The General Purposes Committee of Croydon Council met on Wednesday 1 July 2026 to discuss the use of investigatory powers, proposed changes to the council's constitution, and amendments to the members' scheme of allowances. The committee also addressed the establishment and appointment of sub-committees.

Annual Report on Investigatory Powers

The committee was scheduled to receive an annual report detailing the Council's use of the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act 2000 and the Investigatory Powers Act 2016 during 2025. This report also covered the Council's Covert Activities Policy. The report outlined that the Council had made limited use of these powers in 2025, with only one subscriber request made by Trading Standards to support a fraud investigation. The report noted that increased data sharing between public authorities had provided alternative methods for investigation and evidence gathering, reducing the need for covert methods. The policy itself details the procedures and requirements for authorising and conducting covert surveillance and the acquisition of communications data, emphasising the need for necessity and proportionality to protect individuals' rights to privacy.

Constitutional Update: Audit and Governance Committee Terms of Reference

A significant item on the agenda was a proposed update to the Terms of Reference (ToR) for the Audit and Governance Committee. These changes, recommended by the Constitution Working Group, were intended to align the committee's functions with updated guidance from the Institute of Internal Auditors (IIA) and the Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy (CIPFA). Key proposed amendments included strengthening the committee's role in approving the internal audit charter and mandate, ensuring an annual review of safeguards for internal audit independence, and requiring the committee to approve the internal audit strategy and annual plan. The proposals also aimed to enhance the committee's oversight of internal audit's conformance with Global Internal Audit Standards (GIAS) and to formally require at least one private meeting annually between the committee and the Head of Internal Audit. Furthermore, new paragraphs were proposed to address the committee's scrutiny of treasury management functions, as mandated by the Council's Financial Regulations.

Members' Scheme of Allowances 2026/27 Amendment

The committee was asked to consider proposed amendments to the Members' Scheme of Allowances for 2026/27. These changes followed the May 2026 elections and the Executive Mayor's subsequent appointments to his Cabinet. The proposals included the creation of a new role, the Non-Statutory Deputy Executive Mayor and Cabinet Member for Finance, and a request for this role to receive a Special Responsibilities Allowance (SRA) equivalent to that of the Statutory Deputy Executive Mayor and Cabinet Member for Homes. The report indicated that a reduction in the number of Deputy Cabinet Members would generate savings, making the proposed increases cost-neutral overall. The report referenced the Independent Panel's Remuneration of Councillors in London 2023 report, which provided recommendations on appropriate allowance levels and highlighted the increasing demands on councillors' time and responsibilities.

Establishment and Appointment to General Purposes Urgency Sub-Committee & Constitutional Working Group

The committee was to review political balance, allocate seats, and make appointments to the General Purposes Urgency Sub-Committee. This process would adhere to the Local Government and Housing Act 1989, ensuring that the sub-committee's composition reflected the overall political balance of the Council. Based on the Council's composition following the May 2026 elections, seats on the sub-committee were to be allocated to the Labour and Conservative groups. The report also sought agreement to establish an informal Constitutional Working Group, which would act in an advisory capacity to support the General Purposes Committee in reviewing the Council's Constitution. The proposed membership for this group was outlined, with a reduction from seven to five members compared to the previous working group.