With the cold snap hopefully now coming to an end, my thanks to everyone in Croydon who has helped us to stay safe and well during this time. Special thanks to our gritting crews who have braved temperatures well below zero to keep Croydon moving, as well as our waste and recycling crews and the teams who have been out on the streets supporting our rough sleepers into safe, warm accommodation. I have had positive feedback from residents all over our borough about Croydon’s response – when we experience extreme conditions like these, it is a reminder of how much we all rely on the council to provide essential services and provide them well. This is exactly what I want Croydon to focus on, as we rebuild our council for the future.
On Monday we had an Extraordinary Council Meeting to discuss the council’s financial situation. I want to reassure you that I and my cabinet colleagues are continuing to work hard to get a grip on Croydon’s finances, tackle the significant problems of the past that continue to impact our budget today, and to find a way for our council to become sustainable for the future. Thank you to everyone who has participated in our budget engagement exercise and shared views on our approach – if you haven’t already, please do take part in our survey. It is really important to me to listen to local people before we make any of these very difficult decisions.
Please also remember there is a package of local help for those who may be struggling this winter. From the network of warm spaces, to help and advice on coping with the cost of living, and free holiday food and activity clubs for children in receipt of free school meals, there is support available from the council and our partners. The council may have its challenges, but we are still providing essential support for our residents. If you would like your warm space to be added to our directory, you can complete the sign up form on our webpage or for enquiries contact communityrelations@croydon.gov.uk
Finally, I am looking forward to attending the carol service at Croydon Minster on Sunday to celebrate the festive season with members of our community. I hope you are all making the most of the festivities taking place around the borough – it’s wonderful to see everyone coming together at this time of year.
Have a good weekend,
Jason Perry
Executive Mayor of Croydon
