National politics were at the top of the agenda as Croydon’s cabinet heard Brexit could have a ‘huge impact’ on the borough.

A paper named ‘Brexit preparations for Croydon’ was discussed at a meeting on Monday night (December 10), the same say Theresa May called off an MPs vote on the Brexit deal.

The paper states that Croydon Council will pay the application fee for council employees from the EU earning less than £35,000 and their partners and children seeking settled status in the UK.

Council leader Cllr Tony Newman said: “We take [Brexit] very, very seriously in this council and the huge impact this potentially has on Croydon.

“We are sending a clear message tonight that Croydon is open for business.”

He was damning of the government describing current events as ‘Tory Brexit Chaos’.

Leader of the Conservative opposition, Cllr Tim Pollard, hit back at the criticising Labour.

“I welcome the timely and useful paper and I think nobody knows where we will be at the end of March next year and it is important that we start a contingency plan,” he said.

“What I don’t welcome is the complete absence of responsibility from your side from what you call the chaos that is unfolding.

“We have a Labour party where the national leadership  is completely at odds with each other about what they want.

“There is no responsibility in the Labour party at the moment.”

But Cllr Newman called his comments “utterly shameful”.

The cabinet voted to approve the paper which also included authorising council officers making EU citizens in Croydon aware of the EU Settlement Scheme, as well as making sure people have access to support to apply for settled status.