Black-out: Is Parkes exit a sign of culture at council?

The rapid departure from Taberner House last week of Croydon Council HR chief Pam Parkes prompted one insider to contact Inside Croydon to point out: “Given the make-up of the population of the borough as a whole, the director level at the council is now what someone once called ‘hideously white’.

“It seems that every black director that Croydon Council has, essentially, been sacked.”

Our source lists recent examples. “Mark Pinnock, was told not to bother applying for a job in the second council-wide restructure, and so he left.

“Damian Roberts was pushed out, although he got a pay out and quickly got a job at Waverley to soften the blow.

“I am not aware of any white directors who have been as overtly pushed out as these two and Parkes have been.”

There is also a suggestion that there has been a formal complaint against one council department head over an allegedly racist remark that they posted on their Facebook page. Anyone who has worked at Croydon Council, either now or in the recent past, who might be able to provide more details on this, feel free to contact us in complete confidence.

• Inside Croydon: For comment and analysis about Croydon, from inside Croydon
• If you have a news story about life in or around Croydon, a residents’ or business association or local event, please email us with full details at inside.croydon@btinternet.com