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These look to be the outer old leaves,Martin.. I used to cut mine off at the base,as they do look tatty in time,and catch the worst of wind damage..Yuo look to have good new growth in the centre,so I would just trim the older foliage off..

Also check the traffic near them--they look much like a Dracaena that I diagnosed in college. It was next to the entrance to the raquetball courts, and everyone took a swing at it as they went by! :)

The Cordyline is in our garden so are not disturbed to much.
I am taking the bottom leaves off but I don't want to get carried away as some of the others Tha are shredding are further up the stem. Should I trim them back? They are in a compost mix at the moment but as they grow I intend to put them into bigger pots. We are on the southeastern tip ok Kent ( UK) and at the present time its been quite breezy. Would this have an effect as well?

i think it is most likely to be wind damage,it does tend to rip the foliage,but not a lot you can do really..other than trim them to your satisfaction..or move them to a more sheltered position,if possible...I used to find mine got damaged at the tips too,and I used to trim them to a pointed shape again,with scissors. like a manicure :o) No one noticed anything different !

Ok thanks for that. I shall become a garden stylist!! ?

Lol.go for it,no one will know..except the hundreds of people on Goy,if they read Questions !.I would pass on the nail varnish..ha ha..