Putting Croydon First

Labour: fighting for you across Croydon

Tory council concedes to Labour demands for an Independent Public Inquiry

An Extraordinary Full Council meeting was called for Monday 6 September to discuss the Croydon riots and debate a motion to not decrease, but increase the number of police of Croydon’s streets.

Labour Leader Councillor Tony Newman said:

“I welcome Cllr Fisher agreeing to an inquiry. I am delighted that the majority of Croydon Conservatives have agreed to what Labour has been calling for since the riots in Croydon.

I am particularly happy that common sense triumphed; Cllr Fisher overruled his Deputy, Councillor Pollard and ignored Gavin Barwell MP. Both Mr Barwell and Cllr Pollard were opposed to an independent public inquiry for Croydon.

In addition to the independent public inquiry, Labour is calling for a 7-point recovery plan:

1. More police not less for Croydon, and a full compliment of Safer Neighbourhood Teams and no reductions to Sergeants.
2. Council’s top down plans to put a series of tower blocks housing over 2,000 people in London Rd, West Croydon is ill-thought out and must be scrapped.  Schemes should be replaced with high standard homes for local people; nothing should happen without real consultation with local people.
3. Must ensure that the money the Government promised was coming to Croydon. Mayor Johnson must honour commitment to deliver at least 10 million pounds of support for Croydon and reverse his decision to hand 8.5 million pounds to Spurs FC.
4. Cross Party Economic recovery committee for Croydon to include community and business representatives from across Croydon.  Response must be considered and well-thought out. Not quick fixes for long-term problems. This is Croydon’s future, our heritage.
5. Review funding to Croydon’s youth services.
6. Croydon Council to use 10 million of its 65 million pounds of reserves to immediately invest in the communities hardest hit. Anything less will be a betrayal of the people of Croydon.
7. Restore the 66% loss of funding in Council Cuts to the Voluntary Sector

Labour’s spokesperson for Crime Prevention and Public Protection, Councillor Stuart Collins said:

“Some great speeches were made on Monday night, and whilst I disagree with many of the comments from Tory Councillors, I am proud that we put the victims first and voted unanimously for an independent public inquiry.

The council has a view that it is going above and beyond the call of duty, sadly victims do not feel they are receiving as much help as they could from this council. I urge Cllr Fisher and the Chief Executive to personally intervene and work with Labour to put victims first.”