AND THE WINNERS ARE….CROYDON COUNCIL
CROYDON NAMED AS DIGITAL COUNCIL OF THE YEAR 2017
CONNECTED CROYDON PROGRAMME WINS URBAN DESIGN AWARD
CROYDON RECEIVES NATIONAL AWARD FOR DELIVERING ‘SOCIAL VALUE’
Croydon’s commitment to embracing new technology and maximising its benefits for customers has seen the authority named as ‘digital council of the year’ – and saved ratepayers £8 million in the process.
The council was shortlisted in over a quarter of the categories in the hotly contested annual Local Government Chronicle awards after adopting a range of technologies that have made it easier for local residents to access services online, says a council statement.
In-person visits to the council have been reduced by around 30 per cent each year, and those who do come in person can pre-book a range of appointments. This has saved on staffing costs and seen customer satisfaction rise from 57pc to 98pc.
Over half the population of the borough – 180,000 people – have now registered online for a My Account to enable them to quickly and easily make payments and order services without constantly re-entering personal information. There have also been almost 20,000 downloads of the My Croydon smartphone app.
“These changes alone have saved local taxpayers some £8 million, and the plan is to further reduce spending on old ways of working by around £1.2 million in the coming year” said a council spokesperson.
And with Croydon recognised as having one of the fastest growing technology-based economies in the UK the council has also invested £2m in the development of a tech community centred on TMRW (Hub & Byte Cafe at 75-77 High St, Croydon) which has become a hub for entrepreneurs and small businesses keen to take advantage of gigabit internet connectivity and shared expertise.
The council was also the first authority in the country to partner with GO-ON UK to help residents who struggle with technology improve their digital skills. Over 2,000 people have been helped so far, and 500 of the council’s old computers are to be distributed to community groups.
• In addition in the digital category Croydon was also a finalist for driving growth, protecting the environment, innovation, business transformation, and providing children’s services.
CONNECTED CROYDON PROGRAMME WINS URBAN DESIGN AWARD
The council’s Connected Croydon programme outshone urban design projects from around the country to win the Public Sector Award at the Urban Design Awards.
The programme, which saw a series of public realm projects and transport improvements carried out to transform public spaces in Croydon, beat entries submitted by councils from around the country to the top spot at last week’s awards ceremony.
As part of Connected Croydon, the East Croydon Bridge and pedestrian link was installed connecting the station to Lansdowne Road and improvements were also made to the public realm around London Road, Old Town and South End, creating new and improved spaces.
The project also saw the delivery of the Wellesley Road crossing, improvements made to the roundabout at the junction of Lansdowne Road and Dingwall Road, as well as improved efficiency and attractiveness of Croydon’s two major public transport interchanges at East and West Croydon.
CROYDON RECEIVES NATIONAL AWARD FOR DELIVERING ‘SOCIAL VALUE’
Croydon has received a top national award for leading the way on promoting how public spending and private investment can deliver a wide range of benefits to local people.
Social Enterprise UK and the Department for Culture Media & Sport awarded Croydon recognition for the way the council has demonstrated strong organisational leadership in promoting real gains in terms of ‘social value’.
Social value is the concept that the council uses its purchasing power and business activity to boost the economy and improve both the lives of local people and the surrounding environment.
The authority’s ‘Value Croydon’ programme encourages its contractors and business partners to meet local priorities, such as the creation of local employment opportunities and the development of a local supply chain.
“This has been firmly demonstrated by Croydon council becoming a London living wage borough and becoming London’s first borough to obtain ‘social enterprise place’ status” said a council spokesperson.
“The council are also promoting a good employer charter and are creating employment for local people by linking its contractors with Croydon Works, the council’s job brokerage service.”
COUNCIL SHORTLISTED FOR THREE SMALL BUSINESS FRIENDLY BOROUGH AWARDS
Croydon council have been shortlisted in three categories at the Small Business Friendly Borough Awards.
Croydon are in the running for awards in the best all round small business friendly borough and best small business friendly procurement to support local trade categories.
Cllr Mark Watson, Croydon’s cabinet member for economy and jobs, has been shortlisted for the best small business champion award. The winners will be announced at a ceremony on 30 March.
Organised by the Federation of Small Businesses and London Councils, the awards recognise local council support for small businesses. (Source: Croydon council press releases)
LEWISHAM SCOOP MAJOR HOUSING AWARD
Lewisham council beat off strong competition from councils around the UK to win ‘Best Housing Initiative’ at the Local Government Chronicle (LGC) 2017 awards for the PLACE/Ladywell temporary housing scheme.
PLACE/Ladywell is a housing scheme for 24 homeless families, affordable work space for small businesses and a community café.
It uses modern building methods in an entirely new way, creating a building that can be moved from site to site, enabling us to make use of land that may only be temporarily available in order to provide temporary homes for homeless families.
PLACE/Ladywell won best housing scheme at the London Planning Awards on 27 February 2017 and the Mayor’s Prize at the New London Architecture Awards in July 2016. (Source: Lewisham council press release.)