Hassan Sentamu jailed for at least 23 years for fatal stabbing of Elianne A teenager has been sentenced to life in prison for murdering a 15-year-old girl after a row over a teddy bear in south London Hassan Sentamu was 17 when he killed Elianne Andam by stabbing her in the neck outside the Whitgift Centre in Croydon Sentamu admitted manslaughter but denied murder claiming his autism spectrum disorder had caused him to lose control during a meeting with Elianne sentenced Sentamu to life in prison with a minimum term of 23 years as he had taken a knife to the scene Elianne Andam. Photograph: Metropolitan police/PAAddressing Sentamu, she said: “Elianne was 15 when you murdered her. She will always remain just 15, she will never realise the potential of her life. The pain of her loss to her parents and younger brother is indescribable.” Cheema-Grubb noted that a mural had been painted for Elianne near where she was killed. She said: “Its presence marks the determination of the community as forcefully as they can – put the knives down.” Sentamu had a history of attacking girls and had been cautioned about taking a knife to school, the trial heard. He had been the boyfriend of Elianne’s friend, who cannot be named for legal reasons. After the relationship ended, Elianne accompanied her friend to meet Sentamu to swap personal possessions, including a teddy bear. When he failed to hand over the possessions that he held in a bag, a row broke out that ended in Sentamu fatally attacking Elianne as she tried to run away. Sentamu’s ex-girlfriend told the court that during the row Elianne had grabbed the bag as a joke. Sentamu then chased her and stabbed her on the ground despite her pleas for him to stop, the court was told. As he awaited trial, Sentamu had threatened to “do it again”, the court heard. At this sentencing hearing it was also revealed that he attacked a child at Oakhill secure training centre while on remand. The prosecutor Ben Lloyd said Sentamu punched the victim in the face, knocking him to the floor. In mitigation, the defence barrister Pavlos Panayi KC said: “A crime as horrific as this leaves no real room for advocacy. There are no words that can possibly minimise, justify or excuse anything Hassan Sentamu did.” Referring to Sentamu’s background, he said: “Hassan’s violent streak, his anger, his outbursts, did not come out of nowhere. He was not born with them. They come from his lived experiences from when he was a little boy.” Panayi added: “He has enough good in himself to recognise and hate himself for it.” He cited suicide notes at the time of the murder. Earlier at the hearing, Elianne’s parents, Dorcas and Michael Andam, urged the judge to impose the “strongest possible sentence”. In a victim impact statement read to the court by Lloyd, Elianne’s mother said Sentamu was motivated by “greed and selfishness” and showed disregard for her daughter’s life. Addressing Sentamu, she added: “Your actions were senseless, monstrous and evil. You left the scene without any remorse. Instead you tried to make excuses and cover your act with evil lies. “You did not only kill Elianne, you killed me mentally and emotionally. We are left with nothing but pictures, videos. Your actions were senseless and evil.” A statement from her father, which was also read to court, said his daughter taught him “how to love” and “how to be a dad”. His statement added: “No parent should ever have to bury their child, let alone [one who has died] in such a violent manner.” He added: “I could not protect her; that guilt will weigh on my heart for the rest of my life.” Don’t forget to hang out your bunting this weekend for VE Day 80 celebrations! VE (Victory in Europe) Day is on Thursday 8 May, but many street parties and events are taking place this weekend. We are proud to join the nation in remembering this historic turning point in World War II. We waived the fees for street party road closures and hope the weather holds for these community events across the borough. We will be marking the day on Thursday with the raising of the VE Day Flag at 9am outside Croydon Town Hall in Katharine Street. In the evening, Croydon will be taking part in the nationwide Beacon Lighting Ceremony at 9.30pm, also at the flagpole. The flames represent ‘the ‘light of peace’ that emerges from the dreadful darkness of war. It is a priority for me to improve housing standards and services and provide better-quality homes that residents can be proud to call home. I am pleased to confirm that the regulatory notice placed on Croydon’s housing services by the Regulator for Social Housing (RSH) has now been lifted. This is owing to improvements we have made to the quality of Council homes and housing services for our residents and reflects the ongoing transformation of the service. As a long-standing season ticket holder, I was absolutely thrilled, along with so many others across Croydon, to see Crystal Palace triumph in the FA Cup semi-final at the weekend. The atmosphere was electric – a true tribute to the fans – and there’s a real sense of pride in our club across the borough. All eyes are now on the final against Manchester City on 17 May – come on you Eagles! Wishing everyone an enjoyable bank holiday weekend and VE Day 80 celebrations! Credit: ITV newsA council that left families in dangerous, uninhabitable homes has been taken out of special measures, four years after ITV News exposed widespread failings. Our report inside a tower block on Regina Road in South London in March 2021 led to national outrage with the Prime Minister condemning the uninhabitable unsafe conditions of homes managed by Croydon Council and the announcement of two independent investigations For many years tenants' constant complaints about disrepair were ignored as they were left to live in homes described by Shelter as the worst housing they had ever seen Listen to The Trapped: A podcast exploring Daniel Hewitt’s award-winning investigation into the state of housing in the UK   Water cascaded through light fittings and into plug sockets Tenants were forced to place buckets and baby baths under the leaking water The homes were infested with slugs and a environmental health inspection found a mum and her two children were at risk of electrocution Subscribe free to our weekly newsletter for exclusive and original coverage from ITV News An independent inquiry later concluded the health of tenants was put at risk and that the council failed to keep them safe The Regulator for Social Housing concluded the council had breached the safety standards and placed into special measures "Taking into account the seriousness of the issues the durations for which tenants were potentially exposed to risk and the number of tenants potentially affected the regulator has concluded that it is proportionate to find that LB Croydon has breached the Home Standard and the Tenant Involvement and Empowerment Standard and that there was a risk of serious detriment to tenants during this period" Only now, more than four year on, has the Regulator withdrawn its regulatory notice and removed the council from special measures assessing the housing service to be at acceptable and safe standards said: “This is a crucial moment in the ongoing transformation of housing services in Croydon We are creating a borough that listens to residents and invests in safer and we remain focused on delivering improvements that benefit everyone.” said: “Lifting the regulatory notice marks an important step in our ongoing efforts to improve housing services there is still work to be done to meet residents’ expectations and continue enhancing service quality.” the Regina Road estate exposed in the ITV News investigation are to be demolished and replaced with a new £100 million social housing development The regeneration will deliver at least 225 new council homes is underway and is expected to be completed by the autumn Want a quick and expert briefing on the biggest news stories Listen to our latest podcasts to find out What You Need To know.. Croydon’s Mayor has thrown his support behind plans to build 569 new flats on the vacant office building site in the heart of East Croydon This followed the recent purchase of the former City Link site by Cheyne Capital for £210million Cheyne’s purchase of the site attracted the praise of Mayor Jason Perry he said: “Positive step forward in providing new housing options Pleased to see renewed confidence in Croydon attracting investment and I look forward to the positive impact this will have on our community.” Development on the site was previously stalled due to concerns that the height of the development would overshadow the neighbouring No and the planning inspector ruled in their favour The decision allows the development to proceed despite concerns over its height and visual impact the development will include amenities like a gym and wellness suite They will also be built to a high sustainability certification Cheyne’s Matt Floyd said: “We are proud to support a project which can play a role in furthering the regeneration of Croydon and will contribute to its vibrant business and living community “This project reflects Cheyne Capital’s continued commitment to the UK flexible-living sector.” A date for the demolition of City Link House has not yet been announced Pictured top: City Link House has been vacant for years (Picture: Harrison Galliven) Δdocument.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value" The Regulator of Social Housing (RSH) has lifted the regulatory notice on Croydon Council following evidence of progress in housing standards This announcement is a crucial milestone in Croydon’s extensive housing improvement programme It marks a key moment in a broader housing transformation strategy led by the Executive Mayor of Croydon as outlined in his Mayor’s Business Plan 2022-26 Croydon self-referred to the RSH in 2021 following serious concerns about living conditions on the Regina Road estate in South Norwood which resulted in the RSH issuing a regulatory notice These issues were mainly related to systemic failings in leadership working closely with the independent Housing Improvement Board which includes residents and housing professionals Croydon has invested over £30m in 2024/25 to upgrade council homes across the borough including the installation of new kitchens The £166m regeneration of the Regina Road estate is also under way with demolition in progress and a planning application due for submission this summer This aims to deliver at least 225 new homes and other community facilities for local residents big strides have been made in Croydon’s repairs service with the launch of an in-house repairs contact centre stock condition surveys completed on 70% of homes and the introduction of the Photobook inspection tool to enhance reporting including a focus on damp and mould awareness Residents have been central in shaping these changes with their feedback driving improvements in communication has been pivotal in ensuring that residents’ needs are met Whilst the lifting of the regulatory notice is an important milestone Croydon Council acknowledges that there is still work to be done ensuring the transformation is sustained as part of Croydon’s wider Future Croydon 2024-29 transformation programme “This is a crucial moment in the ongoing transformation of housing services in Croydon said: “The Regulator’s decision to end the formal intervention is a well-deserved recognition of the hard work from all involved ensuring Croydon becomes an even better landlord.” I visited New Addington to observe the construction taking place (pictured) as part of the UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF) This project involves the refurbishment of a market square stage and boundary walls in Central Parade to support community events improvement will be made to the façade of the Octagon building This project has been developed with feedback from Councillors and community groups and is expected to be completed in May – ready for the community to enjoy in the summer This initiative is one of several exciting projects funded by the UKSPF that are also under way in Thornton Heath all aimed at restoring pride in our neighbourhood I was pleased to hear that our trading standards team successfully won a closure order against a shop selling illegal tobacco and vapes in the town centre the first closure order of this type undertaken by the Council for illicit tobacco This is part of our work to act on residents’ concerns and make our town and district centres safer for everyone A very happy Passover (Pesach) to all members of our community who celebrate it I hope everyone had an enjoyable Easter break and that Croydon’s children and young people are settling back in at school for the summer term I know how much the café at Wandle Park means to residents in Waddon and beyond and I understand the frustration felt over the delays in re-opening the café while the Council secures a new operator I am pleased to confirm that we are now in the final stages of procuring a new experienced operator and we hope to see it re-open this spring I visited Wandle Park in September to meet with residents and we discussed the need for new play equipment for younger children I am very pleased to update that we have since introduced new playground equipment at Wandle Park for our borough’s children to enjoy This follows the new playground and restoration of the viewing platforms at nearby Waddon Ponds park It is always valuable to hear directly from residents about how we can support their communities and I updated residents at the recent Thornton Heath Community Action meeting on what we have been doing in their area the Council is investing £220k to improve green spaces in Thornton Heath including a learning garden for children at Colliers Water Lane and improvements to The Pond and the Clocktower tackling illegal unauthorised Houses of Multiple Occupation (HMOs) and underage vape sales to young people across the borough Progress has been made and there is more to come The national flag of England was raised outside the Town Hall on Wednesday to mark St George’s Day – thank you to everyone who attended the FA Cup semi-finals take place this weekend and I wish Palace well – I will be cheering them on Croydon Council is increasing fines for those caught fly-tipping as part of a crackdown on the offence that blights the borough has seen a significant increase in fly-tipping and in 2024 the waste team cleared over 56,000 fly-tips at an estimated cost of more than £1m to the Council The new policy also includes the introduction of a community compliance team to ensure the Council recoups the costs of environmental crimes without placing an additional financial burden on residents This increase is in line with other councils across London Environmental crimes like fly-tipping have a real negative impact on local communities make them feel unsafe and can encourage other forms of antisocial behaviour (ASB) Through the waste and street cleansing contract with Veolia 95% of all reported fly-tips are cleared within 24 hours “Fly-tipping is a selfish crime that falls to taxpayers to pay for the clean-up “Increasing fines is just one of the ways we are tackling this issue to restore pride in our borough We will continue prosecuting where we have the evidence to do so so I encourage anyone who sees environmental crimes like fly-tipping in the borough to report the details to the Council” Harp & Harp has completed a seven-home scheme in Croydon designed as a ‘contemporary interpretation’ of neighbouring Arts and Crafts-style houses detached post-war family home on the ‘challenging’ hillside plot The three-storey development in Bradmore Way It was one of the last projects to be given approval under a local policy allowing suburban intensification – Croydon’s Suburban Design Guide supplementary planning document – before it was revoked in July 2022 amid political upheaval in the borough The application for the multi-unit block had also faced widespread organised opposition from neighbours practice founder Steve Harp said its character was ‘recognisable and vernacular in silhouette with prominent gabled forms and low-slung eaves feeling comfortable and contextual in the streetscape’ He said existing features found on other buildings along the road had been reinterpreted in contemporary form railings and woodwork had been used to ‘lift the architecture above its more muted setting’ In 2020, the practice completed an Arts and Crafts-inspired house on a Wimbledon terrace featuring three-tone brickwork laid in an English bond with ‘basketweave’ detailing Planning was granted for the scheme following an extensive year long pre-planning application process with Croydon Council The project's increased density in its suburban location was enabled as a result of the Suburban Design Guide SPD which Croydon enacted to allow suburban intensification to combat the housing crisis Bradmore Way was one of the last projects to be consented before the SPD was revoked following political upheaval in the borough and indeed the project faced large organised opposition from neighbours which had to be sensitively navigated and informed the design process the building sits in a pleasant but staid suburban setting the character largely defined by the interwar sub Arts and Crafts vernacular language of most of the surrounding homes The design responds to this character with a building that is recognisable and vernacular in silhouette with prominent gabled forms and low slung eaves feeling comfortable and contextual in the streetscape but with a detail and refinement that is contemporary and confident Features found on the road are referenced but reinterpreted in contemporary form from the exaggerated extended eaves and diaper brick pattern to the tile creasing materiality laid en masse as a brick wall This is further heightened with the bold green and red used on windows railings and woodwork which aims to further lift the architecture above its more muted setting Tags The project prioritised reuse and upcycling using low-carbon and natural materials including… Working with local architecture studio dílna London and central Europe-based Chybik +… Pollard Thomas Edwards has created a landmark… The interiors within Acland Burghley School in Tufnell Park use lightweight Croydon Council is changing the way Access Croydon works to manage increased demand and provide a quicker safer and more efficient service for residents customers will need to book appointments for council services provided from Access Croydon at Bernard Weatherill House (BWH) Lots of council services are already appointment only this will be a change in how the Council supports people at its front door Like councils across the country Croydon is facing extreme funding pressures owing to increased demand for homelessness support and costs of temporary accommodation Croydon is experiencing the third highest number of homelessness presentations in the UK The changes to Access Croydon are part of the council’s action to address these challenges and protect local services The appointments system will enable the council to triage and prioritise demand appropriately This approach – which is in line with many London councils – means that walk-ins will be unavailable at Access Croydon customers will be checked in at an agreed time rather than having what is sometimes a long wait in a busy space Other changes include a greater focus on preventative work to help people before they reach crisis point working more closely with charities and partners and making better use of digital tools to improve processes for staff and residents Croydon is also taking a raft of action to manage homelessness costs including continuing to increase the supply of temporary accommodation through initiatives such as the purchase of Zodiac House These changes have already helped to reduce the number of homeless households in unsuitable B&B type accommodation Croydon has also reduced the number of households that the Council has had to accommodate in separate units (due to insufficient larger accommodation) too often residents are waiting too long to get the help that they need With an appointments system we can triage to make sure we are prioritising appropriately And knowing exactly who is coming into council buildings helps to run things as efficiently as possible whilst keeping everyone safe.” Croydon Council has achieved significant progress – that is the conclusion of a Corporate Peer Challenge (CPC) published today The Local Government Association (LGA)-appointed review team found wide-ranging improvements in Croydon’s leadership working with partners – and a new focus on listening to residents and customer care published today following an October 2024 visit noted the scale and pace of change at Croydon since the Council’s well-documented historic financial and governance challenges began in 2020 They found that the Executive Mayor’s Business Plan has set a clear direction and that: ‘The Council has an ambitious vision for the borough with clear corporate priorities – namely ‘balancing the books listening to residents and delivering good and restoring pride in Croydon – and is delivering steadily against them.’ The Council’s leadership was cited as a particular strength with the peer review team noting that: ‘Together the Mayor and Chief Executive are well-respected and provide strong visible leadership to the Council.’ They described relationships between the political and officer leadership as ‘positive and effective underpinned by mutual respect for their respective roles and trust.’ They particularly praised the Council’s culture of openness noting that the Council’s Scrutiny and Overview Committee is chaired by an opposition Councillor and the Audit and Governance Committee has an independent chair The staff the review team met were ‘passionate about delivering quality services to residents and their role in helping the Council to improve’ and ‘they now feel proud to work for Croydon Council.’ They found that Councillors across the political groups are ‘passionate and committed to Croydon the place and supporting the Council to improve and move to a sustainable footing’ Successes highlighted in the CPC report include improving housing services for residents and the Council’s success in levering in external funding to deliver projects Croydon’s work as one of six pilot sites for the government Frontrunners project with social care teams working closely with health partners to reduce pressure on hospitals The review team also noted Croydon’s strong partnership work and that political leaders have ‘successfully rebuilt credibility with investors and partners The peer team found that the Council has a strong understanding of Croydon’s communities and their needs and is working to put the borough back on the map at a regional and national level CPC is a highly valued improvement and assurance tool for councils During their visit the peer team of senior local government Councillors and officers undertook a comprehensive review of finance performance and governance information from Croydon Council They visited the Council from 7-10 October gathering information and views from more than 30 meetings The peer review team recognised that despite the Council’s strong progress it continues to face significant challenges – particularly the Council’s historic debt burden the peer team have urged the Government to engage with Croydon on a long-term solution for this the peer team have made several recommendations for Croydon to continue improving These are set out in the report and range from developing a growth plan for the borough to communicating successes to residents The CPC report will be considered by the Council’s Cabinet on Wednesday 8 January will be developed for consideration by Cabinet later in the month “As Executive Mayor I have prioritised listening to residents fixing the finances and restoring pride in our borough with my Mayor’s Business Plan setting a clear direction “This report which provides external independent validation is an important milestone for Croydon It highlights the extraordinary scale and pace of change and improvement at the Council and I am pleased that our peers have recognised the positive progress we have made This is the first time the Council has invited a CPC in many years which highlights our commitment to openness After everything that has happened at Croydon in the past there is understandably some way to go to rebuild trust with residents We must do more to communicate with them about the positive changes we are making and ensure that they are seeing this progress in their neighbourhoods and the town centre We also need to continue to make the case with Government for a long-term solution to Croydon’s debt despite our robust management and governance arrangements “Our CPC has highlighted that we need to reclaim the narrative about Croydon – locally and beyond – and put our borough back on the map for the right reasons.” A programme of regeneration works across five district centres is now underway using government funding secured by Croydon Council Croydon successfully bid for £833k from the from UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF) programme for 2024-25 to create and improve public realm and green spaces in West Croydon (London Road) The projects were allocated the funding by the Council to support local businesses and job retention by attracting residents and visitors to the district centres was opened by Executive Mayor Jason Perry earlier this month and launched the ‘100 years of Selsdon’ initiative Selsdon Residents’ Association and Friends of Littleheath Woods and charts its history from when the first planning permission was granted for homes in the village in 1925 blue plaques have been installed on shopfronts to celebrate the local history of Selsdon High Street The project also involved the design and installation of new signage and maps to help direct people towards the high street and local green spaces Selsdon Residents’ Association committee member and chairman of Friends of Littleheath Woods said: “To research and document Selsdon’s gestation and growth and celebrate its 100th birthday with the Centenary Exhibition has been a joy to carry out even after coming into being as a thriving and numerous community 100 years ago together with a huge number of volunteers across many social activities works are underway to resurface the market square stage and make repairs to the boundary walls in Central Parade Improvements to the Octagon façade are expected to be completed in May construction is underway for a new learning garden in Collier’s Water Lane school children will be able to learn about nature and growing food through gardening activities caring for raised beds and observing micro-habitats in this space Thornton Heath Clocktower planters and Thornton Heath Pond Roundabout will also be spruced up with the removal of dead trees and tidying of the green space the first phase of the UKSPF-funded electrical works has been completed The works will support community events and activities as well as a new night and weekend market organised by London Road Traders Association the Council has been collaborating with Purley BID (Business Improvement District) to deliver public art The works have now finished and aim to increase footfall in the high street and enhance security at night-time with the new feature lighting “It is my priority to restore pride in Croydon and is great to see our district centres receiving the improvements they deserve which will give a welcome boost to local high streets “I have been visiting these sites across Croydon to see the works completed and underway Our partners and community groups have been pivotal in planning the projects and I would like to thank everyone who has got involved and given their time to these projects.” The regeneration of Croydon town centre has reached a significant milestone after the Masterplan Framework for Whitgift and Centrale shopping centres and surrounding area Developers Unibail-Rodamco-Westfield (URW) have submitted the framework ahead of a planning application setting out the principles to redevelop the ‘North End Quarter’ into a vibrant The Masterplan Framework proposes the creation of a better-connected town centre through a network of public spaces green areas and pedestrian friendly streets like the Whitgift Almshouses and landmark Allders building will be conserved and integrated into the future vision URW’s Masterplan Framework for the North End Quarter seeks to align with the Council’s vision for the wider town centre area and the submitted Partial Local Plan Review. The Amplifying Surrey Street project is also underway which aims to protect and drive growth of the historic market; reactivate empty shops and spaces for use by culture groups and create safer The project is funded by the Greater London Authority (GLA) and Croydon Growth Zone URW’s Masterplan Framework was endorsed by Croydon’s Planning Committee on Thursday 27 February The next stage will be for URW to progress more detailed design and masterplanning work before submitting a planning application to the council “Our partnership with Unibail-Rodamco-Westfield is fundamental to this transformation and I welcome the next stage in the development of their masterplan the masterplan envisions a vibrant mixed-use town centre – creating new homes where Croydon’s businesses can thrive and communities flourish.” Head of Development at Unibail-Rodamco-Westfield said: “Our vision for the North End Quarter is one that will revitalise Croydon’s town centre through a truly mixed-use offer while celebrating the areas unique heritage We are pleased to have this support from the council allowing us to embark on next stage designs with input from our NextGen Panel who will be appointed shortly to help shape the proposal.” Croydon’s new director of public health comes to the borough with a strong track record of improving health outcomes for local people Ruth Hutchinson joins Croydon Council from Surrey County Council in June She will take a lead in supporting residents to look after their health and wellbeing Ruth qualified as a Public Health Specialist in 2008 She has broad experience of working in both the NHS and local government with roles spanning health improvement The director of public health is a statutory role and Ruth will work with key organisations to develop behaviour change strategies and commission accessible services for Croydon’s diverse communities Ruth will have a key role in Croydon’s Health and Wellbeing Board reporting on the progress and the direction of travel to meet the health goals for the borough Her role also includes sitting on the board of the South West London Integrated Care Partnership and the voluntary sector to understand what help and support people need The post also focuses on making changes to the external factors that can impact on people’s health and daily life such as employment homelessness and the cleanliness of the local environment Ruth Hutchinson said: “I am delighted to be joining Croydon as the new Director of Public Health I am looking forward to working with residents the Council and partners to continue to reduce health inequalities and improve the health and wellbeing of the people of Croydon.” “Ruth’s strategic role in the borough is central to ensuring our residents get the best health and wellbeing support that meets their needs.” Support for Croydon’s carers will be enhanced with the awarding of three new contracts to providers ensuring the health and wellbeing needs of carers are being met There was an extensive commissioning process for the contracts which have been designed in consultation with carers The consultation and co-design of the new service with carers highlighted that they wanted a new approach to the delivery of support services to carers The newly designed services will start on 1 April 2025 and will provide: John Whitgift Foundation has been delivering support to Croydon carers over the last 25 years and the Council is working in close partnership with both the Foundation and Carers First to make sure that there is a seamless transition for Croydon carers This includes holding sessions with carers and partners to answer any questions they may have and provide information about the new service and support available to carers The Carers Strategy 2024-2029 supports the Executive Mayor’s priorities of allowing people to lead healthier and independent lives for longer as well as ensuring children and young people in Croydon have the chance to thrive The priorities in the plan focus on six key themes: young carers “Life-long carers are the glue that hold families together and we recognise the vital role they have in our community It is essential that carers have the health and wellbeing support needed “We have been working closely with carers and our partners to create our Croydon Carers Strategy 2024-2029 and the awarding of these three new contracts “There will be no loss of service to carers and we are working in close partnership with both John Whitgift Foundation and Carers First to ensure there is a seamless transition for Croydon carers My thanks go to the John Whitgift Foundation for their many years of service.” We are just three weeks into our new and enhanced waste contract with Veolia This is an improved contract with new road sweeping in residential areas nighttime economy cleans and improved waste collections for flats above shops I apologise for any inconvenience caused by the rescheduling of rounds and I assure you that everything will settle down soon I visited Veolia’s depot this week and met with crews to find out how they are getting on with the new contract and the changes Our residents can expect to see the benefits of this new contract within the coming months as part of my commitment to making Croydon cleaner and restoring pride in our borough I was honoured to take part in the Vaisakhi event organised by the Sikh community celebrating spring harvest I would also like to wish a Happy Tamil New Year (Puthandu) to our community who celebrated on Monday wishing a very Happy Easter to our residents celebrating on Sunday I hope everyone enjoys the bank holiday weekend Croydon’s students starting Year 7 in September received their offers of a secondary school place yesterday More students across the borough received one of their preferred secondary school place on Monday 3 March The number of pupils who received their first three preferred schools remains high at 91% as well as slightly above London’s average of 90% There was also an increase of 1% from last year of pupils receiving their second choice of school there was a total of 4,422 on-time applications for Croydon applicants Where Croydon Council is not able to make an offer at a preferred school keeping the new school offered as close as possible to the student’s home address “We are delighted to see the high number of our students getting one of their preferred choices of schools again this year “We have one of the largest populations of children and young people under 19 in London and receive a large number of applications each year We always make sure that every eligible student who applies is offered a secondary school place in the borough “We know our parents and carers trust our borough’s secondary schools to make sure children and young people get the best possible education I’m proud of our schools and all the opportunities they provide in our communities “I wish our students and their families all the best as they continue their exciting journey into secondary school this September.” Croydon Council is preparing to reinstate a selective licensing scheme for the private rented sector in the borough to protect residents from living in poor conditions and assist with regulating the sector The Council has been transforming its housing service over the last year to raise standards across the borough and ensure there are safe high-quality homes for all Croydon’s residents It is exploring reintroducing a selective licensing scheme for the private sector which would ensure that all properties meet a good standard of living Such schemes are designed to support good landlords whilst taking firm action against negligent ones The private rented sector is an important part of Croydon’s housing solution and the majority of landlords provide homes that are in a decent condition the Council recognises that some privately rented properties in Croydon have serious issues Selective licensing is a proven tool that allows Councils to regulate the sector and improve standards providing benefits for both tenants and landlords A paper was approved at Cabinet on Wednesday (12 February) for the Council to develop a proposal for a scheme and it will consult with residents and landlords before bringing the matter back to Cabinet “A selective licensing scheme would help to raise the standard of housing in the private rented sector We do not want our residents to live in poorly managed rented properties that are unsafe or contribute to antisocial behaviour in our neighbourhoods “I’m committed to improving housing standards across the borough and will continue to take every necessary step to protect the rights of private tenants and responsible landlords ensuring rogue landlords are held accountable.” Croydon Council welcomed the launch of a new Care Leavers app to support care-experienced young people in the borough who are taking their first steps towards independent living has been co-designed and developed by care-experienced young people to provide vital information and advice on money some of Croydon’s care-experienced young people demonstrated the app to Croydon’s Executive Mayor Jason Perry and Councillor Maria Gatland Cabinet Member for Children and Young People and the National Implementation Adviser for Care Leavers who are also Young Ambassadors and members of the Children in Care Council spoke about how the app had been designed collaboratively The care-experienced young people involved in assisting the app design process were Javelle Javelle said that working with other young people to input into the app’s design had helped make it specific to their needs She added: “This app empowers us young people with the tools we need to thrive including support with financial issues and smart budgeting tools.” said: “This app is going to shape a better Croydon by creating more support for the young people using it It’s got a really user-friendly design and layout which makes it easy to use It also gives us users the right professional connections for work.” “Our children and young people deserve every opportunity to thrive we are determined to support our care-experienced young people every step of the way “An important part of this is making sure they can access the right information advice and guidance when and where they need it The Croydon Cares app will help to do just that – and it is a great example of our young people working with us and our partners “They have designed and developed this fantastic app which will benefit care-experienced young people throughout our borough Croydon has approved a budget that will help stabilise council finances Croydon is facing unprecedented funding pressures owing to increased demand for homelessness help and social care The Council is one of 30 local authorities requiring exceptional financial support from the Government this year Croydon’s circumstances are among the most challenging of any council in the UK owing to an historic £1.4bn debt burden which will cost £71m this year Full Council last night approved a budget which includes local action to respond to these serious challenges but not by cutting frontline services or raising Council Tax above the referendum cap in 2025/26 Croydon will invest in overhauling the way the council works modernising services and becoming more cost effective and efficient for residents The budget sets out how the Council will do this whilst protecting local services Changes will include using new digital tools to improve processes for residents and staff focusing on preventative action to avoid people reaching crisis point and managing demand The Council will deliver these changes over the next four years and by 2028-29 they will save £27.7m per year whilst delivering better outcomes for local people The budget also includes immediate action to stabilise the council finances with £22m savings next year and investment to reduce costs – including through the purchase of Zodiac House to provide 71 temporary accommodation units The Council will also continue to maximise income from land and buildings whilst protecting Croydon’s heritage for future generations In line with the Executive Mayor’s pledge not to raise Council Tax above the cap Croydon has agreed a council tax increase of 2.99% together with the 2% increase for adult social care that the Government expects all councils to charge As the Greater London Authority (GLA) precept has increased by 4.03% this is a total increase of £2.18 per week for a Band D property in Croydon Croydon’s budget also includes investment in essential services like social care with a focus on regeneration and the economy safe streets were a top priority for residents in the budget engagement Initiatives in 2025/26 include a new waste contract and the Cleaner Croydon campaign and stepped-up enforcement against fly tippers and other environmental criminals “Like all councils we are facing serious financial challenges owing to increased unsustainable demand for our services and costs we await national action on these in the Government’s comprehensive spending review we are acting locally to respond to these unprecedented challenges “We have set a budget that will change the way we do business protecting services by modernising our Council We will become more cost effective and efficient and bold plans to drive economic growth in Croydon – maximising our borough’s potential.” we approved £14m investment in maintaining our borough’s roads We are also creating longer-term solutions to ensure better value for money for our residents and to improve our network of transport assets It was great to speak at the Women in Business event at the London South Bank University Croydon Campus on Monday and to meet organisations with women at the forefront We have supported 271 women-owned businesses in Croydon with our allocation of the UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF) from the government and will continue to create opportunity for enterprises to thrive Today I was delighted to unveil a new playground in Shirley Church Recreation Ground This is part of our programme to upgrade playgrounds and provide children with fun and safe spaces We commemorated Bangladesh Independence Day on Wednesday by raising the flag outside Croydon Town Hall I’d like to wish a very happy Eid-ul-Fitr to Croydon’s Muslim communities who will be marking the end of Ramadan this weekend Croydon Council has approved the acquisition of Zodiac House a newly refurbished building with 73 homes to help support residents facing homelessness and address the growing national demand for temporary accommodation Like many other Councils across London and the country Croydon is experiencing increasing demand for homelessness services owing to not enough affordable homes The purchase of Zodiac House is part of the Council’s proactive approach to tackling homelessness by providing safe temporary homes to local families and individuals It also helps the Council to meet its Homelessness Duty under the Homelessness Reduction Act 2017 and reduce costs to the Council with less use of other more expensive temporary housing options two and three-bedroom flats and will be managed by the Council making sure that everything is well maintained Each flat will be furnished with essential items like white goods There will be a 24-hour concierge service to support tenants The project will use a mix of funds from the Right to Buy scheme Local Authority Housing Grant and borrowing It is expected to reduce costs by £987,000 per annum and avoid long terms costs to the Council as they will be relying less on the current private expensive nightly rates for temporary housing This is currently estimated at £78m over a 40 year period “This is another step in addressing the significant homelessness challenges we face The increased demand for services and shortage of accommodation means we have to look at doing things differently and the purchase of Zodiac House is a good example of this “The scheme will give us 73 residential units to support residents facing homelessness This will improve the Council’s supply of accommodation and reduce spending on expensive temporary arrangements as well as providing safe and secure homes for our residents.” Croydon residents will benefit from increased investment in Council homes – including in repairs and reducing damp and mould – after a strengthened business plan for the Council’s Housing Revenue Accounts was approved Croydon has been transforming its housing service by improving stock condition data and carrying out proactive repairs The new business and financial plan for housing builds on this work to provide suitable homes for the borough The Housing Revenue Account (HRA) business plan which was approved by Cabinet on 12 February was based on surveys which reviewed the condition of 67% of Council-owned homes It details plans to increase budgets on capital maintenance with a targeted investment of £820m over the 30-year period Croydon also proposes raising its repairs budget to £10.5m for repairs to address backlogs tackle damp and mould and improve living conditions as we tackle the repairs and improvements planned for our stock A further £30m is earmarked to expand Croydon’s social housing stock and provide more homes for families most in need with the potential for a further £78m to be saved through cost avoidance over the 40-year period of the project we have made significant progress in transforming Croydon’s housing service Unlike the under investment in the past we are now in a stronger position to deliver on my commitment to provide high-quality ensuring we continue to invest in our housing and deliver an effective service that prioritises our tenants.” The holy month of Ramadan begins this weekend and I would like to say Ramadan Mubarak to Croydon’s Muslim community who are observing with spiritual reflection and fasting throughout March (Happy St David’s Day!) to Croydon’s Welsh community for Saturday 1 March We are flying the Welsh flag outside the town hall to celebrate the day I am continuing to work on behalf of Croydon to accelerate the regeneration of our town centre – which I know is hugely important to our residents and businesses On Thursday I met with key partners to talk through my new vision for the town centre The Council is creating this vision to put Croydon back on the map as the strategic powerhouse of the London and the South-East It will boost local trade and create a cleaner The vision will take time to deliver – which is why I am putting in steps for the shorter term I will continue to keep you updated on the work we are doing now to improve safety through the Town Centre Taskforce partnership; create a fun and vibrant atmosphere through a programme of cultural events planned for North End; and the ‘meanwhile uses’ of town centre landmarks and spaces such as the new shops and food places opening within the old Allders frontage I welcomed the Deputy Mayor of London for Transport This was part of the Big Community Transport Tour to discuss how we can work together to create a more accessible sustainable and affordable transport system whilst reflecting on the progress made to improve Croydon’s connectivity It was wonderful to open Croydon’s latest playgrounds at Fieldway/Rowdown Field in New Addington and at King George’s Field in Selhurst – providing opportunities for children to play and enjoy the outdoors These playgrounds are the third of five planned this year as part of our ongoing investment in parks and play spaces throughout the borough On Tuesday I spoke at the 35th Anniversary of Independence of the Restoration of the Republic of Lithuania I welcome the contribution of the Lithuanian community to every part of life in Croydon making it a richer and more diverse borough A very happy Holi to Croydon’s Hindu community celebrating the festival of colours and to our Jewish community who marked the Jewish holiday of Purim this week Croydon’s NHS has been given the green light on a £6 million investment in a new primary care medical centre which will be located in the heart of Coulsdon on the site of the former CALAT building will be developed through a partnership with Croydon Council and aims to meet the growing demand for primary care services providing over 35,000 additional GP appointments to residents living in the south of the borough is the next step in the NHS’ plans to improve access to health services for local people helping residents to seek medical help closer to home said: “With the opening of a new medical centre we have the opportunity to actively improve the health of local people providing them with the support they need to stay well manage existing health conditions at home and seek advice when they feel unwell who have previously had to look outside of the area for this help this investment is a significant step forward and I’d like to thank all those who have advocated on their behalf and worked with us to develop these plans The development of the medical centre has only been made possible by the joint working of the local NHS and Croydon Council who have agreed to retain the site for the health service to develop supporting the Executive Mayor’s Business Plan of supporting health and wellbeing in the borough “Having listened to the needs of the community I’m proud to see this project move forward and I know local residents will benefit from this vital service.” who has championed the build on behalf of local residents added: “The agreement of a new medical centre is a huge win for the people of Coulsdon Alongside our health and local authority leaders I’ve worked hard to ensure that this investment becomes a reality and I’m delighted that we are now taking this important step towards better healthcare provision in our community This is part of our ongoing efforts to improve services for residents and ensure that they have the healthcare they deserve.” Construction on the new primary care medical centre will begin later this year with the facility expected to open its doors to patients in 2026 we have been transforming our housing service – so that all residents can live in homes that are high-quality There were two important papers that went to Cabinet this week that will put us in a stronger position to achieve this Our Housing Revenue Account (HRA) business plan sets out how we are investing in our housing stock and increasing our budget for repairs for the next 30 years We also presented proposals to consider introducing a Selective Licensing Scheme which would help to raise the standard of housing in the private rented sector We do not want to see any of our residents living in poorly managed rented properties which are unsafe and will be asking for your views on the proposals soon I was delighted to open Waddon Ponds playground today which has been refurbished just in time for the school half term using section 106 money from developers and looks great I also reopened the furnished viewing platforms which were closed for five years after falling into disrepair safer and healthier and these improvements will help to get our children playing outside We have worked hard to get Croydon’s finances back on track following the legacy I inherited when I came into office in May 2022 We have balanced the budget for two years in a row Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) transport and adult social care are putting huge strain on council budgets Despite the huge strides we have made in improving our council we are now facing extreme financial pressures I refuse to pass the cost of these challenges onto residents and we are not proposing to increase council tax above the national referendum cap we are proposing to modernise our Council – making it more efficient so that we provide better services for residents Whilst we are doing everything we can at a local level to bridge these budget gaps many of them are national issues and we are pushing the Government for fairer funding The Government funding settlement for Croydon was very disappointing this year which was barely an improvement on last year’s increase Croydon received £0 from the Government’s recovery fund whilst other councils like Newham received £11m and Birmingham received £40m Croydon’s financial issues are partly historic sustainable solution for the financial pressures facing all local councils as a whole as well as Croydon’s legacy debt Despite all this Croydon is moving forward but so is our determination to secure a better future for our borough I’d like to address some misinformation about Fairfield Halls We have no plans to sell this iconic Croydon entertainment venue and it is not on any list of Council-owned properties to be sold At no time have we been instructed by our Government-appointed panel we’re working with the operators to help ensure the venue’s success It was fantastic to speak at the launch of the Croydon Housing Association Partnership (CHAP) on Monday which is bringing together more than 60 housing associations and representatives from the sector It is my priority to improve standards in homes and working with housing providers is an essential part of this increase affordable homes and raise standards for private and council tenants I enjoyed visiting the Rangoli Floor Art Exhibition by internationally renowned artist Janak Chauhan who came all the way from India to present this vibrant installation in Croydon I want to thank Subrang Arts for making this exhibition happen which will be on display in the Urban Room at the Whitgift Centre until Tuesday This space offers local artists and communities the opportunity to showcase their creativity and contribute to the cultural future of our town centre Croydon has set out plans to tackle its financial challenges by overhauling the way the Council is run improving and protecting public services for residents it faces seismic funding pressures due to spiralling demand and surging costs the increased need for homelessness help and social care combined with the rising cost of children’s placements and accommodation has caused the Council’s financial position to deteriorate significantly Croydon is London’s largest borough and is experiencing the third highest number of people seeking homeless help in the UK the Council is now predicting a £98m budget gap for 2025/26 This is despite the Council’s robust financial management and significant progress and improvement – which has been highlighted by a range of external partners These include Croydon’s independent Improvement and Assurance Panel (IAP) the Council’s external auditors and Ofsted Croydon has achieved balanced budgets for the past two years And the Council has delivered on average more than £41m savings per year since 2021 – significantly more than other London boroughs and statistical neighbours Croydon Council has a £1.4bn general fund debt that will cost £71m next year the Council will be seeking £38m in Government support for this burden This means that Croydon will be requesting a total of £136m exceptional financial support from the Government for 2025/26 It is expected that this will be in the form of capitalisation directions Croydon is proposing an increase of 2.99% and a 2% increase in the adult social care precept levy Whilst the Council will need Government support it is acting locally to meet its financial challenges Croydon has launched new plans to change the way the Council is run becoming more cost effective and efficient Changes include using new digital tools to improve processes for staff making contacting the Council seamless and hassle-free improving customer care and becoming more efficient The proposals also include working more closely with charities and partners focusing on preventative action to avoid people reaching crisis point and providing services through community hubs These changes to the Council are backed by new plans for Croydon town centre maximise investment in the borough and promote its growth Together these plans aim to reshape Croydon respond to the challenges the Council is facing improve public services and reframe the Council’s relationship with residents The Council has developed its plans following hundreds of conversations with residents It has worked with Boston Consulting Group on these changes – one of three strategic partners who are working with the Council the Council will deliver these changes over the next four years whilst focusing on better outcomes for local people this local action alone will not be enough to make the Council financially sustainable The Council remains in conversation with the Government regarding a long-term solution to its debt that doesn’t involve capitalisation directions which just enable the Council to borrow more to meet day to day spending Croydon awaits national action on the unsustainable demand and cost for local services in the Government’s comprehensive spending review “Despite the huge strides we have made in improving our Council we are facing significant financial challenges owing to the spiralling demand and surging costs that are impacting all local authorities across the country and in London in particular “The scale of the challenge means that savings are not enough and I am not prepared to pass the cost to local people we must modernise our Council and become more cost effective and efficient This will mean better outcomes for residents a better experience for all our customers and closer working with all our partners we need Government action on the demand and costs that are impacting all councils They have made clear they plan to address these I am working with them to respond to these issues locally protect public services and secure a sustainable future for Croydon.” Unemployed residents in Croydon will be supported into work with the South London Partnership’s new Connect to Work employment programme Connect to Work is a voluntary programme to help people who need support the most by connecting them to the local resources and opportunities they need to thrive Funded by the Department for Work and Pensions it has been designed to build closer links between key sectors Croydon will lead the programme on behalf of the South London Partnership and will be responsible for its day-to-day management Connect to Work reinforces the success of previous programmes in Croydon to help residents into work including the Pioneer Programme which is part of the Work and Health Programme She praised the help she received in improving her CV and the hands-on support which helped her successfully find employment this year The South London Partnership is a sub-regional collaboration of the five London boroughs of Croydon Working together and with partners in and beyond the area the South London Partnership builds on the strengths of south London as a place for people to live “We are looking forward to delivering this new programme and to offer practical and positive help to get more people into secure and suitable jobs We’re pleased that the programme will support up to 1,400 South London Partnership residents per year locally-led approach to help connect local work joined up approach to maximise the benefits for people as well as communities.” Chief Executive of Royal Borough of Kingston and South London Partnership Lead for Employment and Skills said: “We are excited to be launching the tender for South London Connect to Work developed to build tailored pathways into good jobs for south Londoners and create inclusive working environments where everyone can thrive professionally “This programme will not only help people find good jobs but it will help our businesses access a more diverse talent pipeline equipped with the skills to help our economy prosper and grow.” Check if you already have access from your company or university With a MRW subscription you’ll get access to: Croydon Council is launching a new partnership group which brings together over 60 housing associations to improve housing standards across the borough Housing associations in Croydon have been invited to join the first Croydon Housing Association Partnership event which will bring together key housing partners including representatives from the Greater London Authority and the Council to work together to strengthen the landlord offer and meet the borough’s housing needs “This partnership is an important step in us working with landlords across the borough to drive up standards for Croydon residents By working closely with housing associations whilst also providing a platform to discuss the challenges and pressures we are jointly facing we can not only increase the supply of affordable homes but also improve the overall quality of housing in the borough.” Jerome Williams and Aziah Brown gave stand-out performances as the Cougars went undefeated through the pool stage before edging a tight semi-final by a point and coming from behind to win the final Freddie Carpenter also came out on top from a pool of 50 competitors in the under-18s three-point contest Globasket is in its 10th year and features more than 4,000 players across a range of age groups from clubs in 20 countries. England U15 girls were winners at the event in 2023 “Our success shows that the UK can compete - and win - at the highest level,” a club spokesperson said who have teams in the Jnr NBL and central venues leagues are hoping to add a girls’ team to their programme Croydon Council and Transport for London (TfL) are working together to install the much-needed new bus shelters across the borough replacing those removed in 2021 which is a top priority for Executive Mayor Jason Perry The agreement with TfL will see them install and regularly clean the new shelters with no capital or ongoing costs to the Council they will have the same functionality as the previous ones More than 88,000 people use the bus network in Croydon daily and it is hoped the new shelters will improve journeys and attract new passengers TfL’s investment in the new shelters follows last year’s introduction of Superloop route SL5 and is part of a set of planned works which will improve the transport network across the borough “One of my key priorities when I became Executive Mayor was the return of the much-needed bus shelters for the residents of Croydon “We have been working hard with TfL since we announced our partnership last year and it’s now great to see the shelters going in.” TfL’s Director of Network Management and Resilience said: “These new bus shelters will provide much needed travel infrastructure to the residents of Croydon and we’re delighted to be installing these new shelters London’s bus network plays a vital role in keeping the capital moving and we hope that these new shelters will encourage more local residents to use the network We’ll continue to work with the Croydon Council and all boroughs to improve our infrastructure and enable more people to choose sustainable forms of travel.” Croydon Archives is hosting a new exhibition called Archives Can Be Anything at the Museum of Croydon in Croydon Clocktower It will share young people’s unique perspectives on the borough’s heritage this free exhibition will feature creative work made by 10 local young people aged 14-18 The Young Archivists received training in archiving exhibition design and events planning over the last year They also took part in creative workshops including writing As part of the project they created artwork poetry and more – both individually and collaboratively This includes Council documents on plans for redevelopment in Croydon historic photographs and records of local clubs One of the artworks features a comic depicting an alien landing in the borough inspired by a local paper’s article about UFO sightings in New Addington The comic asks the visitor to think about how the borough welcomes new arrivals into the community Another artwork is a mixed-media portrait of an important figure in the history of Croydon’s Global Majority population It is collaged with stories of race and racism found in Croydon Archives to highlight how certain stories have been under-represented in archival collections The exhibition also features an illustrated manifesto This collaborative project visualises an alternative youth-led vision of the borough and shows its creators’ hopes for its future said: “I was inspired by this one piece from 1998 from the Croydon Advertiser which was an interview about supposed UFO sightings in New Addington I was looking at what it would be like if there were aliens that had been attracted to Croydon.” Randal explored different perspectives of how people see the area adding that the project had shown them that: “everyone in Croydon stands together – it’s really diverse and anyone can really fit in with one another” “This exhibition will showcase the creativity of our young residents It also demonstrates our determination to help see our children and young people have every opportunity to thrive learn and fulfil their potential by engaging in community projects “Archives Can Be Anything shows how we can gain inspiration from the past I have been working closely with our partners at the NHS to secure a new GP health centre in Coulsdon and I’m pleased to report that we have reached a milestone in this important project it was agreed that Croydon should proceed with the next steps to lease a Council-owned car park to the NHS on a long-term basis The scheme is on track to receive £6.3m funding from the Department of Health and will help to address a shortfall of GP places for our Coulsdon residents The planning application is also now submitted and this scheme is now moving ahead after years of delay giving us all the opportunity to celebrate Tamil culture and language and acknowledge the many contributions the Tamil community make in Croydon I was honoured to be asked to take part in the Thai Pongal festival at Braithwaite Hall last Sunday and to celebrate the traditions of the Tamil community Finally I would like to thank Croydon resident Ashok Kumar for his relentless fundraising through charity events and running marathons globally This year he is fundraising for Action Against Hunger and it was wonderful to see the community come together at Selsdon Community Centre to raise funds for such an important cause Fixing Croydon‘s finances is a priority for me as Executive Mayor and we have made huge strides in improving our Council we cannot be financially sustainable whilst our historic debt burden remains unresolved in the past year spiralling demand for services has put even greater strain on our finances I have been campaigning for a solution to Croydon’s debt and on Monday I met Jim McMahon the Minister for Local Government and English Devolution We are taking a raft of action locally here in Croydon transforming our Council to become more cost effective and efficient and action on the funding and demand issues facing all councils It was good to meet the Minister and I look forward to working with him for Croydon As Executive Mayor I pledged to put our town centre regeneration at the top of the agenda to promote economic growth and make Croydon a place of opportunity regional and local partners to drive forward a bold new vision for our town centre The Whitgift Foundation and Boston Consulting Group for the first meeting of our new partnership As the Government and London Councils launch new plans for growth it is time to unlock Croydon’s potential – and I will be working with all our partners to make that happen I was honoured to join residents and partners at Croydon’s annual Holocaust Memorial Ceremony This event is an opportunity not only to remember the 6 million Jewish men women and children that perished in the Holocaust but also a time to reflect and reaffirm our commitment to a future free from hate It was inspiring to see so many young people present and to have submissions from students across the borough on the theme ’For a Better Future’ We are proud of our communities in Croydon and we must stand united against prejudice and persecution Thank you to all the care experienced young people who worked with us to co-design and develop our new Croydon Cares app I want us to support our young people every step of the way Part of that is making sure they can access information and advice when and how they want to and our care experienced young people have tailored it to meet their needs I am sure this will be welcomed across Croydon as we continue to listen to our young people and develop our services to suit them