Croydon Council has made ‘significant developments’ in its progress towards reform and recovery, the Council’s independent Improvement and Assurance Panel stated in their latest report to government.
The report from Tony McArdle, Chair of Croydon’s Improvement and Assurance Panel (IAP), sets out the positive change since the financial collapse of 2020. Mr McArdle says that the majority of the priorities in Croydon’s Exit Strategy have been met to time and to the necessary quality, putting the Panel on track to leave Croydon in 2025.
The area requiring most improvement, is securing long-term financial sustainability. These challenges are being seen across the public sector, and Croydon is likely to need a greater level of exceptional financial support from the government for 2025/26, the letter said.
In his response, Jim McMahon MP, Minister of State for Local Government and English Devolution, welcomed the Panel’s findings and acknowledged that there had been ‘significant developments’ in the Council’s progress towards reform and recovery.
‘‘The strong relationships between the Council, the Panel and the Ministry are a good example of working in partnership to support a shared focus on recovery and reform’’, the Minister said.
He was pleased with Croydon’s ‘clear commitment to move to a new operating model’, through its Future Croydon transformation programme. The objective of the Council is to make Croydon the most cost-effective local authority in London, whilst putting residents at the centre of decision-making.
The Minister said the new Government is committed to helping local authorities in their recovery, with the Government making multi-year settlements, and fewer restrictive grants, allowing councils to focus spending on local priorities, he added.
The Minister agreed with the Panel that the work to restore Croydon’s long-term financial sustainability should be the priority area of action for the Council moving forward.
Mr McMahon MP said the new Government has committed to raising standards in local government to help support the sector. This is an issue Executive Mayor Jason Perry continues to lobby the Government on, following the historic financial mismanagement of Croydon that led to its financial collapse in 2020.
“We welcome the report from our Improvement and Assurance Panel and the Ministerial response, which acknowledge the continued efforts to get all priority areas for Croydon back on track. Our Future Croydon programme will be the catalyst in improving the way we operate, to become more efficient and cost effective, and securing our financial sustainability.
“Whilst we have made strong progress, there is much more to be done to fix our finances. Like other councils, we are facing increasing demands on services, such as social care. We welcome the new Government’s pledge to invest in this area and further packages of financial support for places with greater need and demand for services. We will continue to work closely with the Panel to keep moving forward and deliver value for money for our residents and restore pride in our borough.”
Jason Perry, Executive Mayor of Croydon
