CROYDON IN CRISIS: Our overspending council is still out there recruiting for non-jobs, like an ‘Urban Room Coordinator’ on 50 grand a year, or another assistant for Mayor Perry. By our Town Hall reporter, KEN LEE
Recruitment drive: Katherine Kerswell, council CEO for four years, and possibly four S114s
Hundreds of staff were told last week that Croydon was already on “Section 114 levels of control” on all spending, after the cash-strapped council suddenly found itself with a £42million budget overspend.
Yet that does not appear to have slowed recruitment for some of the top jobs at Fisher’s Folly under chief executive Katherine Kerswell, as she approaches her fourth anniversary in the job with Croydon, seemingly heading for its fourth admission of effective bankruptcy since she’s been in charge.
Among the money-no-object recruitment ads to have appeared in recent weeks is an “Urban Room Coordinator”, to be paid almost £50,000 a year for organising the sticky-back plastic and colouring crayons in what would otherwise be a vacant unit in the Whitgift Centre, where the public will be “consulted” over what they think the long-overdue redevelopment of the town centre ought to look like, and be given the chance to make models out of recycled cardboard boxes…
Co-ordinate that: art-washing in the Whitgift Centre, dressed up as a public consultation
There’s a possibility that this art-washing position might be funded, in part at least, from some of the £6million “fine” Westfield are having to pay for 12 years of broken development promises. But it is hard to shake the notion that the money could be somehow better spent.
Another recently recruited council role, but one which won’t have the benefit of any big-business subsidy, is that of Mayor’s Executive Officer, a Grade 12 position for those familiar with local government pay grades, offering a salary of up to £49,083.
This council official will be expected to “provide self-directed and proactive executive support to the Executive Mayor and cabinet”. Which is nice.
This, apparently, will “enable them to deliver their strategic priorities and effectively and efficiently”. Effectively. Efficiently. Yes, this job ad was actually written by someone with real, direct experience of Croydon Council, its Mayor, Jason Perry, and his cabinet.
The Mayor’s Executive Officer will be expected, “To build strong relationships across the council, working collaboratively with Corporate Directors, Directors and their support teams to ensure smooth information sharing between the council’s political and corporate leadership.” Hmmm.
“The post-holder will be required to develop and promote a network of internal contacts across all areas of the council; and to engage with gravitas and effect with external contacts within the local and central government spectrum…”.
With gravitas, no less. And they try to claim that Perry’s not pompous.
Another 50 grand: many maintain that Mayor Perry needs all the assistance he can get
“The role will not have direct budget management responsibility but may contribute to or lead projects with budgets attached which will need to be carefully managed.” This, as Kerswell has become fond of saying, is Croydon.
The Mayor’s next little helper may be expected to conduct “some informal delegated sign-off responsibilities on the Mayor’s behalf, for example of responses to residents or communications materials”.
What has been particularly eye-catching among the council’s recent recruitment ads has been a notice showing that what had been a single head of department role, on a salary of around £90,000 per year, has now been split into two jobs, both of them on “competitive salary packages”.
Merton parker: Jayne Rusbatch is leaving Fisher’s Folly
Civil engineer Jayne Rusbatch has been Croydon’s head of highways and parking since December 2021.
She’s off to take up a head of highways role at Merton Council, and is leaving just after Croydon’s less-than-smooth transition from parking meters to using a smartphone app for paying parking fees that a significant proportion of the borough’s population either cannot access, or fathom.
But for almost three years at our cash-strapped council, Rusbatch has been expected to do two head of service jobs. “As part of the ‘savings’ after the first Section 114 in late 2020, Steve Iles, the former exec director, combined the two roles into one,” according to our insider at Fisher’s Folly.
“He went ahead, despite being told by those in the services it was too wide a remit.” It looks as if the point has been made: “Couple of years later, and they are going back to two separate roles.”
Our council source says that Rusbatch’s jobs are currently being done by two interims – Brian Fitzpatrick on highways and Chris Wortley on parking. “No doubt on exorbitant fees,” the source says.
According to the official recruitment spiel, “Croydon Council is looking for professional, passionate leaders to develop these critical service areas and deliver enhanced outcomes for residents, businesses and the travelling public. These are exciting and high-profile roles which will provide you the opportunity to bring your expertise to a transforming council with access to all the professional, commercial and cultural opportunities and all that Croydon offers.” Oh yeah…
Of the head of highways, they say, “you will develop an ecosystem of alliances and partnerships across the council”. Yes! An ecosystem!
“Leading highways improvements requires a strategic leader with a long-term vision built on sustainability and resilience.” Could be a first.
Inevitably, perhaps, whoever drafted this weapons-grade nonsense got a bit over-excited by the end, so that the ad descended into gibberish: “You will engage members, officers and the public on how Croydon will shape and deliver its strategies while always maintaining a laser focus on customer [sic].”
A “laser focus on customer”, no less.
Double your money: the heads of highways and parking jobs have been split into two
The head of parking job has its very own bollocks descriptions.
“As a visible leader, you will thrive on working closely with officers, members and with the public.” The Invisible Man (or woman) need not apply.
“This is a key leadership role…”, when aren’t they? “… shaping the services in this arena ensuring Croydon is fit for the future.”
There’s a not-very subtle reference to RingGo: “This role is integral in delivering Croydon’s digital approach working with its partner to mobilise and evolve this long-term alliance.”
And we’re told it “requires a visionary leader”, before they run out of bullshit and start repeating themselves: “Raising performance, innovation and continuous improvement will help us shape an exemplar service that’s fit for the future.” If only.
Applications for the heads of highways and parking jobs are still open until October 21.
Inside Croydon’s ChatBot: In line with Croydon Council policy, and following the advice of Boston Consulting Group, no expense has been spared in installing an AI-powered chatbot for users of this website. It won’t work. It doesn’t matter how many times you click on it.
But hey, as we said, it’s in line with Croydon Council policy…
Read more: Mayor Perry busts his unbalanced budget with £42m overspend
Read more: Perry pleads poverty when he has more Council Tax than ever
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ROTTEN BOROUGH AWARDS: In January 2024, Croydon was named among the country’s rottenest boroughs for a SEVENTH successive year in the annual round-up of civic cock-ups in Private Eye magazine
For decades before AI and chatbots became commonplace, the Crystal Palace FC fan site, Holmesdale.net, had (and still has) its own automated Q & A system, Ask Side-O, https://www.holmesdale.net/page.php?id=59
Named after the famed programme seller, Side-O’s answers are no more useless than anything you’d get from Fisher’s Folly and, unlike our snail’s pace council, your questions get a response at the speed of light
Salaries above private sector equivalents, shorter hours and 31 days holiday (plus public holidays), shirking sorry working from home, massive pensions (wasn’t around a quarter of Council Tax going on their pensions?) and a useless CEO who earns more than the Prime Minister. The Orwellian Council’s only purpose now is to serve itself. Screw the little people who have to pay it.
perhaps we might get the gutters cleaned and the drains unblocked now ?