The Council meeting on 27 May 2026 saw the formal appointment of Councillor Mohammed Islam as the new Civic Mayor and Councillor Scott Roche as the Deputy Civic Mayor for the 2026-2027 municipal year. The meeting also included the Executive Mayor's annual statement, outlining priorities for the coming years, and the appointment of Conrad Hall as the Corporate Director of Resources and Section 151 Officer.

Appointment of Civic Mayor and Deputy Civic Mayor

Councillor Mohammed Islam was appointed as the new Civic Mayor of Croydon Council for the 2026-2027 municipal year, with Councillor Scott Roche appointed as Deputy Civic Mayor. The nominations were put forward by Executive Mayor Jason Perry and seconded by Councillor Stuart King, Leader of the Opposition. Both nominees highlighted their commitment to serving the diverse communities of Croydon. Councillor Islam, who moved to Croydon in the 1980s, spoke of his pride in calling the borough home and his dedication to public service, referencing his work with the British Bangladeshi Society of Croydon and his experience as a driving instructor. Councillor Roche, who has served as a Councillor for Shirley South for eight years, emphasised his commitment to community involvement and supporting local projects. The outgoing Civic Mayor, Councillor Richard Chatterjee, was thanked for his year of dedicated service, with tributes paid to his warmth, good humour, and commitment to representing the borough.

Appointment of Corporate Director of Resources

Following a recommendation from the Appointments and Disciplinary Committee, Conrad Hall was appointed as the Corporate Director of Resources, a role that includes the statutory responsibility of the Council's Chief Finance Officer and Section 151 Officer. The Appointments and Disciplinary Committee had unanimously agreed to the appointment after a final panel interview. The report noted that the appointment is subject to satisfactory pre-employment checks.

Political Balance and Committee Appointments

The Council reviewed and agreed the political balance of its committees for the 2026-2027 municipal year. Following the recent local elections, the Council comprises 30 Labour Group members, 29 Conservative Group members (including the Executive Mayor), 8 Green and Independent Group members, 2 Liberal Democrats Group members, and 2 Reform UK members. The report detailed the proposed changes to committee sizes and the allocation of seats to political groups to ensure proportionality, in accordance with the Local Government and Housing Act 1989. This included adjustments to the size of several committees, such as the Appeals Committee, Appointments & Disciplinary Committee, Audit and Governance Committee, Ethics Committee, Civic Mayoralty and Honorary Freedom Committee, General Purposes Committee, and Planning Committee. The Council also agreed to appointments to various committees, panels, working groups, and outside bodies, as well as noting Executive appointments made by the Mayor.

Executive Mayor's Annual Statement

Executive Mayor Jason Perry delivered his annual statement, reflecting on the past year and outlining his priorities for the next four years. He highlighted progress made in stabilising the Council's finances, strengthening governance, and driving regeneration across the borough. Key priorities for the coming term include a focus on cleaner streets, safer neighbourhoods, visible enforcement, thriving district centres, and improved parks and public spaces. Mayor Perry announced a zero-tolerance approach to environmental crime, with increased enforcement activity and the launch of a new zero-tolerance website and rogues' gallery to empower residents to report offenders. He also detailed plans to relaunch the Blitz Clean programme and strengthen visible reassurance and enforcement on the ground, including the use of mobile CCTV and support for police initiatives. The Mayor also touched upon crime reduction figures, noting decreases in knife crime, personal robbery, and burglaries. He outlined plans for improving everyday services, such as launching a motorists' forum and introducing a pothole patrol. The statement also emphasised the importance of partnership working with various organisations to achieve the goal of restoring pride in Croydon.

Councillor Stuart King, Leader of the Opposition, responded to the Mayor's statement, congratulating him on his re-election and acknowledging the resilience required to contest elections. He affirmed that the Labour Group would act as a robust and challenging opposition, holding the administration to account while also committing to working collaboratively where possible to ensure Labour values are applied to decisions.

Executive Mayor's Scheme of Delegation

Executive Mayor Jason Perry confirmed that there were no amendments to his Scheme of Delegation for the year ahead.