Monday 5 October. Noon. Last time for submission of questions by members of the public for the Council meeting on Monday 19 October
Questions can be submitted via https://www.croydon.gov.uk/democracy/dande/council-questions/ask-question
Saturday 10 October. 11am-12:30pm. The RISE of Social Enterprise
Social Saturday networking event involving Social Enterprise UK, RISE Gallery and Croydon Council. https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/social-saturday-networking-the-rise-of-social-enterprise-tickets-18733539521
Further details at http://news.croydon.gov.uk/croydon-to-host-social-saturday
Last year the Croydon TUC working party on the Council’s Growth Plan recommended that the Council take such an initiative. I discussed the local social economy in Part 3 of my review of local economic development on Croydon Citizen: http://thecroydoncitizen.com/economics-business/economic-development-doesnt-just-mean-property-part-3
Thursday 15 October. 6.30pm. Croydon/Lewisham Councils Joint Street Lighting Joint Committee
Town Hall, Katharine St. Access papers due to be posted through https://secure.croydon.gov.uk/akscroydon/users/public/admin/kabmenu.pl
Friday 16 October. Close of Council consultation on the Gambling Act
Access details at https://getinvolved.croydon.gov.uk/KMS/news.aspx
Monday 19 October. 6.30pm Croydon Council
Town Hall, Katharine St. Access papers due to be posted through https://secure.croydon.gov.uk/akscroydon/users/public/admin/kabmenu.pl
Tuesday 20 October. 6.30pm. Croydon Cabinet
Town Hall, Katharine St. Access papers due to be posted through https://secure.croydon.gov.uk/akscroydon/users/public/admin/kabmenu.pl
Wednesday 21 October. From 3pm. All the fun of the fair for landlords and agents
An event with information, presentations and new cash incentives. Fairfield Halls. Email or call 020 8726 6789.
Saturday 24 October to Saturday 7 November. South Norwood Arts Festival
See discussion and to access full details see http://thecroydoncitizen.com/culture/south-norwood-arts-festival-comes-cold
Wednesday 28 October. 7.30pm. Samuel Coleridge-Taylor & the Croydon Music Scene
Talk by Sean Creighton accompanied by talented local violist William Campbell. South Norwood Arts Festival. Samuel Coleridge-Taylor Centre 194 Selhurst Rd, SE25 6XX. Free.
Croydon Economic and Housing Developments
New economic developments in Croydon include BT’s decision to upgrade broadband network and EDF to move its HQ in. Planned residential blocks on a Croydon College site have been guaranteed with investment from local property developers. See:
http://thecroydoncitizen.com/politics-society/how-many-flats-can-fit-into-croydon-town-centre
Can the Labour Council afford to shoot itself in the foot?
Several stories have been emerging that suggest that the Labour controlled Council is shooting itself in the foot.
http://insidecroydon.com/2015/10/01/restaurateur-who-underpaid-staff-is-short-listed-for-award
Croydon History
Photos of old Croydon: http://www.london24.com/news/old-london/21_old_pictures_of_croydon_show_town_as_you_ve_never_seen_it_1_4184727
Kake’s history of London Rd reaches No. 78: http://london-road-croydon.org/history/0078-oliver-gold.html
Corbyn Economics and Croydon
Croydon’s Andrew Fisher is having a strong role in developing the anti-austerity economics being developed by John MacDonald and Jeremy Corbyn. The Croydon Radical History Network held a promotion of his book The Failed Experiment back in June 2014 titled Local investment: Are private developers the only option. This led to the setting up of the Croydon TUC working party on the Council’s Growth Plan and my evidence to the Whitgift Centre CPO. Andrew is involved in the review of national economic issues in the Croydon TUC initiated Croydon Assembly. Corbyn supporter Tom Black of Croydon Citizen writes about the election of the new Labour Leader at http://thecroydoncitizen.com/politics-society/corbyn-citizen-might-just-work
For details of the Failed Experiment see http://www.radicalread.co.uk/publications/6-the-failed-experiment
Croydon resident Marc Wadsworth and advocate of Citizen Journalism reports on Corbyn at the Labour Party Conference at http://www.the-latest.com/love-jeremy-corbyn-his-first-party-summit
Environmental News
The 20 mile an hour zone Controversy: As the controversy over the introduction of 20 mile an hour zones across Croydon is set to continue it is interesting to read about the pollution reduction effects at http://www.20splenty.org/emission_reductions
Croydon Green Energy Initiative: Read about Croydon resident Anthony Enebe’s green energy initiative at http://www.chubmagazine.com/2015/10/croydon-resident-mr-andrew-enebe-to-build-green-energy-firm and
Steve Reed’s ban on smoking in cars with children came into force on 1 October. See http://www.croydonadvertiser.co.uk/Croydon-North-MP-proud-ban-smoking-cars-children/story-27903921-detail/story.html
It is also reported on the website site All About Croydon. http://www.allaboutcroydon.co.uk. This has hoped to be a one-stop shop with Croydon Directory, but does not appear to have developed yet into a major resource.
Whitgift Centre Redevelopment
Barwell welcomes CPO Approval: http://www.croydonadvertiser.co.uk/Council-s-purchase-land-hurdle/story-27817164-detail/story.html
Problems face business in Whitgift: http://insidecroydon.com/2015/09/24/as-newman-celebrates-whitgift-workers-fret-over-their-futures
Local resident Jack Oughton takes farewell tour of the Centre at http://londonist.com/2015/07/a-farewell-tour-of-the-whitgift-centre
Meanwhile joint Centre developer Hammerson has just entered a joint venture purchase of an Irish loans portfolio. which includes stakes in shopping centres. http://theweatherspace.com/2015/09/30/146559-allianz-real-estate-hammerson-jv-acquires-irish-loans
Croydon Private Landlord Licence Scheme in Operation
The Council’s private landlords licensing scheme started on 1 October. It affects an estimated 30,000 homes.
Properties are continually being purchased out of owner occupation into the private rented sector, so if you see a To Let/Let by sign on a property do tell the Council to ensure that it is covered by a licence. Sanctions for failure to register appear to include:
- Prosecution in the Magistrates’ Court with the risk of an unlimited fine;
- Rent Repayment Order requiring the repayment of up to 12 months rental income;
- Any section 21 notice of seeking possession will be invalid.
The landlord would probably fail a fit and proper person assessment, making it very difficult to obtain another property licence in the future.
For the latest information on property licensing in Croydon go to www.londonpropertylicensing.co.uk/croydon
The register of Houses in Multiple Occupation, which includes residential homes, as well as private landlords, can be seen at https://www.whatdotheyknow.com/request/list_of_registered_hmos_in_croyd?nocache=incoming-692373#incoming-692373
History & Social Action News and Events 