Croydon Council Targeted Testing Team

Please be aware that Croydon Council are running a programme in relation to our response to COVID-19 called the Targeted Community Testing programme.

The team are tasked with engaging with residents which includes door knocking to offer information and signposting on Testing, Vaccinations and isolation payments and health issues that have a negative impact with COVID. They also hand out Home Test Kits where required at the doorstep.

The team will attend generally wearing Croydon Council vests and should be carrying badges to identify themselves if required. They will be engaging with residents to see where help might be needed, to identify issues preventing people from getting vaccinated and assisting people to find the right information where required.

They will be asking questions related to COVID-19 and trying to see if there is anything the council can help with to continue to help keep our residents safe.

Tests are provided for FREE. There is no payment required for this service.

Croydon Trading Standards are aware we usually discourage opening the door to cold callers. You do not have to engage with the staff or provide any information. However, please remember the main aim of this engagement programme is to continue to provide an effective response to COVID-19. Therefore, if this team do knock and you are satisfied by checking their credentials that they are part of this programme, the council would appreciate your support.

For further information in relation to COVID-19 and the council response please visit:
https://www.croydon.gov.uk/coronavirus-information-and-service-updates

Register now to vote in Croydon’s referendum

There is less than a fortnight to go for Croydon residents to register to vote ahead of this October’s referendum on the council’s governance arrangements.

On 7 October voters will be asked: How would you like the London Borough of Croydon to be run?

• By a leader who is an elected councillor chosen by a vote of the other elected councillors. This is how the council is run now.

• By a mayor who is elected by voters. This would be a change from how the council is run now.

The council is urging anyone who is eligible to vote but is not on the electoral register to sign up here by midnight on Tuesday 21 September. You must be registered to vote by this date in order to take part in the referendum.

Poll cards are being delivered from next week onwards. These are for information purposes, and residents do not need to take them to vote at their polling station.

Polling stations will be open between 7am and 10pm on Thursday 7 October. Information on your nearest polling station will be available on the council website in the next week. While there is no longer a requirement to wear face coverings in polling stations, voters will be encouraged to do so, and to maintain appropriate social distancing.

Registered voters can choose to vote by post instead of going in person. Most postal votes will be sent out by Royal Mail first-class delivery from around Wednesday 15 September, with further dispatches for late postal vote applicants.

Completed postal votes must be returned by 10pm on Thursday 7 October. For registered voters wishing to do so by post, or to change or cancel an existing postal or proxy voting arrangement, the deadline is 5pm on 22 September.

Voters can apply to appoint a proxy to vote on their behalf. The deadline for new proxy vote applications is 5pm on Wednesday 29 September.

Voters can apply for an emergency proxy after 29 September but before 5pm on Thursday 7 October if they cannot attend their polling station because of work or illness – this includes anyone required to isolate due to Covid.

Application forms for postal and proxy votes can be downloaded from www.croydon.gov.uk/referendum and completed forms can be posted or emailed to: electoral.services@croydon.gov.uk. Forms must be received by the relevant deadline.

Votes will be counted after the polls close at 10pm on Thursday 7 October, and the result will appear on the council’s website shortly after it is declared.

Shirley North Safer Neighbourhood Team – September Update

Hope everyone is well and enjoying the September sun!

Firstly we would like to introduce PC Bates who has now joined the Shirley North SNT Team. Chloe will be out and about with PCSO Shannon (Skye) and PC Waters (Jordan) and joining in on our ward meetings.

After a busy summer we are now starting to look into getting our ward panel in the Shirley Parish Hall for next month. A few people have expressed interest in becoming chair of the ward panel. Emails will be sent to those this week. We will also do a follow up email regarding dates and times and how the new structure of ward panel meetings work.

Crime on the ward: In our previous ward meeting we explained the issues we were having with school children and local shops. Before the school term ended we worked hard with businesses especially with CO-OP on Wickham Road, to try tackle the problem. The Anti-Social Behaviour (ASB) did reduce and has continued to decline over the summer holidays, and we are hoping this continues now the children have gone back to School.

Catalytic converter theft has risen around Croydon! We have previously discussed this issue – however, to refresh the memory the below link is some crime prevention advice for this type of crime. On the link is more crime prevention but if there is something in particular you want please drop us an email to: SNMailbox-.ShirleyNorthSNT@met.police.uk

https://www.met.police.uk/cp/crime-prevention/

Over the next month there will be several Jewish High Holy days at the Synagogue on Shirley North. We will be patrolling around the area frequently so if you are about please come and say hello.

We hope the sun stays out and everyone has a good rest of the week!

Report crime by calling 101 or in an emergency call 999.
Remember, you can also report crime online on our website: https://www.met.police.uk/