The Cabinet of Croydon Council met on Wednesday, 3 December 2025, to discuss a range of important issues. Key decisions included approving updates on environmental enforcement, potential conservation area designations, and funding for transport initiatives. The Cabinet also noted progress on the Equality Strategy, approved the financial performance report, and made adjustments to fees and charges for the upcoming year.

Scrutiny Stage 2 Responses to Recommendations

The Cabinet received and approved the responses and action plans arising from the Scrutiny and Overview Committee's Stage 2 report concerning the Council's target operating model. All recommendations were accepted or noted as in progress. The committee highlighted the importance of improving communication with residents regarding the transformation, which is key to the Council's financial stability. They also recommended amendments to the staff appraisal process to encourage staff ownership of their roles in delivering the target operating model. Authority was delegated to officers to report back to the Scrutiny and Overview Committee on progress made.

Environmental Enforcement Update

A significant update was provided on the Council's strengthened approach to environmental and regulatory enforcement, aligning with the Executive Mayor's Business Plan to make Croydon cleaner, safer, and healthier. Since the new Community Compliance Team was established in September, over 100 Fixed Penalty Notices have been issued for waste-related offences, with early indicators showing a reduction in fly-tipping in hotspot areas. The report detailed numerous enforcement outcomes, including prosecutions, commercial waste inspections, blitz cleans of district centres, blue badge confiscations, and seizures of illegal vapes and cigarettes by Trading Standards. The Cabinet noted the progress made and agreed that future updates on enforcement performance would be reported annually.

Potential Future Conservation Area Designations

The Cabinet agreed to a list of potential new conservation areas and an indicative programme to assess and designate them. This initiative aims to preserve and enhance the borough's rich architectural character and historic environment, fulfilling a key priority in the Executive Mayor's business plan. The designation process will involve community consultation, with authority delegated to the Corporate Director for Sustainable Communities, Regeneration and Economic Recovery, in consultation with the Executive Mayor and Cabinet Member for Planning and Regeneration, to approve the consultation on draft statements.

Transport for London Local Implementation Plan Funding 2026/27 and Section 106 Contributions

The Cabinet considered two joint reports concerning transport funding. Firstly, they agreed to the 2026/27 funding submission for Local Implementation Plan (LIP) funding to Transport for London (TfL), amounting to £3,358,000, with a provisional £3,603,000 for 2027/28. This funding will support schemes aligned with the Mayor's Business Plan, focusing on safer neighbourhoods, healthier travel, and town centre regeneration. Secondly, the Cabinet agreed to the allocation of Section 106 funding totalling £1,574,358.21 for LIP projects and £596,149.04 for projects solely funded by Section 106 contributions, contingent upon receiving LIP funding and Full Council budget approval. These allocations are crucial for delivering transport infrastructure that supports the Croydon Growth Plan 2025, air quality, and climate action plans.

Equality Strategy 2023-27, Annual Report 2024/2025

The Cabinet considered and noted the Annual Report on the progress of the Equality Strategy 2023-27. The report indicated that over half of the strategy's 71 actions are complete, with the remainder on track. Key achievements highlighted include widening employment opportunities, reducing the ethnicity pay gap while maintaining a zero gender and disability pay gap, and extending reach into harder-to-engage communities through partnerships with the voluntary, community, and faith sectors. The Cabinet endorsed the proposed actions for ongoing improvement and agreed that the report would be presented to Full Council for noting.

2025-26 Period 6 Financial Performance Report

The Cabinet noted the financial performance report for Period 6 (September 2025), which indicated a forecast underspend of £23.8 million in the General Fund revenue budget. This performance contributes to the Stabilisation Plan targets and reduces the need for capitalisation directions. The report also highlighted progress in Medium Term Financial Strategy (MTFS) savings achievement and a breakeven position for the Housing Revenue Account (HRA) revenue budget. The Cabinet approved an inter-directorate budget virement of £3.022 million from Resources to Housing to align costs for temporary accommodation management fees. A decision was also made to move to quarterly presentations of full Financial Performance Reports to Cabinet, with shortened summaries published for other months.

Fees and Charges 2026-27

The Cabinet approved the proposed fees and charges for the financial year 2026-27, as detailed in Appendix 1, to the extent that they fall within the Executive's authority to determine. The review considered inflation, service costs, and the impact on residents, with most discretionary fees and charges proposed to increase by at least inflation. Delegation was approved for in-year amendments to fees and charges, 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 considered the mid-year review report for the Treasury Management Strategy Statement and Annual Investment Strategy 2025/26. The report confirmed that the Council has operated within all Treasury and prudential limits during the first half of the financial year, with no breaches forecast for the remainder of the year. This stability was noted as a significant marker, particularly given Croydon's past financial challenges. The report highlighted that the Council's borrowing remains within agreed operational and authorised limits, despite the ongoing burden of historic debt. The Cabinet was asked to consider the recommendations from the Audit and Governance Committee and make such recommendations to Full Council as are considered appropriate.

In addition, an urgent business item announced the securing of £495,000 in funding from the Home Office for investment in Croydon Town Centre and Thornton Heath, aimed at enhancing safety through increased CCTV, patrols, and police presence.