’s historic borrowing and subsequent debt burden and national, regional and local service pressures continue to be critical to the non-sustainability of the Council’s revenue budget.

The cabinet noted that the Council continues to operate Spend Control Panels, and tightened the criteria from July 2024, to ensure that stringent financial control and assurance oversight are maintained.

Fees and Charges 2026-27

The cabinet approved the fees and charges as set out in Appendix 1 - Fees and Charges Schedule 2026-27 to the extent that they fall within the authority of the Executive to determine.

The cabinet approved delegation for further in-year amendments to fees and charges (including introduction of new fees and charges) for the financial year 2026-27, to the relevant Corporate Director following consultation with the relevant Cabinet Member and the Executive Mayor, in the event of substantive unanticipated changes to the costs of delivering the discretionary services and subject to appropriate consultation with those impacted, compliance with notice periods required and due consideration of equalities impacts.

Treasury Management Strategy Statement and Annual Investment Strategy Mid-Year Review Report 2025/26

The cabinet agreed to consider the recommendations from Audit and Governance Committee on 27 November 2025 relating to this report, to consider the contents of this report and associated appendices, and to make such recommendations to Full Council as are considered appropriate.

Equality Strategy 2023-27, Annual Report 2024/2025

The cabinet agreed to consider and note Appendix 1 - Equality Annual Report 202425 FINAL v6cb, which sets out progress in delivering the Equality Strategy 2023-27, to note the key achievements outlined in section six and endorse the proposed actions for ongoing areas for improvement as set out in section seven, and to agree that the report and update be presented at Council for noting.

Scrutiny Stage 2 Responses to Recommendations arising from: Scrutiny & Overview Committee

The cabinet approved the responses and action plans attached to this report in Scrutiny Stage 2 Report - 3 December 2025, and delegated authority to the officers identified in Appendix 1 - Target Operating Model Update to report back to the Scrutiny and Overview Committee, or relevant Sub-Committee, within the periods specified in the agreed responses and action plans, and on progress made in implementing any action plan.