Croydon (Parliament Politics Magazine) – Croydon Council says the Town Centre Taskforce is working to make the borough “cleaner, safer and healthier” as part of an Executive Mayor priority.
This is a reference to Jason Perry, the mayor, who raised the council tax by 27% yet neglected to address the financial situation, which was one of his other “priorities.”
This week was a busy week for Croydon Council’s publicity department.
To highlight the fantastic work they say is being done on Croydon High Street and the North End, they posted this upbeat social media post on Monday.
Our waste council seems to be giving North End more attention, presumably because Westfield, the real estate speculators who have caused the neighborhood to suffer from development blight for 15 years, feels it needs some TLC.
The financially challenged council has invested some funds in plastic signs as part of its drive for a “cleaner, safer, and healthier” borough. These signs are appropriately affixed to lampposts and trees to spread the word about “cleaner, safer, and healthier” streets.
However, it doesn’t seem to be functioning very effectively.
One of Inside Croydon’s committed team of citizen journalists responded to the council’s tweet in a matter of minutes via email, including a few images.
“Have you seen Croydon’s latest marketing campaign?”
they asked, referring to the message boards and the council’s recent social media messaging.
“Looks like it’s not too successful so far,” our reader said, and suggested:
“Maybe the marketing budget would be better spent on physical rubbish collection!”
However, Veolia, the garbage contractors who were fired in 2023 for not doing their jobs, would be responsible for that. In 2025, Mayor Perry rehired them with longer payment terms.
According to extremely concerning complaints from other readers, town center vendors are leaving their establishments to fly-tip black bin bags on the street, which is the complete opposite of the council’s “cleaner, safer, and healthier” rhetoric.
The fact that this accused fly-tipper was identified as the proprietor of a company in the town center and a prominent figure in a business group with “friends in high places,” or at least at Croydon Town Hall, was perhaps the most startling.
Why does Croydon Council emphasize the Town Centre Taskforce’s role in safety despite financial issues?
The Taskforce brings together multiple partners—council teams, police, local businesses, youth services, homeless outreach, and others—to work collaboratively, share real-time intelligence, and respond swiftly to antisocial behaviour and safety concerns.
This partnership model increases effectiveness without solely relying on council resources.
The Council sees the Taskforce as a core part of Executive Mayor Jason Perry’s business plan priorities, demonstrating a commitment to on-the-ground improvements in public safety and community wellbeing, which remain critical for public trust and local quality of life despite fiscal challenges.