I was delighted to meet the Croydon based ‘Maka Twins’ in Selsdon during our latest blitz clean. The identical twins, who live in the borough, have built a reputation for travelling the country voluntarily cleaning streets and public spaces.

They recently cleaned Grange Park, their local park in Old Coulsdon – a brilliant example of restoring pride. That is exactly why we are carrying out these blitz cleans – getting into areas and making the improvements that locals tell us are needed. Watch this video to see the ‘Maka Twins’ in action.

As part of our Cleaner Croydon campaign, four more blitz cleans are coming up, with Brighton Road next. By then, we will have visited every district centre in the borough, helping to make each one a place people are proud to call home.

Looking ahead to the 2026-2027 budget

We have just published our budget proposals for next year and we have made considerable progress. We are on track to save £48m this year and we have already saved £229m since 2020-21.

We have done this by modernising our services – using technology to improve customer experience, becoming a smaller organisation, prioritising prevention and working more closely with partners to deliver services in the most cost-effective way. This has reduced the amount of exceptional help we will need to ask the Government for next year, showing we are finding local solutions to our problems.

I have also kept my promise to residents and we are not proposing to raise Council Tax above the 4.99% Government cap for London boroughs. I welcome the borough’s settlement in the Government’s Fair Funding Review, which I campaigned for continuously, and this means we will receive an extra £59.6m from the Government over the next three years.

But despite this, owing to our historic debt and the rise in costs, the Council’s financial position remains incredibly difficult, and we need to do more to make our Council more cost effective. We will continue to work closely with our Government-appointed commissioners to identify sustainable solutions to our financial challenges. Read the budget proposal in full here.

Prevention and support in action

I visited the Turnaround Centre this week where I met with staff and young people supported by our Youth Justice Service. I saw first-hand the impact of early intervention and the structured support being provided to our young people at risk of entering the criminal justice system.

Our Youth Justice Service is supervising around 120 children, with a strong focus on prevention, diversion and reducing knife-related offending. Knife crime is down 24% since 2023, and custody numbers have fallen significantly – clear evidence that this approach is working.

Thank you to this excellent team for the exceptional work they are doing every day to turn lives around and keep young people on the right path.

That same focus on prevention and support runs through our newly launched Adult Social Care and Health Strategy 2026–30. I was proud to attend the launch at Braithwaite Hall, and it was encouraging to see so many carers, parents, grandparents, and partners from our voluntary, community and faith sectors there. They are central to helping people live healthier, more independent lives for longer.

Meeting Croydon’s young people

I had a fantastic visit to ICON Taekwondo Academy meeting Team GB siblings Nahla Skerrett, 16, a black belt and brother Ar’Eyun,13, who holds a red belt with a black stripe. I am always impressed by our local sporting talent, but ICON is about far more than medals. The Academy supports young people from vulnerable backgrounds, including those at risk of exploitation providing structure discipline and safe space to build confidence and resilience. If you’re an aspiring athlete, make sure you apply for the GLL Foundation Grant. Applications close on 20 February and it’s a great opportunity to get financial help to boost your sporting career.

A Royal visit to Croydon

It was wonderful to see Croydon receiving royal attention this week with a visit from Her Royal Highness The Princess of Wales. She visited Castle Hill Academy, in New Addington to mark Children’s Mental Health Week in her role as patron of the charity Place2Be, which works closely with the school.

I am looking forward to meeting residents at my next casework surgery on Tuesday 17 February from 12.30 – 2.30pm at New Addington’s Pathfinders Hub. Please do come along if you live in the area and have anything you would like to discuss.

Wishing everyone a great weekend and our borough’s pupils and teachers a restful half-term break.

Jason Perry

Executive Mayor of Croydon