Croydon is uniting the public, private and voluntary sector at a local and regional level to drive the borough’s post-Covid economic revival and ensure a fairer, sustainable future.
A cabinet report sets out plans for a new Sustainable Economic Renewal Board to include key local and regional stakeholders including the Greater London Authority (GLA), Coast to Capital Local Economic Partnership, Croydon Health Services NHS Trust, Croydon Business Improvement District (BID), London South bank University, Croydon BME Forum and a major developer and contractor.
Together they will co-ordinate plans for the sustainable revival of the borough’s economy, business and employment; housing; planning and development; regeneration, social infrastructure and culture; travel and transport; community safety; and third sector and volunteering.
The board would be led by Councillor Tony Newman, leader of the council, with several members of the council cabinet. The cabinet is due to consider the report on 8 June.
Croydon has responded swiftly to the Covid-19 health crisis, working together as one strong partnership to care for and protect the borough’s most vulnerable residents, while offering welfare support to many more impacted by the economic crisis, as well as a bespoke training and employment support package for residents whose jobs or finances have been impacted.
Supporting local business has been a priority throughout the pandemic, and council is administering government grants to more than 4,000, while providing essential advice and guidance to help them build resilience and deliver their services in new ways.
And as lockdown restrictions ease, planning is already underway to begin to support the reopening of the town and district centres and to begin to revive the local economy safely, with new measures to help residents and visitors follow social distancing.
The Sustainable Economic Renewal Board aims to build on this co-ordinated partnership work as it develops Croydon’s strategic approach to the long-term impact of the pandemic and the needs of the community, particularly those who have been hardest hit by the crisis.
“Croydon has united to respond swiftly to this public health crisis, with the public, private and voluntary sector working as a strong partnership to care for and protect our most vulnerable, and support residents and businesses in their time of need.
“But we know the consequences of Covid-19 will be far-reaching and long-term for communities across the country – it has exacerbated every existing inequality, from health to housing need. We are taking a proactive and co-ordinated approach by bringing together our key partners at a local and regional level, to urgently address these consequences and plan for a sustainable future, building on the confidence in our town and ensuring that our local community are the first to benefit.”
Councillor Tony Newman, leader of the council
