Councillor Adele Benson
Email: Adele.Benson@croydon.gov.uk
Council: Croydon
Council Profile: View on council website
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Positions, Voting Record & Activity Summary
Adele Benson's council service across the years 2024-2026 reveals a consistent, albeit often understated, engagement with governance and oversight, with a notable shift towards a more limited presence in the most recent period.
Key Themes and Priorities: Throughout her documented service, Benson's primary focus appears to be on council oversight and governance. This is evidenced by her consistent attendance at various council and sub-committee meetings. Her involvement in the Scrutiny Homes Sub-Committee, including serving as Vice-Chair in 2024, and her identification as a member of the Scrutiny Children & Young People Sub-Committee in 2025, highlight a commitment to scrutinizing council operations and policy.
Evolution of Focus: Benson's focus has evolved from active participation in oversight committees in 2024 to a more administrative and attendance-based role in 2025, marked by apologies for absences and lateness. The most recent year, 2026, shows a significant reduction in documented activity, with her sole recorded action being an apology for a meeting absence. This suggests a potential shift away from direct engagement in council proceedings, or at least a period of significantly reduced public activity.
Most Significant Contributions (Recent Years): Due to the limited nature of recorded statements or actions, it is difficult to pinpoint specific significant contributions in recent years. Her consistent attendance and roles in sub-committees in 2024 and 2025 demonstrate a dedication to the responsibilities of her office. However, the lack of recorded actions in 2025 and 2026 means her most impactful contributions, if any, in these years are not publicly documented.
Patterns and Consistent Areas of Interest: A clear pattern is Benson's consistent engagement with scrutiny and oversight functions of the council, particularly evident in her involvement with sub-committees. Her presence at Annual Council meetings also underscores a commitment to the broader governance of the council. However, a more recent pattern emerging is one of limited documented activity and a focus on administrative matters like apologies for absence, particularly in 2025 and 2026.
Yearly Activity Timeline
In 2026, Adele Benson's recorded activity was limited to an apology for her absence from a meeting that took place in November 2025. No other statements or actions were documented for her during this year.
Monthly Activity in 2026
During January 2026, Adele Benson's primary recorded activity was an apology for absence from a previous meeting held on Wednesday, November 5, 2025. No other statements or actions by Adele Benson were noted in the provided documents for the January 26th meeting.
Meetings in January 2026
Scrutiny Homes Sub-Committee - Monday, 26th January, 2026 6.30 pm - 26 January 2026
Adele Benson was noted as having an apology for absence from a previous meeting held on Wednesday, 5 November 2025. No other activity or statements from Adele Benson were recorded in the provided documents for the 26th January 2026 meeting.
Throughout 2025, Councillor Adele Benson's recorded activities primarily involved her attendance and apologies for council and sub-committee meetings. She sent apologies for absence from an Extraordinary Council Meeting and for lateness to a Council meeting in July. In September, she attended the Scrutiny Homes Sub-Committee as Vice-Chair, and in October, she identified herself as a member of the Scrutiny Children & Young People Sub-Committee. Her participation in December was marked by apologies for absence from a Conservative Group meeting. No specific statements or actions were recorded for her in any of these instances.
Monthly Activity in 2025
During December 2025, Adele Benson was noted as having apologies for absence from the Conservative Group at the Council meeting on December 10th.
Meetings in December 2025
Council - Wednesday, 10th December, 2025 6.30 pm - 10 December 2025
Adele Benson was noted as having apologies for absence from the Conservative Group during the Council meeting on December 10th, 2025.
During October 2025, Councillor Adele Benson participated in the Scrutiny Children & Young People Sub-Committee meeting on October 21st. She identified herself as a member of the committee, stating,
Councillor Adele Benson, also a member of this committee.
Meetings in October 2025
Scrutiny Children & Young People Sub-Committee - Tuesday, 21st October, 2025 6.30 pm - 21 October 2025
Councillor Adele Benson identified herself as a member of the Scrutiny Children & Young People Sub-Committee. She stated, Councillor Adele Benson, also a member of this committee.
The reports pack also noted her presence at a previous meeting on 1 July 2025, though it also indicated she had sent apologies for absence for that same meeting.
During September 2025, Councillor Adele Benson attended the Scrutiny Homes Sub-Committee meeting on September 29th in her capacity as Vice-Chair. No specific statements or actions were recorded for her during this meeting.
Meetings in September 2025
Scrutiny Homes Sub-Committee - Monday, 29th September, 2025 6.30 pm - 29 September 2025
Councillor Adele Benson attended the Scrutiny Homes Sub-Committee meeting on 2025-09-29 as Vice-Chair. There is no record of her speaking or taking any specific actions during the meeting.
During July 2025, Councillor Adele Benson sent her apologies for the Extraordinary Council Meeting on July 10th. She also sent an apology for lateness to the Council meeting on July 16th. There is no record of her speaking or taking any action in either meeting.
Meetings in July 2025
Council - Wednesday, 16th July, 2025 6.30 pm - 16 July 2025
Adele Benson sent an apology for lateness to the meeting.
Extraordinary Council Meeting, Council - Thursday, 10th July, 2025 6.30 pm - 10 July 2025
Councillor Adele Benson sent her apologies for the Extraordinary Council Meeting held on 2025-07-10. She also had apologies for the meeting on 2025-05-14. There is no record of her speaking or taking any action in either meeting.
During June 2025, Councillor Adele Benson served as Vice-Chair of the Scrutiny Homes Sub-Committee meeting held on June 19, 2025. However, the available meeting documents do not record any specific statements or actions attributed to her.
Meetings in June 2025
Scrutiny Homes Sub-Committee - Thursday, 19th June, 2025 6.30 pm - 19 June 2025
Councillor Adele Benson served as Vice-Chair of the Scrutiny Homes Sub-Committee meeting on June 19, 2025. While she was present at the meeting, the available documents (minutes and reports pack) do not record any specific statements or actions attributed to her.
During May 2025, Adele Benson was present at the Annual Council meeting on May 14th. There is no record of her speaking or taking any specific actions during this meeting.
Meetings in May 2025
Annual Council, Council - Wednesday, 14th May, 2025 6.30 pm - 14 May 2025
Adele Benson was present at the Annual Council meeting on May 14th, 2025. There is no record of her speaking or taking any action during the meeting.
Adele Benson attended the Council meeting on April 16, 2025. However, the available documentation does not indicate that she spoke or took any specific actions during the meeting.
Meetings in April 2025
Council - Wednesday, 16th April, 2025 6.30 pm - 16 April 2025
Adele Benson attended the Council meeting on April 16, 2025. However, the available documents (minutes from February 26, 2025, and the public reports pack) do not indicate that she spoke or took any specific actions during the meeting.
Adele Benson was absent from the Scrutiny Health & Social Care Sub-Committee meeting on March 31, 2025, for which apologies were recorded. This was noted as a repeat absence, as she was also absent from the meeting on January 27, 2025.
Meetings in March 2025
Scrutiny Health & Social Care Sub-Committee - Monday, 31st March, 2025 6.30 pm - 31 March 2025
Apologies were recorded for Councillor Adele Benson, indicating her absence from the Scrutiny Health & Social Care Sub-Committee meeting held on March 31, 2025. This was a repeat absence, as apologies were also recorded for her absence at the meeting on January 27, 2025.
Adele Benson served as the Vice-Chair of the Scrutiny Homes Sub-Committee. She was present at the meeting on February 5th, 2025. However, her specific contributions or activities during the meeting were not recorded in the provided reports pack.
Meetings in February 2025
Scrutiny Homes Sub-Committee - Wednesday, 5th February, 2025 6.30 pm - 5 February 2025
Adele Benson is the Vice-Chair of the Scrutiny Homes Sub-Committee. She was absent from the meeting held on 25 November 2024, but her presence or activity during the 5th February 2025 meeting is not otherwise recorded in the provided reports pack.
Throughout 2024, Adele Benson was actively involved in council meetings, demonstrating a commitment to oversight and governance. She attended the Annual Council meeting in May, and later participated in the Scrutiny Health & Social Care Sub-Committee meeting in July. Her engagement continued in September when she attended the Scrutiny Homes Sub-Committee meeting in her capacity as Vice-Chair. While no specific statements or actions were recorded for her in these instances, her consistent presence indicates a dedication to her council responsibilities.
Monthly Activity in 2024
During September 2024, Councillor Adele Benson attended the Scrutiny Homes Sub-Committee meeting on September 11th in her role as Vice-Chair. No specific statements or actions were recorded for her during this meeting.
Meetings in September 2024
Scrutiny Homes Sub-Committee - Wednesday, 11th September, 2024 6.30 pm - 11 September 2024
Councillor Adele Benson attended the Scrutiny Homes Sub-Committee meeting on September 11th, 2024, in her capacity as Vice-Chair. There is no record of her making any statements or taking any actions during the meeting.
During July 2024, Adele Benson was a listed member of the Scrutiny Health & Social Care Sub-Committee for their meeting on July 30th. No specific statements or actions were attributed to her in the provided meeting report.
Meetings in July 2024
Scrutiny Health & Social Care Sub-Committee - Tuesday, 30th July, 2024 6.30 pm - 30 July 2024
Adele Benson was listed as a member of the Scrutiny Health & Social Care Sub-Committee for the meeting on July 30th, 2024. However, the provided report pack does not contain any specific statements or actions attributed to her during the meeting.
During May 2024, Adele Benson attended the Annual Council meeting on May 22nd. There is no record of her speaking or taking any specific actions during this meeting.
Meetings in May 2024
Annual Council, Council - Wednesday, 22nd May, 2024 6.30 pm - 22 May 2024
Adele Benson was present at the Annual Council meeting on May 22, 2024. There is no record of her speaking or taking any action during the meeting.
Activity Timeline
Meetings Attended Note this may include planned future meetings.
35 meetings ยท Page 1 of 7
Annual Council, Council - Wednesday, 27th May, 2026 6.30 pm
Scrutiny Children & Young People Sub-Committee - Tuesday, 10th March, 2026 6.30 pm
The Scrutiny Children & Young People Sub-Committee of Croydon Council was scheduled to meet on Tuesday, 10 March 2026, to discuss key areas of service delivery for the borough's children and young people. The agenda included updates on public health nursing, education standards, youth engagement services, and performance dashboards for early help and children's social care. The committee was also set to review its work programme for the upcoming year.
Budget Council, Council - Wednesday, 25th February, 2026 6.30 pm
The Croydon Council meeting on Wednesday, 25 February 2026, focused heavily on the approval of the Council's budget for 2026-27 and the associated Council Tax increase. Key decisions included the approval of a 4.99% increase in Council Tax, the establishment of a special Council Tax Setting Committee to finalise calculations after the GLA precept is confirmed, and the adoption of the Treasury Management Strategy Statement, Minimum Revenue Provision Policy Statement, and Annual Investment Strategy for 2026/27. The meeting also saw the approval of the Housing Revenue Account (HRA) budget and business plan, along with the General Fund Capital Programme and Capital Strategy for 2025-31.
Scrutiny Homes Sub-Committee - Monday, 26th January, 2026 6.30 pm
The Scrutiny Homes Sub-Committee was scheduled to discuss the financial outlook for the Housing Revenue Account and the Housing General Fund for the upcoming year, as well as review the Cabinet's responses to previous recommendations made by the committee. The meeting also included an update on the Sub-Committee's work programme for the 2025-26 municipal year.
Decisions from Meetings
1 decision
Statutory Officers' Report
From: Extraordinary Council Meeting, Council - Thursday, 10th July, 2025 6.30 pm - July 10, 2025
...to note the Statutory Officers' report regarding the Secretary of State's minded to
letter concerning potential statutory intervention and the appointment of Commissioners due to best value duty concerns.
Recommendations Approved
Summary
Meetings Attended: 35
Average per Month: 1.4
Decisions Recorded: 1