The Civic Mayoralty & Honorary Freedom Selection Committee met on Tuesday, 31 March 2026, to discuss recommendations for the Civic Mayor and Chair of Council, and the appointment of an Honorary Recorder. The committee resolved to defer the nomination of the Civic Mayor and Deputy Civic Mayor until after the May 2026 Local Elections and recommended the appointment of His Honour Judge Edward Connell as Honorary Recorder.

Civic Mayor and Chair of Council Nominations

The committee agreed that nominations for the Civic Mayor/Chair of Council and the Vice Chair/Deputy Civic Mayor for the municipal year 2026/27 would be identified following the May 2026 Local Elections. This approach mirrors the process followed during the 2022 Local Elections and is due to the upcoming local elections, which will determine the political composition of the council. The nominations will then be moved and agreed at the Annual Council Meeting. Councillor Mohammed Islam declared an interest as Vice Chair of Council and Deputy Civic Mayor and did not vote on this item.

Appointment of Honorary Recorder

The committee resolved to recommend to Full Council the appointment of His Honour Judge Edward Connell as the Honorary Recorder of the London Borough of Croydon. This appointment will be for the duration of his tenure as Resident Judge at Croydon Crown Court. His Honour Judge Edward Connell was appointed Resident Judge for Croydon's Crown Court in November 2025 and commenced his role in January 2026. The role of Honorary Recorder is a ceremonial title conventionally bestowed upon the Resident Judge, strengthening ties between the local authority and the judiciary. The Civic Mayor will extend an invitation to His Honour Judge Edward Connell to present at a future Full Council meeting.

The committee also noted that the Civic Mayor would extend an invitation to His Honour Judge Edward Connell to present at a Full Council meeting and, on behalf of all Members of Council, wish him well in his new Resident Judge role. This recommendation aligns with historical practice in Croydon, where the Resident Judge has also held the title of Honorary Recorder since 2008. The report outlining this recommendation can be found in the Civic Mayor and Chair of Council.pdf document. The report detailing the appointment of the Honorary Recorder is available in the APPOINTMENT OF HONORARY RECORDER.pdf document.