Croydon Council has set out its ambition to radically change over the next five years, saving £100m and becoming a cost-effective council – that always puts residents first.
Future Croydon is about fundamentally transforming and modernising council services, at an accelerated pace. Harnessing new technology will help make the council more effective and efficient, so that it provides better customer care and value for every penny spent.
In the past three years, Croydon has delivered £137m savings, with a further £30m planned for 2024-25.
Despite this, some of the council’s costs, such as children’s and adults social care, remain among the highest in London. This is not financially sustainable for the future – and this is why the council needs radical change.
Croydon needs to save just under £100m in four years and will only do this by becoming the most cost-efficient and effective council in London.
The Transformation Plan builds on the extensive improvement work already under way at the council, which has been recognised by the Government as good progress.
The plan supports the delivery of the Croydon Mayor’s Business Plan 2022-26, which prioritises fixing the finances and listening to residents.
Although Future Croydon is a five-year plan the work has already started, with a council-wide drive to improve customer care.
Over the next five years, Croydon will maintain this focus, as it improves its use of technology to ensure that customer interactions with the council are seamless and hassle-free.
The council will also explore new ways to empower residents and partners and, through better use of technology, enable them to play an active role in their communities.
“Croydon has to save £100m over the next four years and the only way we will do this is by becoming more efficient and more-cost effective.
“Our transformation plans put people first – ensuring we do a better job for our residents and customers. We’re modernising to make it easier for them to get in touch, and to have a good experience when they do.
“This is not radical – what is radical is the scale and pace at which Croydon is going to deliver the change. The council needs to get much better at some of its interactions with residents – and this starts now. Some transformation will take longer, but we will work at pace to deliver.
“Ultimately, we want to change our relationship with our residents, so that we are empowering and enabling them as much as possible.”
Jason Perry, Executive Mayor of Croydon
The Future Croydon: Transformation Plan has been published for consideration by the Mayor in cabinet on Wednesday 27 March. Read the cabinet report and Transformation Plan.
