Croydon council news
Croydon council news, newest first: decisions, budgets, council tax, bins and services, each linked to the council's own papers.
Top story
Croydon Discretionary Freedom Pass Closing to New Applicants
Croydon's draft budget would stop new discretionary disabled Freedom Passes to save £140,000. Who is affected, who is not, and how to respond by 30 November.
More stories
Council
Croydon Children's Services: £7.9m Newton Deal Approved
Croydon will pay consultancy Newton £7.9m to redesign children's services, on top of £1m already spent, and expects £16m a year in savings. Fees are at risk.
Transport
Croydon Parking Plan Approved: Five Permits, 20mph Review
Cabinet approved Croydon's parking plan on 14 October: up to five permits a household, park car park charges and a 20mph review. What changes next.
Education
CALAT Croydon: Outsourcing All Courses Goes to Consultation
Cabinet agreed on 14 October to consult on handing every CALAT course to outside providers, affecting 197 staff. Consultation: 1 to 21 November.
Crime
Croydon PSPO: Thornton Heath Survey Open, Parks Next
The Thornton Heath PSPO renewal survey is open now; parks and eight high streets follow. In 409 incidents under the current order, police issued no fines.
Council
Croydon Disposal List: 31 Sites Added, 24 of Them Community
Cabinet agreed on 14 October to add 31 buildings to Croydon's disposal list, including Coulsdon Community Centre, the Phoenix Centre and 14 Scout huts.
Council
Croydon Budget 2027/28: Council Tax Up 4.99%, About £104
Croydon plans a 4.99% council tax rise for 2027/28, about £104 a year on the council's Band D share. What else is in the draft budget, and when to comment.
Council
Croydon Council Tax Support Cuts: Consultation Open to 9 Nov
Croydon's consultation on cutting Council Tax Support is open until 9 November. A disabled resident who pays nothing now could pay up to £108 a month.
Council
Croydon LTN Ruling Leaves £3m Gap in Parking Budget
The court ruling that ended six LTNs in March has left a £3m hole in Croydon's parking budget. Drivers fined on those streets can still claim refunds online.
Business
Croydon Empty Shop Grants: Half the £10,000 Awards Gone
Five Croydon businesses have had £10,000 to reopen empty shops, half of the ten on offer. Who can apply for the rest, and what the shop front grants pay.
Crime
Croydon Stop and Search on Children Rises to 1,262 a Year
Police stop and searches on Croydon children rose from about 930 to 1,262 in a year, the youth justice plan shows. Reoffending is below the London rate.
Housing
Croydon Temporary Accommodation: 3,283 Homes, £45m a Year
Croydon wants about 720 fewer households in temporary accommodation by 2030. Its own papers show 12,000 households placed in the borough by other councils.
Cost of Living
Croydon Crisis Payments: Up to £500 for Food, £350 for Goods
Croydon crisis grants pay up to £500 for food, £200 for fuel and £350 for a white good. Who can apply, what to send, and the new rule on repeat claims.
Council
Croydon SEND Deficit Set to Hit £96m When Cover Ends
Croydon's high needs budget overspends by £45m this year, and the council's own report puts the deficit at £96m when the statutory override ends in 2028.
Children's Services
Croydon Tendered Children's Home Before Ending Contract
The replacement tender went out on 24 July, two weeks before the council decided to terminate. The new operator was chosen without any competition.
Children's Services
Croydon Ends £8.6m Children's Home Deal Months After Opening
Croydon has ended the £8.6m Precious House contract. Children moved there had breakdowns or hospital admissions, and two empty beds cost £11,666 a week.
Housing
Croydon Joins Airbnb Data Deal: Five Cases Flagged
Croydon is now matching council tenancy records against Airbnb listings. Five possible cases sit with its fraud team, and 34 homes were recovered last year.
Council
Council Tax Support in Croydon: Cuts for 20,000 on Table
Croydon's Cabinet decides on 23 September whether to consult on cutting Council Tax Support. Up to 20,000 residents affected; options save £3.6m to £11.9m.
Planning
Croydon CIL: Examiner Backs £225 Rate on Town Centre Homes
£225 a square metre for central Croydon homes: the first developer levy there since 2013 has passed examination. Full Council votes on 21 October.
Thornton Heath
Croydon Pride in Place: £20m Chair Named, Plan Due Feb
Alison Johnson will chair the board deciding how £20m is spent around Croydon University Hospital. The plan is due at Westminster by 26 February 2027.
Social care
Croydon Care Homes: £79.8m Deal, Provider Changed in April
Eleanor took over Heavers Court, Addington Heights and Langley Oaks on 1 April, five months before the council said so. The 10-year deal is worth £79.8m.
Education
CALAT Croydon: Independent Review, Cabinet Decides October
Croydon has commissioned an independent review of CALAT, reporting to Cabinet in October. Most classes leave the Clocktower for Thornton Heath that month.
Community
Croydon Neighbourhood Grant: Residents Fund 26 Projects
Croydon put £240,000 to a public vote. More than 500 residents chose at six area events, and 26 community organisations will be funded out of 56 that applied.
Housing
Croydon Landlord Licensing: 25 Sept Is the Last Legal Date
Croydon cannot delay its landlord licensing schemes again. 25 September is the latest lawful start date, and the system to run them was only bought in August.
Transport
Croydon EV Charging Plan: Have Your Say by 28 September
Croydon has 439 public chargers and half its homes have no driveway. The plan targets 4,200 by 2035, below its own forecast. Consultation closes 28 September.
Council
Croydon Fly-Tipping Worst in England: 3 Fines, 53,268 Tips
Croydon logged 53,268 fly-tips in 2024/25, more than any council in England, and issued three fixed penalty notices for them. What Defra's record shows.
Roads
Croydon road resurfacing 2026/27: all 65 streets listed
The council's £17.58m highways programme names 65 roads for carriageway work and 7 for new footways this year. Here is the full list, ward by ward.
Housing
Croydon landlord licensing starts 25 September: 14 wards
Every privately rented home in 14 Croydon wards needs a licence from 25 September, at £800 for five years. Ward list, fees, discounts and deadlines.
Parks
Four more outdoor gyms for Croydon parks: Thornton Heath, Old Coulsdon, Addiscombe and South Norwood next in line
Croydon Council has named the next four parks to get free outdoor gyms over the coming year: Mayfield Road Playground, Grange Park, Ashburton Playing Fields and South Norwood Recreation Ground.