Cllr Jason Perry, Leader of Croydon’s Conservative Councillors, is today announcing changes to his top team.
The Conservative Shadow Cabinet in Croydon directly mirrors the Labour Cabinet currently failing the Council.
Cllr Helen Redfern, Shadow Cabinet Member for Children, Young People and Learning, and Cllr Gareth Streeter, Shadow Cabinet Member for Culture and Regeneration, have taken the difficult decision to step back from their portfolio duties.
Cllr Redfern said:
Labour is failing Croydon’s children, from closing libraries vital to their learning, to slashing support services and children’s centres. This Labour administration is truly no friend to the next generation.
I have relished fighting for our town’s children and young people, but sadly increased work commitments mean that I can no longer offer the portfolio the time that our young people deserve, nor the time needed to truly hold Labour to account from within the Shadow Cabinet. I will continue to work for my residents in Purley Oaks & Riddlesdown and across Croydon. I wish my successor all the best and will be doing everything I can to support them from the backbenches.
Cllr Streeter commented:
Ask people in Croydon about their top local concerns and planning is going to be high on their list. This failing Labour Council are riding roughshod over the views of tens of thousands of local people: ignoring their legitimate concerns, demolishing family homes and concreting over precious green spaces.
I will be standing down from Croydon Council in 2022. Challenging Labour’s incompetency and scandalous approach to planning has become a full-time job and so it is only right that I leave the Shadow Cabinet to make way for someone who can give it the time it deserves.
Rest assured I will continue to serve the people of Shirley North until May, and will do everything I can to return a Conservative Council to stop Labour’s unending attacks on residents.
Cllr Jason Perry is delighted to announce that:
- Cllr Maria Gatland will be returning to the Shadow Cabinet to reprise her role as the lead Conservative member for Children, Young People and Learning, and;
- Cllr Jeet Bains will be joining the Shadow Cabinet to lead on Culture and Regeneration.
Cllr Perry said:
I want to thank Helen and Gareth for their service in the Shadow Cabinet. They have both been true advocates for local people and held Croydon’s Labour Council to account in their respective portfolios.
I know they will continue to work hard to represent their residents in the run up to next year's crucial local elections.
Maria and Jeet have well-established reputations as Councillors totally committed to fighting for their residents and Croydon more widely.
Maria’s experience dealing with children and young people goes back many years to when she ran the service for the Council. Her insight and passion for the next generation is unrivalled, I look forward to her bringing that drive back to her Shadow Cabinet role.
Jeet’s intellect and quick thinking is perfectly suited to the challenging culture and regeneration brief. As Croydon works to recover from Labour’s bankruptcy, it has never been more important to have a champion to fight for the future of our borough. Jeet’s business experience and his enthusiasm for culture will be a real asset to the Conservative front-bench team.
