yourcroydon · 2020-06-05 · 2 yourcroydon issue 9 - july 2007 to contact croydon council ☎ 020...

YourCroydon ISSUE 9 - JULY 2007

Multi-million road resurfacing programmePage 4

New parking regulations come inPage 6

The borough’s fi ght against crime1

It’s Summer Festival time again! Page 18It’s Summer Festival time again! Page 18

YOURCROYDON ISSUE 9 - JULY 2007 2

To contact Croydon Council ☎ 020 8726 6000Taberner House, Park Lane, Croydon, CR9 3JSemail: [email protected] website: www.croydon.gov.uk Community website: www.croydononline.org

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10 Speedy responseCroydon’s firefighters rush to rescue of trapped workman beneath town’s streets – maybe.

15 Job opportunitiesPromise that more than 300 vacancies to come on line for New Addington’s Tesco development.

20 Going cashlessCroydon Council is streamlining its money-handling facilities and asking that council tax and rent be paid electronically.

21 Look out for mother shiptonOur young naturalist offers a guide to the fauna and flora to be seen on Riddlesdown during July.

Do you have what it takes to work for your local authority?Croydon Council is always keen to recruit the best staff across a wide range of disciplines.If you’re looking for a new challenge, pay a visit to www.croydon.gov.ukIt could be the best day’s work your mouse has ever done.

YOURCROYDON ISSUE 6 - APRIL 20073 3

Arches set to fi nd knife carriersThe chances of being caught if you’re carrying a knife in Croydon have increased

Safer Croydon Partnership – comprising the council, the police, local businesses and community groups – recently presented two portable metal-detecting arches to Croydon police.

They will be used in police operations across the borough, specifically aimed at tackling and reducing knife crime.

The public got its first sight of the two arches when they were installed for the afternoon at West Croydon railway station and manned by Metropolitan Police and British Transport Police officers.

In addition to proactive operations at transport hubs, the portable arches will be used in the town centre and outside borough schools.

Safer Neighbourhood Teams will also be raising awareness of the dangers of carrying knives with a series of visits to schools and colleges across the borough.

Cllr Steve O’Connell, deputy leader and cabinet member for safety and cohesion, said: ”The council is pleased to be funding yet another high-profile initiative to make Croydon safer.

“Despite the falling crime figures, residents need visible reassurance that the authorities are responding positively to their safety concerns.

“These devices will be a prominent and effective reminder that the police are going on the front foot to identify people carrying offensive weapons. “

The new group has grown out of the Croydon Road Users Forum and will include membership from police and emergency services as well as a representative from each of the borough’s neighbourhood partnerships.

Provisional figures for 2006 showed there were 1,218 casualties from 944 incidents on Croydon’s roads.

This would be an improvement on 2005, when there were 1,412 casualties from 1,141

accidents in the borough. The number of pedestrians injured was 255, along with 191 motorcyclists, 148 children and 71 cyclists.

While this reducing trend is welcome, Croydon Council believes the tighter focus on road safety will enable issues that could help reduce accidents receive greater attention.

The forum will meet in public, four times a year. The first meeting is expected to take place in July.

New forum to tackle road casualty fi guresRoad safety issues will be the focus of attention of a new forum, with a mandate to concentrate on ways of reducing road casualties

Text messaging is the latest facility offered by Croydon Council for reporting problems such as graffiti and missed bin collections

The council has widened the choice of methods people can use to get in touch by introducing its first SMS text incoming messaging service, initially for reporting Streetscene issues.

Texts can be sent to report graffiti, fly-tipping, fly-posting and missed bin emptying or missed recycling collection; faulty street

lighting and highway defects such as potholes or broken paving stones, and incidences where street cleaning is needed.

The number to text is 60660, followed by the relevant message:• For missed bin collections - text “BIN” • For missed recycling collections

- text “RECYCLE” • To report fly-tipping - text “TIPPING” • To report a highway defect

- text “POTHOLE” • To request cleaning for your street

- text “SWEEP” • To report fly-posting - text “POSTER” • To report defective street lighting

- text “LAMP” • To report graffiti - text “GRAF”

Included in the message should be the nature of the problem and its venue or address. Messages will cost the user’s network rate.

Established means of reporting such matters remain available, including via the council’s website at www.croydon.gov.uk or by calling 020 8726 6200.

New text service goes live

No parking at Lloyd Park car parkWork to relocate underground gas and electricity supply feeds will see car parking at Lloyd Park closed to the public until the utility works are finished

A temporary car park will be opened from 30 August.

The work, close to the Lloyd Park tram stop, forms part of the ongoing Croydon Cable Tunnel project being carried out by National Grid.

A new public pavilion is to be built on the site to replace the existing building, which has been closed to the public since April.

The new pavilion, expected to open in early 2009, will incorporate public toilets, including disabled facilities, eight changing rooms and an office for park rangers.

YOURCROYDON ISSUE 9 - JULY 20074

Borough’s roads get urgent make-over

The council is undertaking a programme of road resurfacing costing millions

The winter months took their toll on Croydon’ road surfaces – a toll that has prompted a programme of repair work costing almost £3m.

However, even this amount of spending – the highest since 1997 – will not return roads to the condition Croydon Council would like to see.

There is an estimated backlog of some £11.43m of repairs to be done across the borough – built up over several years during which the maintenance budget was diverted to bolster under-funded spending in other public services.

The relatively poor condition of the roads under the council’s care is in stark contrast to the high level of maintenance lavished on the borough’s main arterial routes by Transport for London, which has not suffered the same systematic deprivation of grant support as the council.

A policy of making-good and carrying out minor, patch repairs has not produced a long-term remedy to several winters of reasonably harsh weather conditions. Small-scale repairs do not last and are no substitute for proper resurfacing works.

Some £896,000 of the approved maintenance spending is directly funded by TfL and will have to be spent in accordance with its specification and priorities.

The list of works was drawn up from maintenance plans that are routinely updated following regular visual and mechanical surveys of all roads and paths in the borough.

The council’s own engineers, based at Purley Oaks depot, will undertake planning, programming and supervision of the contractor works.

Waste food collection trial gets under wayA trial that could lead to the boroughwide separate collection of waste food has started in parts of CroydonAround 2,500 homes in Coulsdon West and Purley are now receiving a weekly collection service.

Residents have been provided with a kitchen “caddy” and a larger bin to be stored outside for collection.

Householders in the two wards are being asked to put their food peelings and leftovers into secure, lined containers.

The containers are emptied separately and taken to the shared composting facility in nearby Beddington Lane, Sutton, where the waste is treated in a controlled way for turning into compost.

Early indications suggest that residents have welcomed the initiative.

The pilot scheme, set to run for 12 months, is an initiative of the newly formed South London Waste Partnership (SLWP) comprising Croydon, Kingston, Merton and Sutton councils and introduced to help tackle the enormous amount of waste sent to landfill.

YOURCROYDON ISSUE 6 - APRIL 20075 5

Pay up if you light up insideWith England’s smoking ban in all enclosed places of work set to go live in a matter of days, the council has been working up to the last minute to help ensure all businesses and organisations within the town are ready

Earlier this month, the council, together with Croydon Primary Care Trust, organised a series of seven smoking surgeries aimed at business managers and owners.

Information was provided on everything from ensuring correct signage is displayed to advice on erecting outdoor smoking shelters.

The council has appointed a dedicated smokefree coordinator whose job is to liaise directly with all businesses and organisations in the borough.

Once the ban is in place, the council will have sole responsibility for ensuring compliance, and officers will visit premises and respond to complaints.

Any individual caught lighting up in a banned area faces the prospect of a £50 fixed penalty notice or a £200 court fine.

And the owner or manager of the premises could be liable for a fine of up to £2,500.

Surrey Street’s

seasonalcookingAfter months of organising, compiling, sorting and tasting, The Surrey Street Cookbook has been publishedA full-colour, 16-page, A5 booklet, it is packed with seasonal recipes, each of which can be prepared with produce bought from Croydon’s oldest market.

Brainchild of Undercroydon – a partnership of arts, education, business and the community – the cookbook boasts a foreword by celebrity chef Tony Tobin in which he says: “These original dishes truly reflect this colourful market, packed with character and unique history.”

Each month of the year is represented by a recipe submitted by a Croydon resident.

The year opens with a wholesome and warming Bottom of the Fridge Soup by Jackie Holder of South Norwood.

Other mouth-watering offerings include Cashew Nut Curry, Moroccan Lamb, Spiced Pumpkin Muffins and August’s selection of Mediterranean Chilli Squid, from David Taborro of Coulsdon.

Each recipe is accompanied by a short note from its cook/inventor and supermarket-style nutrition tags indicating calories, sugar, fat, saturates and salt.

Priced £2.50, The Surrey Street Cookbook can be bought from the Tourist Information Centre in Croydon Clocktower, from the Market Inspector and from Rosanna Lovett’s flower stall at the junction of Surrey Street and Scarbrook Road.

Croydon councillor digs deep for new kit for MaydayHeart patients at Mayday University Hospital are benefiting from the generosity of a Croydon councillor.

Three new cardiac monitors – worth £8,500 – have been donated to the Thornton Heath hospital by West Thornton ward member and businessman Councillor Mike Mogul.

The small, hand-held gadgets are used for patients complaining of heart palpitations or dizzy spells.

In common with many local hospitals, Mayday often has to rely on equipment that has seen many years’ service and, while still operating adequately, has been superseded by newer models that often do the job more efficiently, cutting down on the time patients have to wait for treatment.

The new monitors keep a constant watch on the patient’s heart rate and, as soon as palpitations are experienced, he or she can activate the machine which keeps a record of what is going on.

That information can be used by doctors to work out an effective medical regime designed to improve the patient’s quality of life.

Councillor Mogul said: “I was aware that the hospital had need of some new cardiac monitors.

“The staff at Mayday do a fantastic job, sometimes with equipment that has seen better days.

“I saw the opportunity to do my small bit to help them in their work of helping other people and, as the hospital is in my ward, felt I couldn’t turn away.”

The heart of the matter


From 1 July a two-tier parking scheme is being introduced across London, responding to the demands of the capital’s population.

Public surveys have shown that a majority of people want illegal parking that causes most disruption, frustration and danger to other road users and pedestrians penalised more heavily.

The introduction of differential charges is intended to address the widely held perception that some offences are more serious than others.

The new fines will be in the range of £60 and £120 – halved if paid within 14 days. This means that fines for some offences will be £20 lower than previously.

Croydon’s cabinet member for environment and highways, Councillor Phil Thomas, says that motorists who park illegally impede other road users and deny them the opportunity to use on-street parking spaces.

He says: “In enforcing parking offences we aim to be firm but fair. The new arrangements will meet public demand for fairness.”

Parking - the whys and wherefores

From 1 July a two-tier parking scheme

is being introduced across London,

responding to the demands of the

capital’s population.

The new fines will be in the range of £60 and £120

– halved if paid within 14 days. This means that fines

for some offences will be £20 lower than previously.

With new regulations about to be introduced, we take a detailed look at parking in Croydon

7

Why does Croydon carry out parking enforcement?Enforcement is carried out for several main reasons:• to keep traffic in the borough moving – people

parking wherever they want causes unnecessary hazards which clog already busy roads,

• to reduce exhaust fume-pollution caused by congestion,

• to maintain or improve the safety of all road users (including pedestrians), and

• to ensure the limited amount of space available for parking can be used by those who need it.

Why are parking restrictions put in?Requests for parking restrictions to be put in place come, in the main, from local residents or businesses who are concerned about congestion or accidents in their area. The only way for these measures to be effective is to enforce them.

When did Croydon become responsible for parking enforcement?London boroughs took over responsibility for parking in 1993/94. Before this, the police carried out the enforcement of illegal parking.

Studies from the 1980s show that only one in 100 acts of illegal parking was penalised, and that only around 50% of the penalties issued were actually paid.

This was because illegal parking, in relation to other crimes, was a low priority for the police.

In the early 1970s there was a traffic warden force of around 2,000. This had been halved by the end of the 1980s. As a result, parking restrictions were very often ignored.

How many penalty charge notices were issued in Croydon in the past year?In 2006/07 the total number of penalty charge notices for all traffic contraventions was 125,958. The figure in 2005/06 was 110,557; in 2004/05 it was 107,980.

What were the reasons for this increase?The main reasons are:• the increase in the number and size of controlled

parking zones (CPZ) – these are areas where all parking is controlled and include areas like residents’ parking zones. Over the past decade, 10 CPZs have been extended and a new one, in Norbury, created;

• wider use of CCTV and cameras for enforcement which detect a higher percentage of contraventions;

• growth in traffic levels and car use.

What are the levels of penalties in Croydon?The new penalties to be used from 1 July are as follows:

* Band A applies within the Croydon Controlled Parking Zone incorporating Central, North, West, East Inner, East Outer and South permit sub-zones, including the free parking place areas adjacent to this controlled zone.

** Band B applies to all other Controlled Parking Zones, off-street

parking places and roads outside Controlled Zones.

How are these levels set?The levels of penalties are agreed following extensive consultation by London Councils’ transport and environment committee. They are also agreed by the Mayor of London and the Secretary of State.

It is London Councils’ policy that the penalties can be set at only a minimum level to act as a deterrent – making people think twice about parking illegally.

The last time the fine level increased in London was on 1 April, 2003.

Does the council use parking enforcement as a way of making money?It is not legal for councils to introduce parking regulations to raise revenue. Under the Road Traffic Act 1984, traffic regulations can be introduced only for:• safety • maintaining an access to a premises • reducing congestion • managing the amount of kerb space available

for parking • improving the amenity of an area.

Band A* Band B**

More serious contraventions £120 £100

Discount if paid within 14 days £60 £50

Less serious contraventions £80 £60

Discount if paid within 14 days £40 £30

WE ANSWER YOUR QUESTIONS ON PARKING AND TRAFFIC ENFORCEMENT

Studies from the 1980s show that only one in 100 acts of illegal parking was penalised, and that only around 50% of the penalties issued were actually paid.

The introduction of differential charges is intended to address the widely held perception that some offences are more serious than others.


What happens to the money collected through penalties?The Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984 states that any surpluses in parking revenue accounts, after the cost of running the schemes have been covered, can be spent only on:• providing additional parking facilities • public transport schemes • highway improvements • road maintenance • schemes supporting the Mayor of London’s

transport strategy • environmental improvements

Among the areas the surplus in London goes toward are local cycle lanes and the Freedom Pass, London’s concessionary fares scheme for the disabled and elderly.

How many parking attendants are there in Croydon?Approximately 45.

Does Croydon contract out its parking enforcement services?Although the majority of London boroughs do contract out their parking attendant services, Croydon has not adopted this method.

Can a parking attendant cancel a ticket once they have started to issue it?No. This prevents them becoming targets for violence and possible corruption. If they were able to cancel the ticket, it could lead to an inconsistent approach to parking enforcement across the capital.

The assessment of whether to cancel a parking ticket rests with the council issuing the ticket.

Do parking attendants receive commission on the number of tickets they issue?No.

Are parking attendants subjected to assaults? A survey by London Councils has shown that up to three parking attendants a day in London are assaulted. This includes being run over, shot at, and attacked by gangs armed with baseball bats.

What does the London public think about parking enforcement?The 2004 Survey of Londoners found that 67% of Londoners thought that action against illegal parking in London should remain the same or get stronger, while 75% said the same or more action should be taken against people illegally using bus lanes.

What happens when a motorist receives a penalty charge notice?Any motorist who receives a penalty charge notice has two options. These are either to pay the fine or to challenge the ticket.

If the motorist pays the penalty within 14 days it is discounted by 50%.

However, if they receive a ticket they feel is unfair they should appeal against it.

How does a motorist appeal?In the first instance, the driver should write to the council that issued the ticket.

The council will either refuse or uphold the challenge.

If the challenge is upheld the ticket is cancelled.

If refused, the motorist would be informed how to appeal to the independent Parking and Traffic Appeals Service (PATAS) against the council’s decision.

How does PATAS work? PATAS provides independent adjudicators to listen to the motorist’s side of the issue and that of the boroughs.

It is a statutory tribunal with the legal status of a court. The adjudicators are independent solicitors or barristers of at least five years’ standing, and are appointed with the consent of the Lord Chancellor.

There are 52 adjudicators in PATAS. They are not bound by decisions made by any other adjudicator, although they may refer to them.

Appeals are normally free (although costs can be awarded), and legal representation is not necessary.

In 2005/06 just 0.6% of all penalty charge notices issued in Croydon were appealed to PATAS.

A survey by London Councils has shown

that up to three parking attendants

a day in London are assaulted. This

includes being run over, shot at, and attacked by

gangs armed with baseball bats.

9

Contraventions that will carry the higher penalty charge are: • parking in a restricted street during the prescribed

hours (ie, on yellow lines)

• stopping in an area where it is prohibited, including at bus-stops and outside schools

• stopping on a pedestrian crossing or crossing area marked by zigzags, or in a clearway

• failing to display a valid parking permit in a space reserved for specific users (ie, residents, disabled, traders or other permits)

• parking, loading or unloading in a restricted area where loading is not allowed

• using a space not designated for that vehicle

• parking in a loading gap marked by a yellow line

• parking in a suspended bay or space

• parking in a loading bay during restricted hours without loading

• parking more than 50cm from the edge of the carriageway and not in a designated parking place (eg double parking)

• parking adjacent to a dropped kerb

• using a disabled parking space without displaying a disabled badge

• parking in a space designated for diplomatic vehicles or police vehicles

• parking on a taxi rank

• parking wholly or partly on a footpath, cycle track, or anywhere other than the road

Contraventions that will carry the lower penalty charge are:• parking after the expiry of the time paid for

• failing to clearly display a valid pay and display ticket

• feeding a meter

• failing to pay the charge for parking

• not displaying the required parking permit/ticket

• reparking in the same place within an hour of leaving

• not parking within the markings of the bay or space

• parking for longer than is permitted

• leaving the engine running while parked (where prohibited)

• using a parking space for purposes other than what it is designated for

SUMMARY OF SERIOUS AND LESS SERIOUS PARKING OFFENCES

Any motorist who receives a penalty charge notice has two options. These are either to pay the fine or to challenge the ticket.


“The Town Hall’s basement area is

ideally suited to this sort of exercise;

when the lights are off down there, you

can’t see your hand in front of your face.”

Rescue drama in town centreFirefighters spring into action to save trapped worker . . . or do they?The speedy response and brave efforts of firefighters averted a near tragedy when they successfully rescued an unconscious workman from a tunnel beneath Croydon town centre.

The firefighters, from Woodside fire station, attended the scene when the fallen workman’s colleague, who had been able to escape, raised the alarm.

Wearing full uniforms and breathing apparatus, the members of white watch felt their way through the pitch-black, smoke-filled tunnel, located the workman and brought him to the surface where he received first aid before being taken to hospital.

At least that was the scenario.

In truth, the dramatic rescue took place in the basement of the Town Hall, in Katharine Street, and was the latest in a series of exercises designed to present firefighters with situations they could face on any working day, in order to ensure they are as ready as possible to deal with the unexpected.

Tony Morris, Croydon Council’s head of emergency management and security, made the facility available and praised the manner in which the fire crew, one of whom was less than a month into his fire brigade career, dealt with the testing conditions.

Tony said: “We’re always happy to offer what help we can.

“The Town Hall’s basement area is ideally suited to this sort of exercise; when the lights are off down there, you can’t see your hand in front of your face. The firefighters weren’t told exactly where the ‘body’ was, so they had their work cut out finding it.

“But find it they did and, in a real-life situation, their work could well have resulted in the saving of a life.”

11

Cracking crime in CroydonCracking crime in CroydonPARTNERSHIP PROVES UNBEATABLE IN MAKING THE BOROUGH SAFER

Of the 32 London boroughs, Croydon is now ranked the 10th safest in which to live.

The partnership has achieved this by increasing the number of offenders brought to justice by 16%, having 3,349 fewer victims of crime and reducing common assaults by 20%, compared to the Metropolitan Police average reduction of 8.4%.

Safer Croydon Partnership is a statutory body responsible for reducing crime and disorder in the borough.

The six key partners are the council, Metropolitan Police, London Fire Brigade, Metropolitan Police Authority, Croydon Primary Care Trust and the National Probation Service. Other partners, including those in the business, community and voluntary sectors, also play a vital role in reducing crime.

Figures for the year ending April 2007 show that violent crime is down by 13%, resulting in more than 1,000 fewer victims; theft from persons is down by 34%, giving 356 fewer victims. There were 192 fewer burglaries, 273 fewer cars were stolen and tampering with motor vehicles dropped by an impressive 37%.

A pioneering Family Justice Centre, working with the first integrated domestic violence court in England and Wales, has helped to reduce these offences by 12%.

While crime has been steadily falling in the borough over the past four years – an overall 20% reduction – half of this progress was achieved in the past year due to a range of proactive measures the partnership has introduced.

Residents’ perception of the level of crime in Croydon is also improving. The Talkabout Survey, conducted last November, shows more residents believe the level of crime in the borough is not increasing.

Crime in Croydon has fallen by 10% in the past year, thanks to the coordinated work of the council with the Safer Croydon Partnership, working together to reduce crime and the fear of crime in the borough

Figures for the year ending April 2007 show that violent crime is down by 13%, resulting in more than 1,000 fewer victims; theft from persons is down by 34%, giving 356 fewer victims.


Money is available to help improve security of small shopsA number of small retailers operating in deprived areas of the borough have had extra security fitted to their premises, free of charge, through the Safer Shops scheme.

Funded by Croydon Enterprise through the Safer Croydon Partnership, £40,000 is available to pay for extra security for businesses that have been repeat victims of crime.

In the past year, 74 shops have benefited from the scheme, with a maximum of £500 spent on each retailer.

Security equipment includes locks, grilles, bolts and other equipment recommended by crime prevention officers.

Amanda Smyth, of Jon Paul Hairdressers in South Norwood, received a grant to have extra security measures fitted following a burglary in December.

She said: “It’s been a great help to actually get something for free – and it was a surprise.

“The crime prevention officer came to have a look at the shop and suggested the security improvements we needed and he explained that a grant was available to pay for it.

“We’ve had locks, kick plates and security grilles fitted. The extra security will deter any future break-ins.”

To find out more, contact: Robert Johnston, police crime prevention officer, on 020 8649 1493 or by emailing [email protected]

“We’ve had locks, kick plates and security

grilles fitted. The extra security will deter any

future break-ins.”

Crocus House – a sanctuary against domestic violenceWomen and children offered refuge and empowerment Crocus House, in Thornton Heath, was set up to provide temporary self-contained accommodation for women and their children fleeing domestic violence while work is carried out to make their homes safe.

The service, available to women who live in the borough, is a joint project between the council and South London YMCA and works in partnership with Croydon’s Family Justice Centre.

Through an average period of eight to 12 weeks, the project offers an environment that empowers families to take control of their own lives, and, through regular support sessions, links women with the relevant outside agencies that can assist with their needs.

Any voluntary or statutory organisation can make a referral using the appropriate form.

Contact: South London YMCA (telephone 020 8771 5073, mobile 07715 991309)

Investing in Safer Shops

13

This year we will have…..NEIGHBOURHOOD ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS The council has invested £1m in a new scheme that will see a neighbourhood enforcement officer attached to each of the borough’s Safer Neighbourhood Teams.

The 29 NEOs will provide a highly visible, uniformed reassurance to Croydon residents 24 hours a day.

NEOs will be equipped to tackle antisocial behaviour by utilising the full range of new civil powers, including fixed penalty notices, alternative interventions and bylaws enforcement.

They will maintain close links with council departments such as housing, education, social services and the youth offending team to pursue deterrents such as antisocial behaviour orders, acceptable behaviour agreements and parenting orders.

They will also involve relevant agencies in supporting families and using diversionary activities, to prevent young people from becoming involved in lifestyle crimes that damage the borough’s appearance and alarms residents.

The officers will be introduced over a three-year period, with 10 becoming operational this year.

POLICE COMMUNITY SUPPORT OFFICERS MAKING TRANSPORT SAFERA new dedicated police team working to improve safety on and around public transport is now operating in Croydon.

Up to 18 new police community support officers (PCSOs) working with two sergeants and one police constable in Croydon’s Safer Transport Team are tackling crime and antisocial behaviour.

Led by Sgt Steve Brennan, the team provides a visible and reassuring presence for people using public transport in the borough.

Insp Jack Ioannou, of the British Transport Police, said: “The PSCOs will be especially helpful in the late afternoon when we have large groups of schoolchildren using the transport system, combined with other commuters returning home from work.”

“This influx can present police with some extremely challenging situations.

“From experience, we know that as well as being especially vulnerable to crime, large numbers of young people travelling in groups can be intimidating for other passengers.”

RAPID RESPONSE TEAMA new team, funded by the council and set for launch in October, will provide additional law-enforcement back-up as and when needed.

The Rapid Response Team will be on hand to offer support to all 25 Safer Neighbourhood Teams in the borough and to neighbourhood enforcement officers.

The team will comprise one sergeant, a police constable and four police community support officers and will also help in tackling antisocial behaviour and reinforcing the police presence in the town centre.

GANGS UNITCroydon police have set up a new unit which aims to have the problem of gangs under control in a year.

Speaking at the launch of the new Gang Focus Desk, Det Supt Ian Smith said the unit was in its “embryonic stages” but that, in 12 months, he was aiming for a “finished, working product”.

Intelligence will be shared across borough, although the management of the unit will be led by Det Insp Jacquie Hands, who will head the unit at South Norwood police station.

She said: “I hope that, over the next year, some long-term solutions will be in place. We aim to prevent gang culture from developing further.

“There’s an awful lot of work to be done but there’s an awful lot of potential.”

According to Det Supt Ian Smith and his colleagues, the key to the success of the new unit will be understanding the issues behind gang crime and the reasons young people get into gangs.

If you have any information for the gangs unit, call Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

The 29 NEOs will provide a highly visible, uniformed reassurance to Croydon residents 24 hours a day.

Croydon police have set up a new unit which aims to have the problem

of gangs under control in a year.

The key to the success of the new unit will be understanding the issues behind gang crime and the reasons young people get into gangs.


The Safer Croydon Partnership is

working hard with the Witness Support

Scheme to tackle antisocial behaviour

in the borough.

Speak up and feel safeOffering witnesses much-needed support is key in anti-crime fightBeing a victim or witness of antisocial behaviour can be a frightening and stressful experience.

The Safer Croydon Partnership is working hard with the Witness Support Scheme to tackle antisocial behaviour in the borough.

Agreeing to be a witness entails reporting an incident of antisocial behaviour, providing evidence and attending court.

Witness evidence is extremely valuable because it shows the true impact of the antisocial behaviour, including the emotional strain, upset, annoyance and frustration experienced by individuals, families and the wider community.

A number of measures are available for witnesses who feel vulnerable or intimidated. One such is the provision of a unique pin code for access to a 24-hour freephone service connecting directly to the council’s control room, which has a direct link to the police.

If necessary, a council mobile enforcement unit will be despatched.

In some cases, where additional security is required, the service can provide: reinforced letter-boxes; additional door and window locks; security lighting /CCTV cameras; shatterproof window film and panic alarms.

We believe by working together can we stop antisocial behaviour.

For further information, call Community Safety Services on 020 8760 5448

Agreeing to be a witness entails reporting an incident of antisocial behaviour, providing evidence and attending court.

How you can be involved….Safer Neighbourhood PanelsSafer Neighbourhood Panels provide an important role for the community to decide what type of crime and antisocial behaviour will need to be tackled in their areas. Whether it’s graffiti, rubbish dumping, disorder or other quality of life issues, through the panels, residents will have an important role to play in local problem solving and decision-making.

The panels, which can be made up of a total of 12 local residents who live and/or work in the borough, community volunteers and local businesses, will work closely with Safer Neighbourhood Teams (SNT).

They will meet regularly to identify issues of local community concern that have an impact on levels of crime, the fear of crime or the quality of life in an area, and agree on what priorities the SNT should target in their area.

To find out about how you can get involved contact: Safer Croydon - Tel: 020 8760 5430, email: [email protected]

Croydon Neighbourhood Watch AssociationWorking together with neighbours to tackle anything that causes worry or concern is what Neighbourhood Watch is all about.

Rather than being “nosey or interfering”, it’s a good way to show that you care about your community. It also helps prevent people becoming victims of crime.

By working together, neighbours can take action against things like vandalism, graffiti and poor lighting. There is a social element, too – the scheme brings people together, involving them in local life, which creates good community spirit.

There are more than 500 Neighbourhood Watch schemes in Croydon, covering more than 640 roads.

Any community or neighbourhood – however large or small – can set up a scheme, which can comprise just a few houses in a street, the residents in a square or a whole estate.

The police provide advice about the sort of things members should look out for and what should be reported to them.

To find out more about starting a Neighbourhood Watch Scheme, contact Sarah Gardner on 020 8649 0168 or email [email protected]

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New AddingtonRegeneration and Renewal

“Jobcentre Plus is delighted to work in partnership with Tesco to support local people into sustainable employment. This will benefit the local community and the local economy.”

Tesco plans major retraining programme for long-term unemployedThe development of Central Parade, which sits at the heart of New Addington’s community, is integral to the council’s bid to transform the area into a vibrant, functional and attractive retail and residential centre.

The project, which forms part of Croydon’s 2020 Vision, has regeneration at its heart. The planned Tesco store, housing and community facilities promise to enhance the area, making it an even more attractive place for people to work, live and play within.

The Tesco store alone is expected to provide 320 jobs for the local economy.

Up to half of these jobs will be provided through a Tesco Regeneration Partnership.

Tesco Regeneration Partnerships focus on getting the long-term unemployed back into work through a tailored training course aimed at giving people the basic skills needed to work in a retail environment. Recruitment is based on aptitude, rather than experience or qualifications.

The Regeneration Partnership at New Addington, which would be run in conjunction with Jobcentre Plus and Croydon Council, has the potential to create as many as 160 jobs for those who have been unemployed for six months or more.

Over the past eight years, Tesco has completed 17 Regeneration Partnerships across the country, revitalising prospects and opportunities for almost

4,000 long-term unemployed, single parents, disabled, redundant and disadvantaged people.

In Stockport, Jeff, 52, a former clothing presser, had been unemployed for almost three years. Now he is in charge of 14 staff and supervising the fresh produce department at the Tesco Extra superstore in Stockport.

He says: “I honestly thought I was on the scrap heap, but now I’ve got a whole new lease of life and I love it. I’ve got back my self-esteem.”

As long as recruits complete the training course and maintain good attendance and conduct, a job is guaranteed at the end.

Steve Farrow, partnership manager for Jobcentre Plus, which is coordinating the scheme, said: “Jobcentre Plus is delighted to work in partnership with Tesco to support local people into sustainable employment. This will benefit the local community and the local economy.”

Providing these jobs can have a major impact on the local area, encouraging people to work, live in decent housing and even reducing crime.

By giving people the opportunity to develop and work in a stable environment, people begin to flourish and the community reaps the benefits.

James Wiggam, Tesco corporate affairs manager, said: “This potential regeneration partnership is something that can act as a huge boost for New Addington.

“This is a hallmark of the store’s commitment to be a resource and benefit for the whole community.”


It’s no exaggeration to say that, if current

trends continue, in just a few years’ time,

the council won’t have any money to spend on the quality-of-life services it provides,

such as parks, libraries, highways, road safety

and environmental care.

Sorry to bang on about this again, but unless Croydon receives a Fair Deal from the Government, every household in the borough will be getting a raw deal in terms of the services they get from the council.

It’s no exaggeration to say that, if current trends continue, in just a few years’ time, the council won’t have any money to spend on the quality-of-life services it provides, such as parks, libraries, highways, road safety and environmental care.

These are the services people tell us really matter. So that’s what I mean by a raw deal.

The figures behind this stark position are quite simple:£559 is the average amount the council collects each year from each adult in the borough. Some people pay more and others less, depending on the council tax band of their residence.

£124 is the value of services received by each person in return.

The rest goes to subsidise national services – typically, education and personal social care. No one disputes the value of these services but in many other parts of the country they are fully funded by the Government.

That’s what I mean by a raw deal.

Croydon council is becoming increasingly frustrated about the switch of Government funds away from London to support councils in the north.

There is no doubt that a real north-south divide is emerging when it comes to the way Government distributes financial support to local councils.

For example, in Oldham, the constituency of the Minister for Local Government, residents pay on average £451

in council tax. But they get back about £400 worth of local services.

In their case, national services are largely paid, as you would expect, from general taxation through Government grant.

Other examples from Liverpool, Manchester and Newcastle-upon-Tyne are also interesting.

The figures are:• Liverpool – council tax cost of £349 per adult for £457

of local services

• Newcastle-upon-Tyne – council tax cost of £378 per adult for £437 of local services

• Manchester – council tax cost of £310 per adult for £335 of local services.

London is different. Only one borough, the most deprived, is able to spend more on local services than it collects in council tax. Croydon’s position is worse than anywhere else, even in London.

That’s what I mean by a raw deal.

The reason for this unfairness is the outmoded system for distributing Government money to local councils.

The system produces some bizarre anomalies and leaves Croydon, in particular, with the worst deal in the whole of London.

And there’s an even greater reason for our indignation.

The way funding is provided to town halls impacts on the very heart of local democracy.

It is about the ability of locally elected councillors, of whichever political party, to provide local services for local people without being told what to do and how much we must spend by Whitehall.

Why Croydon’s getting aWhy Croydon’s getting a

An open letter from council leader Councillor Mike Fisher

17

I am delighted, therefore, that opposition leader Tony Newman has pledged his group’s support to get a better deal for Croydon

Richmond Upon ThamesHounslowKingston Upon ThamesBromleyEnfieldCroydonHarrowSuttonBarnetHillingdonHaveringBexleyHammersmith & FulhamMertonKensington & ChelseaEalingRedbridgeCamdenBarking & DagenhamWaltham ForestNewhamLewishamWandsworthWestminsterHaringeyBrentGreenwichLambethIslingtonSouthwark

ManchesterNewcastle

LiverpoolTower Hamlets

-£600-£500

-£400-£300

-£200-£100

-£0 £100£200I am delighted, therefore, that opposition leader Tony

Newman has pledged his group’s support to get a better deal for Croydon.

This is the single most important issue the council is pursuing and his backing is very important. It shows that the council is capable of pulling together to support the borough.

We have to face a couple of stark realities: • Most of the services we provide are controlled centrally

by Whitehall.• Most of the funding we receive is controlled centrally

by Whitehall.

So, whatever our desire and commitment to meet residents’ wishes and to make a difference locally, we can’t do it without the Government’s support.

The major change imposed on local government by the outgoing Prime Minister was to introduce the leader and cabinet form of council management, supposedly more transparent and accountable.

It’s ironic that, at the same time, the means to manage locally has been snatched away and was last seen disappearing up the M1.

If you share our indignation and want to register your concern, please sign our petition for a Fair Deal for Croydon.

It really will make a difference.


East meets west at East meets west at Croydon Summer Festival Croydon Summer Festival

This year, the Croydon Summer Festival is proud to present the African Caribbean Family Festival as part of the weekend of fun in Lloyd Park.Timed to mark the 200th anniversary of the abolition of the slave trade, Saturday’s event, twinned with the nationally acclaimed Croydon Mela on the Sunday, will provide a vibrant weekend of free entertainment.

Reggae legend Jimmy Cliff (I Can See Clearly Now/Many Rivers to Cross) will headline the African Caribbean Family Festival, supported by Jazzie B’s Soul II Soul Sound System.

Chart-topping local lads The Dualers will add to the party atmosphere on the Main Stage, hosted by BBC Radio’s Rita Ray.

Radio 3 World Music Awards nominee Nuru Kane on the Sunshine Stage and soca sensation SW Storm will have you dancing.

More home-grown musical talent will feature in Saturday’s line-up with the powerful sounds of the Gospel Music Workshop Choir, from Thornton Heath, opening the Main Stage, virtuoso steel band player Tony Charles on the Sunshine Stage, and winners of this year’s Testing 1,2,3 music competition, the fabulous Four Kornerz.

The Mela’s Main Stage will host Raghav, Bee2 Bhangra, Swami Desi Rock, Khan Brothers Qawwali Singers and the beats of the Dhol Academy, hosted by Radio One DJs Bobby and Nihal.

Saturday 14 JulyWorld Party presents

African Caribbean Family Festival

LLOYD PARK 1-8PM FREE!

Sunday 15 JulyCroydon Mela

Timed to mark the 200th anniversary of the abolition of

the slave trade, Saturday’s event, twinned with the

nationally acclaimed Croydon Mela on the Sunday, will provide

a vibrant weekend of free entertainment.

19

Sitar/dilruba player Baluji headlines the ARCC Classical Stage, which will open with a performance of Kathakali, 500-year-old dance from Kerela.

Making a second, more intimate, appearance, the Khan Brothers Qawwali Singers and the winner of the South Asian Music section of the Croydon Music Festival will complete the line-up on this relaxing stage.

Saturday will feature, for the first time at the festival, a Community Stage, co-hosted by the Cause 2000, showcasing the best in local talent.

The Croydon Mela’s Community Stage will, once again, be overflowing with colour, song and dance on Sunday.

A novel feature this year will be a demonstration of the traditional Indian sport of Kabaddi in a specially designated area of the Mela site, giving local people a rare chance to watch this exciting sport.

Watch out for the 10 wonderful flags designed by local schools, and The Carnival of Curiosities performed by a combined troupe of students from Shirley High School and five other south London boroughs.

A global market, funfair, kids’ area, fantastic food, beach patrol(!) and giant cricketers will help to make this a weekend not to be missed.

And, best of all, it’s FREE.

Tram: Route 3 to Lloyd Park

Parking: £5 per day (entrance to car park via Conduit Lane)

Wheelchair access: There is wheelchair access and a main-stage viewing platform. Some ground is uneven.

For further information and full line-up details, visit www.croydonfestival.com


More than half of Croydon’s 130,000

households already pay council tax by

direct debit and many more use standing

orders, the internet or phone payments.

Croydon joins Croydon joins the withdrawal the withdrawal from cashfrom cashThe steady decline in the number of people paying their council tax and/or council rent in cash, and the need to make efficiencies to keep council tax low, is behind Croydon Council’s decision to wind down its cash offices.The move mirrors that of many local authorities, public utilities and other public-service providers in recognising that a rapidly increasing majority of people are seeking more convenient ways of paying their bills, such as by direct debit, phone or the internet.

More than half of Croydon’s 130,000 households already pay council tax by direct debit and many more use standing orders, the internet or phone payments.

Currently just 10% of households pay by cash or cheque – and this number has been falling for some time.

As well as reflecting changing customer needs, the switch will save money, helping to keep counciltax down.

The cost to the council of a payment made at a cash office is currently 99p; the cost of a payment made by direct debit, just 2p. The precise saving will depend on how many people opt for each of the remaining payment methods but is estimated to be about £200,000.

From 2 July, the New Addington cash office will open from 9am to 4.30pm on Mondays, Tuesdays and Thursdays; the Strand House office in Thornton Heath will open for the same hours on Wednesdays and Fridays. Both will close completely on 16 November.

The remaining cash office, in Fell Road, central Croydon, will stay open until the end of next February.

The gradual wind-down has been planned in order to ensure that people have plenty of time to get used to the changes and make alternative payment arrangements.

Commenting on the changes, Cllr Gavin Barwell, cabinet member for resources and customer services said: “Even without the financial pressure caused by inadequate funding from the Government, we have been contemplating the winding down of our cash offices as a sensible, money-saving efficiency.

“The council must move with the times and the message we’re getting from customers is that they prefer more convenient ways of paying bills than visiting an office, queuing and counting out their notes and coins. “

“Cash handling, security and insurance are all expensive for the council and, as fewer people pay by cash, so the cost of each individual transaction mounts.

The council recognises that some people, particularly the elderly, may wish to continue paying by cash and is making arrangements to ensure that they can continue to do so at certain local shops.

Council staff have a good feel for who these people are and, in the weeks before the changes come in, will be making sure they understand what is happening and how best they will be able to continue their payments.

21

There are beautiful bee orchids in flower in mid-June. Although these flowers are quite common here, they are rare in other parts of the country. JULY

They bloom for only 10 days, which is a shame. When I first saw them, I thought they were real bees!

Look out for the mother shipton and burnet companion – these are special because they are two of only a few species of day-flying moths.

They can be seen all over Riddlesdown and are easily confused with butterflies.

The burnet companion is so called because it’s often seen in the company of the six-spot burnet moth, which can now be found on flower heads in the early evening.

Have you ever wondered what the white foam, often to be seen on grass and plants, is?

It is called cuckoo spit and is made by the nymphs (young) of froghoppers. They will be adults by Augusts.

I’ve seen a lot of beetles with orange bodies and black wing cases. These are called soldier beetles (cantharis rustica) and they are quite common.

They feed on other insects and can be found in the long grass near the tops of the leaves and in hedgerows.Bee Orchid

Cuckoo spit Soldier Beetle


Council

Deadlines for public questions for forthcoming full council meetings (all start at 6.30pm) Noon on each relevant deadline date.

Meeting Deadline

I Monday, 23 July, 2007 (6.30pm) Monday, 9 July, 2007

I Monday 17 Sep, 2007 (6.30pm) Monday, 3 Sep, 2007

I Monday 26 Nov, 2007 (6.30pm) Monday, 12 Nov, 2007

To submit a question for consideration at a full council meeting, email it to [email protected]; fax it to ☎020 8760 5657; print and complete the form at www.croydon.gov.uk/councilquestion and post it to Questions for the Council, Democratic and Legal Services, Taberner House, Park Lane, Croydon CR9 3JS; ☎020 8726 6000 ext 62327

Croydon Community Police Consultative Group Partnership

Meetings of the Croydon Community Police Consultative Group are held in the Council Chamber of the Town Hall. All are open to the public and begin at 6.30pm. For further information, go to www.croydononline.org/ccpcg

Forthcoming meeting dates are: Wednesday, 11 July; Wednesday, 19 September; Tuesday, 13 November

Scrutiny

Deadlines for the forthcoming scrutiny and overview committee public question sessions. Noon on the relevant deadline date.

Meeting Deadline Cabinet Member

17 July Environment and highways 2 July Cllr Phil Thomas

24 July The leader 9 July Cllr Mike Fisher

To submit a question to a cabinet member at a scrutiny sub-committee Q&A session, email it to [email protected]; fax it to 020 8760 5657; post it to Scrutiny Public Questions, Democratic and Legal Services, Taberner House, Park Lane, Croydon CR9 3JS; or call 020 8726 6000 extn 62529 or 62315.

Neighbourhood Partnership

Neighbourhood partnership meetings (all start at 7.30pm)

Meeting Group and venue

I 4 Jul Fairfi eld, Heathfi eld and Shirley, Shirley High School, Shirley Church Road

For information on Neighbourhood Partnerships, visit the website at www.croydononline.org/neighbourhood_partnerships/, email [email protected], write to Neighbourhood Partnerships, Democratic and Legal Services, Taberner House, Park Lane, Croydon CR9 3JS or call 020 8726 6000 extn 62564 or 62396

Details of all Croydon Council meetings can be found on the council website at www.croydon.gov.uk/meetingsofthecouncil

I These meetings are to be transmitted using webcasting. They can be viewed at www.croydon.ukcouncil.net/site/webcasts.php

23

What’s On JULY 07 www.croydon.gov.uk/leisure

GUIDED WALKS

DAVID LEAN – JULY The Painted Veil

28 Weeks Later

Great Expectations

Water

Ocean’s Thirteen

The Lives of Others

Amazing Grace

Tell No One

Half Nelson

Pirates of the Caribbean: At World’s End

Jindabyne

Night of the Sunfl owers

Shrek the Third (tbc)

La Vie En Rose

Into Great Silence

CHILDREN’S & FAMILY FILMSCHILDREN’S & FAMILY FILMSWallace & Gromit: The Curse of the Were-Rabbit

Mr Bean’s Holiday

Flushed Away

Bridge to Terabithia

Have you seen a stag beetle?If so, the People’s Trust for Endangered Species would like to hear from you. Visit www.greatstaghunt.org to log your sightings and to take part in a photo competition to win £200.

Sunday 1July Marbled whites and ringlets Search for these and other summer butterflies on Hutchinson’s and Chapel banks. Meet at Farleigh Dean Crescent, off Featherbed Lane, at 11am. Walkers are advised to bring refreshments, as walk will last two to three hours.

Friday 6 JulyGlorious glow wormsAnother chance to see these elusive critters on the Sanderstead to Whyteleafe commons. Local expert Malcolm Jennings, of Surrey Wildlife Trust, will be on hand to share his knowledge. Call the Sanderstead to Whyteleafe countryside warden on 07771 715812 to book a place.

Sunday 8 JulySkylark field and flowery paddockA 2½-hour stroll along Riddlesdown’s ridge with Marion Davis, Old Surrey Downs volunteer, to find July jewels and industrious insects in the grazed, chalk grassland paddocks. Meet at Riddlesdown car park at 10am.Bus: 412

Saturday 14 July Summer butterflies An extended walk around Hutchinson’s and Chapel banks to admire the many butterflies found on these chalk grasslands. Meet at site entrance off Farleigh Dean Crescent, off Featherbed Lane, by 11am. Bring refreshments and sun protection.

Saturday 14 JulyWoodland story timeListen to woodland stories of owls and bats and other magical creatures and discover the woodland’s secret places. Meet Selsdon Wood Nature Reserve car park, at the bottom of Old Farleigh Road, at 2.30pm for this 1½- to two-hour session, specially suited to younger children and their families. Bus: T33

Saturday 14 July Summer butterfly walkSee the wonderful varieties of butterflies to be found on the meadows and among the trees in Selsdon Wood Nature Reserve

Please note: This walk will not take place if bad weather/rain is forecast; call 07769 931799 to confirm. Meet 10am in Selsdon Wood car park, bottom of Old Farleigh Road.Bus: T31

Saturday 14 JulyMagical MothsA rare opportunity to see moths of all shapes and sizes. Booking is absolutely essential as numbers are limited. Phone 07771 715812 to book your place.

Saturday 21 July Summer Wildflower WalkLearn what grows in the flora-rich meadows and wood of this delightful nature reserve. Meet at noon in the Selsdon Wood car park, at the bottom of Old Farleigh Road.Bus: T31

Sunday 22 JulyJunior nature detectiveTry your hand at mini-beasting, leaf rubbing and other children’s nature activities in the meadows and woodland of Happy Valley. 1½ - to two-hours. To book, phone 07775 824811, as numbers are limited. Nearest bus: 60, 405Nearest train Coulsdon South, one-mile walk up Downs Road

TMNT (Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles)

28 Weeks later

Oceans 13

For further information, go to www.croydon.gov.uk/leisure/

events or call the community partnership officer on

020 8726 6900 ext 64952

Do you have anempty property?

020 8726 6100

Croydon Council is targeting long-term empty propertiesin the borough which are empty without good reason. To support this campaign, Croydon offers the following:

■ Empty-property grant of up to £25k per property■ Private sector leasing with guaranteed rents■ Sponsored tenancy lettings■ Rent-in-advance schemes■ A grant for first-time buyers who are purchasing a long-term

empty property with a view to renovating the property andliving in it for five years.

Croydon is targeting long-term empty properties which have beenempty without good reason, and taking legal action to bring them backinto use using compulsory purchase powers (CPO) and empty dwellingmanagement orders (EDMO).

Contact Croydon Council’s housing department for advice andassistance to get your property back into use.

Call 020 8726 6100

yourcroydon · 2020-06-05 · 2 yourcroydon issue 9 - july 2007 to contact croydon council ☎ 020...

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