Croydon voters will be asked to decide whether they want a directly-elected mayor if proposals for a referendum are agreed at an Extraordinary Council Meeting next Monday.
On 8 February all members will be asked if they want a referendum in October where residents would vote to have either a new directly-elected borough leader or continue with the current system.
Croydon has been run by a “leader and cabinet” model since 2001, when the Local Government Act 2000 required most councils to change from a committee system.
If a majority of councillors vote for a referendum next Monday, local people will be asked to decide whether they want to change the way the council is led. The provisional referendum date would be 7 October, subject to Covid-19 restrictions, and a further report would come before a future Full Council meeting that sets out the proposals in detail, including any necessary changes to the council’s constitution.
If the Greater London Authority and London Mayor elections planned for May are moved to within 28 days of the referendum, Croydon would combine the referendum with that poll.
“Residents have told us that they want to have a say in how we run Croydon Council for them, and we are asking councillors to vote on a proposal to hold a referendum in October.
“If the proposals are voted through at the council meeting on 8 February, residents will have a chance to decide this autumn on the best model for Croydon. If the result comes back in favour of a directly-elected mayor, that election would be held in May 2022.”
Councillor Hamida Ali, leader of the council
