Croydon's voluntary sector could be called upon to plug the gaps in under-funded public services, according to the recommendations of a new report.

The interim report of the Croydon Opportunity and Fairness Commission, published today, calls for a "major borough-wide focus on volunteering" to tackle issues such as social isolation and educational development.

A "fresher's week" for volunteers could help connect people to volunteering opportunities, the report says, as the borough faces up to the challenge of tackling inequality at a time of deep cuts in Government funding.

Croydon Council established the commission last year with the aim of tackling inequality and deprivation.

Rt Revd Jonathan Clark, Bishop of Croydon and chair of the commission, said: "Croydon does not get a fair deal compared to other London boroughs.

"And the borough's public sector is facing significant further cuts. But despite the real problems we face, there is much we can achieve working together with the assets we have locally."

Another of the commissioners, Woodside councillor Hamida Ali, said: "I think people are choosing to [volunteer already].

"They feel passionate about where they live - the reputation of Croydon we're all familiar with doesn't fit the reality."

Coun Ali even suggested the report's recommendations may allow the council to save money, but denied this amounted to over-reliance on the voluntary sector.

Another commissioner, Christopher Adams, said: "We're not recommending cuts, but focusing priorities for the borough."

Croydon Labour set aside £200,000 for the commission following its victory in the 2014 council election. But documents now show that the commission's budget is £130,000.

Since it began work in January, more than 3,000 people in Croydon have contributed their views to the commission.

Now it has published its interim report, the commission will look for "buy-in" from public, private, and voluntary sector organisations for its recommendation, before presenting a final report early next year.

Other suggestions in the report include:

  • A "good landlord charter" to make sure tenants on benefits or suffering from a disability are treated fairly
  • Work with the community to develop a "comprehensive map of social isolation in the borough"
  • Tenancy agreements that encourage residents to practise "good neighbourliness"
  • Greater use of role models, particularly high-achieving women and black and minority ethnic residents, to inspire young children
  • Citizen-led campaigns to promote fair pay and fair recruitment practises
  • Croydon Council staff "leading by example"

Read the full report here

The commission has no executive power, but Coun Ali said she was confidence the final report's recommendations would be adopted by Croydon Council.

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'Hiding to nothing': Tim Pollard

Tim Pollard, leader of the Conservative group on Croydon Council said: "I was surprised by the lack of tangibility of a lot of the recommendations. It's hard to see the game-changer in there.

"When you go back over the history of the borough we have done quite a lot of these exercises.

"It was always going to be a tough ask to think thoughts that haven't been thought quite a lot of times over the last decade. They were always on a bit of a hiding to nothing."

"The money should not have been spent in the first place, and reserved for the core services that people actually use."

Coun Pollard was not surprised by the report's focus on the voluntary sector.

He said: "I think that's what already happening, partly because of restrictions in the public sector and partly because there are some things that the voluntary sector does better."

Council leader Tony Newman said: "In the face of shrinking budgets, services are having to be continually evaluated and realigned.

"The commission will help us to better understand where most difference can be made for our residents."