We are today announcing that a number of Conservative Councillors will be retiring from the Council in 2022. They are:
- Cllr Steve Hollands, Old Coulsdon - 28 years
- Cllr Jan Buttinger, Kenley - 24 years
- Cllr Tim Pollard, Sanderstead - 20 years
- Cllr Helen Pollard, Selsdon and Addington Village - 16 years
- Cllr Luke Clancy, Coulsdon Town – 12 years
- Cllr Simon Hoar, Purley Oaks and Riddlesdown - 12 years
- Cllr Stuart Millson, Selsdon Vale and Forestdale - 4 years
- Cllr Oni Oviri, Purley and Woodcote - 4 years
- Cllr Gareth Streeter, Shirley North - 4 years
Cllr Jason Perry, Conservative Group Leader, and Cllr Lynne Hale, Croydon Conservative Federation Chairman, said:
These retiring Councillors have collectively given over 100 years of service to Croydon residents. Spanning almost four decades, they have all worked tirelessly to help thousands of local people.
We want to thank each and every one of them for the work they have put in to their communities. Croydon is a much better place for their dedicated service, and we wish them all the very best for their future endeavours.
Cllr Steve Hollands has served Croydon steadfastly since first being elected in Beulah ward in 1990. Losing his seat in 1994, Steve came back in Kenley ward in 1998 until 2018 when he moved to serve the people of Old Coulsdon after boundary changes.
Steve has been a Councillor for a total of 28 years. In that time he has held a number of important positions most notably as the Cabinet member for Culture and Sport from 2006 until 2010.
Steve's is a track record to be proud of. In his time in the Cabinet he oversaw the extensive refurbishment of Thornton Heath Library, the refurbishment of South Norwood Sports Centre and was incredibly proud to have seen Croydon winning silver and gold in London and Britain in Bloom.
Cllr Jan Buttinger has been a Kenley Councillor since 1998, serving her residents for 24 years.
In her time on the Council, Jan has been Chair of the important Scrutiny and Overview Committee; Shadow Cabinet Member for Education and Young People; Chair of Corporate Services and the Chief Whip of the Conservative Group.
She has been a Governor of the Hayes School for over 30 years as well as serving her residents in numerous roles from flooding to noisy parties, pot holes, road resurfacing, preservation of trees – Kenley is without a doubt where Jan's heart truly lies.
Cllr Tim Pollard has an impressive record in administration, serving as the Deputy Leader of the Council from 2008 to 2014. He has been a Sanderstead Councillor since 2002.
Tim served as the Cabinet member for Finance and Regeneration from 2006 before leading the Children and Families portfolio from 2009 to 2014, overseeing huge improvements in Croydon’s education standards.
He was Leader of the Opposition from 2014 until last autumn, choosing to stand down to care for elderly relatives.
Cllr Helen Pollard has been a local Councillor since 2006 in which time she represented the wards of Heathfield, Fairfield and Selsdon & Addington Village.
Helen is a true campaigner: she secured funding for a community room in the Monks Hill Sports Centre; her work saved green spaces in Selsdon from being built on by Brick by Brick including Foxearth Spinney, green space on Croham Valley Road, and Monks Hill; and she is part of the team driving forward the Selsdon Community Plan to support regeneration of the regional centre.
As well as local ward work, Helen served as the Shadow Cabinet Member for Culture, Leisure and Sport from 2016-2020, holding Labour to account for the appallingly managed redevelopment of Fairfield Halls, and their planned closure of some of Croydon’s libraries.
Cllr Luke Clancy was first elected to serve the people of South Norwood in 2006 before moving to Coulsdon West and Coulsdon Town in 2014.
In his time as a Councillor he has served as Vice-Chairman of the Planning Committee and as Deputy Cabinet Member for Regeneration, among other responsibilities. His 20-year career as a financial journalist made him the perfect member of the Pension Committee, where he has consistently made thoughtful, experienced contributions to the betterment of all Croydon's residents.
Cllr Simon Hoar has been a Councillor over the last 16 years, serving first in Waddon ward and from 2018 in Purley Oaks and Riddlesdown.
During his time on the Council Simon served as the Cabinet Member for Regeneration in 2010 and then as the Cabinet Member for Community Safety from 2011-2014, where he oversaw licensing, environmental enforcement, food safety, bereavement services and the Council's work with the emergency services. Simon is the current Shadow Cabinet member for Resources and Financial Governance – a role essential in ensuring Labour's terrible financial choices get the attention they deserve.
Simon is most proud of his work representing residents to the Council, in defending residents against inappropriate development, in building a new leisure centre and affordable homes in Waddon and in delivering a new high performing secondary school at Harris Purley.
Cllr Stuart Millson has served the residents of Selsdon Vale and Forestdale since 2018. His detailed work scrutinising the failing Labour Council's finances has won him recognition across the Council chamber.
As the Conservative lead on the General Purpose and Audit Committee, Stuart held a pivotal role highlighting the many errors in Labour's failing policies. Along with his personal passion to improve Council systems, he leaves a legacy as a diligent ward Councillor.
Cllr Oni Oviri was first elected in 2018, and very quickly took on key roles in both the Scrutiny and Overview Committee; the challenging Planning Committee and the Audit Committee – all three roles saw her in the thick of it, holding Labour to account for their myriad failings.
As well as diligently serving her residents in Purley and Woodcote ward, Oni has also worked effectively as the Deputy Shadow Cabinet Member for Culture, Leisure & Sport and the Deputy for Sustainable Croydon.
Cllr Gareth Streeter joined the Council representing Shirley North in 2018. Widely recognised as a fierce advocate for his residents, Gareth served as the Conservative Spokesman for Culture and Regeneration 2020-1.
While championing all local people, he truly made his mark standing up to Labour's terrible planning processes by serving as the Conservative Planning Lead since 2020.
We will be announcing our slate of candidates for the 2022 local elections in the near future - but for now, we would like to say one final thank you to our nine retiring Councillors for the contribution they have made to our Croydon community.
