The Scrutiny Streets & Environment Sub-Committee meeting on 27 January 2026 reviewed the council's financial performance, budget proposals for the upcoming year, and the draft Electric Vehicle Charging Point Strategy. Key decisions included noting the Period 7 financial forecast of an underspend, scrutinising proposals for increased parking income and digital transformation in planning services, and providing feedback on the EVCP strategy, particularly concerning cross-pavement charging solutions and accessibility.

Period 7 Financial Performance Report

The committee reviewed the Period 7 Financial Performance Report for the 2025-26 Sustainable Communities, Regeneration & Economic Recovery (SCRER) Budget. Venetia Reid-Baptiste, Corporate Director of SCRER, presented the report, highlighting a forecast underspend of £600,000 for the directorate. This underspend was attributed to increased income in community safety and staffing vacancies within the Planning & Sustainable Regeneration division, partially offset by a facilities management cost overspend. The report also noted an overall council forecast underspend of £24.4 million against the 2025-26 budget.

During the discussion, concerns were raised about staffing vacancies within the Planning department. Mark Baigent, Interim Director for Planning and Sustainable Regeneration, explained that five Professional Planning Officer posts and two and a half Technical Support Officer posts were being held vacant as a cost-saving measure due to a downturn in planning applications and associated fee income. This situation was noted as stable compared to the previous year, reflecting a prolonged downturn in the construction market. While performance indicators for application processing were reported as good, planning enforcement was identified as an area of pressure, with backlogs in minor cases. Short-term funding measures were being considered to support the enforcement team.

The Sub-Committee commended the positive movement in the budget and the updated forecasted underspend.

Budget Scrutiny Challenge

The Sub-Committee undertook a budget scrutiny challenge for the 2026-27 financial year, focusing on two key proposals within the Streets & Environment and Planning directorates.

Increased Parking Income from the Stabilisation Plan and IT System Improvements

Councillor Scott Roche, Cabinet Member for Streets and Environment, introduced the proposal, which aimed to increase parking income through the Council's Stabilisation Plan and improvements to IT systems. Charles Baker, Head of Environment Services & Sustainable Neighbourhoods, presented the details, outlining a £1 million increase in income from London Councils' uplift of Penalty Charge Notice (PCN) fees and a £150,000 savings target linked to modernising outdated parking IT systems.

A new, integrated PCN processing system is being procured to replace a legacy platform from 2010. This system is expected to generate around £600,000 annually through improved efficiencies and recovery rates, despite running costs of £300,000 and £150,000 in implementation costs in the first year. The new system aims to streamline processes, integrate with other council platforms, and enhance customer experience, particularly for PCN appeals. Concerns were raised about the quantification of costs and savings before procurement, but officers assured the committee that the procurement specification was complete and that the process would be managed within existing frameworks. The system is expected to integrate with RingGo, CCTV, ANPR, DVLA, and finance systems.

The Sub-Committee noted that the projected revenue increase relies on improving PCN recovery rates from the current 54% to the London average of 70%. The committee welcomed the improved case management experience for residents and the assurances provided by officers regarding the transition and data migration.

Digital Transformation of Planning, Building Control, and Regulatory Services

This proposal focuses on the digital transformation of planning, building control, and regulatory services through the re-procurement of the Uniform case management system. Initially intended for administrative savings, the approach has shifted towards generating additional income through increased fee levels, higher service volumes, and stronger commercial engagement with developers, supported by government changes to planning fee setting.

The Uniform system is due for an upgrade, with further appraisal of future options planned. The service is actively marketing its Building Control offerings to increase market share. Government-led changes to planning fee-setting regulations are anticipated to allow for increased local fee income. The Council is exploring the use of AI tools for application validation and prioritisation of planning enforcement cases, drawing on experiences from other local authorities.

The projected saving of £250,000 from this initiative is now anticipated for 2028/29, allowing time for exploratory work, user acceptance testing, and proving the concept. This saving is considered relatively small in relation to the overall planning and building control budgets and is expected to be achieved through increased fee income. The committee noted that savings could be influenced by inflationary uplifts and potential local fee setting. Concerns were raised about ensuring competitiveness if local fees are introduced, and officers confirmed that benchmarking and demonstrating improved customer experience would be key.

The Sub-Committee positively noted that savings that could not be evidenced or substantiated had not been included for the upcoming year and that there was clarity on how additional Building Control fee income would be generated.

Electric Vehicle Charging Point (EVCP) Strategy

The Sub-Committee received an update on the development of Croydon's draft Electric Vehicle Charging Point (EVCP) Strategy. Fred Raphael, Head of Strategic Transport, presented the strategy, which aims to deliver a borough-wide, accessible, and equitable EV charging network. The strategy aligns with the Executive Mayor's Business Plan and the Council's climate commitments.

Key aspects discussed included the current provision of 133 public EV charging units, with 20 more to be installed by March 2026. A significant challenge identified is that 49% of Croydon households lack off-street parking, impacting their ability to charge EVs at home. The strategy proposes a blended model aiming for 4,200 EVCPs by 2035.

A particular focus was placed on Cross Pavement Solutions (CPS), which allow residents without driveways to charge EVs using their home electricity. Croydon has secured £193,000 in grant funding for CPS, with a pilot of approximately 10 installations planned, primarily for disabled drivers. However, significant concerns were raised by the Sub-Committee regarding the practicalities, safety, accessibility, maintenance, and liability associated with CPS. Councillors highlighted potential issues with trip hazards, street scene impact, and the adequacy of a pilot focused solely on disabled bays. Officers acknowledged these concerns and committed to reviewing the pilot to ensure sufficient data is collected.

The strategy also addresses the need for accessible charging points, with reference to PAS 1899:2022 standards. Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) for chargepoint availability, utilisation, financial performance, and customer experience were outlined. The next steps include internal review, public consultation after the May 2026 elections, and formal approval of the strategy.

The Sub-Committee made several recommendations, including reviewing the pilot's data sufficiency, ensuring widespread consultation with various stakeholder groups, considering community charging hubs, and formalising a policy for CPS if adopted. They also requested information on the behavioural changes expected to drive the blended delivery model's efficiency.

Cabinet Response to Scrutiny Recommendations

The Sub-Committee noted the Cabinet's responses to previous scrutiny recommendations, finding it encouraging that all three recommendations from the Streets & Environment Sub-Committee were either partially accepted or accepted. A minor point was raised regarding the lack of required published data on planning enforcement files, making cross-borough comparisons difficult, though officers confirmed internal monitoring of these cases.

Scrutiny Work Programme 2025-2026

The Sub-Committee noted the draft work programme for the 2025-26 municipal year and considered potential additions. The work programme includes standing items on financial monitoring and future scrutiny of the Next Generation Highways Contract and the implementation of the Streets & Environment Enforcement Policy. Potential future items of interest include the Environment Bill, the Levelling Up and Regeneration Bill, protection of green spaces, water quality, public transport, and the Climate Action Plan.