Category Archives: Croydon Council

Perry makes late bid to bring the laughter back to Croydon

EXCLUSIVE: In a special gesture on a special day, Conservative politician Jason Perry wants to give Croydon’s long-suffering residents something to laugh about with a new stand-up act, ‘I wanna tell you a Tory’ Jason Perry, the Mayor of Croydon, … Continue reading

Posted in Art, Comedy, Croydon Council, Inside Croydon, Mayor Jason Perry | Tagged , , , , , | 11 Comments

Year of Culture set to begin with an Oratorio of Hopelessness

CROYDON IN CRISIS: If, like us, you have been scouring the listings pages to find what’s planned for Croydon’s year as London’s Borough of Culture, you’re likely to be disappointed. But some of the PR deals surrounding the event have … Continue reading

Posted in Andrew Stranack, Art, Borough of Culture 2023, Community associations, Croydon BID, Croydon Council, Fairfield Halls, Jo Negrini, Mayor Jason Perry, Mayor of London, Music, Oliver Lewis, Sadiq Khan, Theatre, Tony Newman | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

Has the Mayor ordered the cyclists’ magic wands to disappear?

Just three days before the Brighton Road “Cycle Corridor” from Purley to the town centre, part of a £5million TfL-funded scheme, is due to be formally unveiled, contractors for Croydon Council were out on the road last night, removing many … Continue reading

Posted in Commuting, Croydon Council, Croydon Cycling Campaign, Cycling, Environment, Mayor Jason Perry, Purley, South Croydon, TfL, Transport | Tagged , , , , , , | 5 Comments

Mayor Perry to spend thousands on certificates for old mates

CROYDON IN CRISIS: The Conservatives at the cash-strapped council are still wasting public money when it comes to doling out meaningless bits of ceremonial tat to their mates. By WALTER CRONXITE, political editor Mayor Jason Perry, who earlier in the … Continue reading

Posted in Alisa Flemming, Alison Butler, Andrew Pelling, Badsha Quadir, Croydon Council, Jan Buttinger, Jerry Fitzpatrick, Louisa Woodley, Mayor Jason Perry, Pat Clouder, Pat Ryan, Paul Scott, Shafi Khan, Simon Hall, Steve Hollands, Steve O'Connell, Tim Pollard, Toni Letts, Tony Newman, Tony Pearson, Vidhi Mohan | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

History Detectives at Croydon Central Library, Apr 5 and 12

Posted in Education, History, Libraries, Museum of Croydon | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

Developers sell latest East Croydon office block for £267m

At least one development project in Croydon town centre has managed to be completed ‘on time and under budget’ Schroders, the investors behind the Ruskin Square development next to East Croydon Station, have sold their latest office block in a … Continue reading

Posted in Business, East Croydon, Planning, Property, Ruskin Square | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Council’s ‘new’ cycle corridor to Purley doesn’t go far enough

After much wailing and gnashing of teeth, South Croydon is about to get a proper cycle route which almost reaches the town centre. JEREMY CLACKSON, transport correspondent, reports Croydon Council’s reputation for being unenthusiastic about championing or encouraging sustainable modes … Continue reading

Posted in Clive Fraser, Commuting, Croydon Council, Croydon Cycling Campaign, Cycling, Environment, London-wide issues, Mayor Jason Perry, Mayor of London, Parking, Purley, South Croydon, Transport | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | 11 Comments

Auditors and Government both losing patience with Kerswell

CROYDON IN CRISIS: Judged by the ill-considered political posturing going forward into tonight’s full council meeting, the borough’s Labour councillors haven’t yet worked out who it was that bankrupted the borough. By WALTER CRONXITE, political editor The conman is back. … Continue reading

Posted in Council Tax, Croydon Council, Improvement Board, Katherine Kerswell, Kola Agboola, Mayor Jason Perry, New Addington North, Report in the Public Interest, RIPI II: Fairfield Halls, Section 114 notice, Stuart King, Tony McArdle, Tony Newman | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 25 Comments

Councillors line up Stormzy for the Freedom of the Borough

More dither and delay by our cash-strapped council, after they are forced to  check whether the global superstar rapper will accept a civic honour. EXCLUSIVE by STEVEN DOWNES Croydon’s Labour councillors want to give Stormzy the Freedom of the Borough. … Continue reading

Posted in Alisa Flemming, Alison Butler, Andrew Pelling, Badsha Quadir, Bernadette Khan, Croydon Council, Gerry Ryan, Helen Pollard, Jane Avis, Jerry Fitzpatrick, Louisa Woodley, Maggie Mansell, Mayor Jason Perry, Pat Clouder, Paul Scott, Shafi Khan, Simon Hall, Simon Hoar, Steve Hollands, Steve O'Connell, Tim Pollard, Toni Letts, Tony Newman, Vidhi Mohan | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 6 Comments

Council planners push developers to add 9 storeys to tower

Our housing correspondent, BARRATT HOLMES, on the reasonable concerns of residents in East Croydon about plans for the Croydon Park Hotel site Locals in East Croydon and Addiscombe have organised a campaign opposing the proposals from property developers Amro Partners … Continue reading

Posted in Addiscombe West, Business, Croydon Council, Croydon Park Hotel, Housing, Planning | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 5 Comments

Fairfield Halls struggling to sell tickets for Culture opener

Our veteran arts correspondent, BELLA BARTOCK, on the council-owned arts centre’s struggle to win back its old audiences There’s mounting, and justifiable, concern that the Fairfield Halls, despite the best-efforts of its new-ish operators, are failing to win back audiences … Continue reading

Posted in Art, BH Live, Borough of Culture 2023, Croydon Council, Fairfield Halls, Improvement Board, Music, Neil Chandler, Tony McArdle | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 15 Comments

Designs to replace ‘The Croydon Dildo’ set to be unveiled

The new owners of the development site at 1 Lansdowne Road are staging two public consultation sessions this week to outline their revised proposals. American-based Greystar bought the Lansdowne Road site earlier this year. They already have a notable presence … Continue reading

Posted in 101 George Street, Addiscombe West, Business, College Tower, Fairfield, One Lansdowne Road, Planning, Property | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

How blind man took on the council – and won £66,000 in costs

CROYDON COMMENTARY: It has long been established that the council is far from infallible. It nonetheless takes a great amount of courage to launch a High Court challenge against the authority, with its deep pockets and well-paid lawyers. YUSUF OSMAN, … Continue reading

Posted in Council Tax, Croydon Council, Katherine Kerswell, Stephen Lawrence-Orumwense | Tagged , , , , , | 2 Comments

Ex-councillor Hall says: ‘Sorry to be direct, but this is a lie’

CROYDON IN CRISIS: Only two elected councillors have so far had their roles in the council’s financial collapse questioned, and Tony Newman and Simon Hall are still not saying sorry. EXCLUSIVE by STEVEN DOWNES Tony Newman and Simon Hall, two … Continue reading

Posted in Brick by Brick, Croydon Council, Report in the Public Interest, RIPI II: Fairfield Halls, Section 114 notice, Simon Hall, The Penn Report, Tony Newman | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 9 Comments

Kerswell condemns councils’ accountability as inadequate

CROYDON IN CRISIS: Yesterday’s meeting of the cash-strapped council’s disciplinary committee may have committed Croydon to tens of thousands of pounds of additional legal costs, with no guarantee of any success in the cases which might eventually be brought. And … Continue reading

Posted in Alison Butler, Brick by Brick, Callton Young, Croydon Council, Jo Negrini, Katherine Kerswell, Report in the Public Interest, Richard Simpson, RIPI II: Fairfield Halls, Shifa Mustafa, The Penn Report, Tony Newman | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 7 Comments

Councillors agree to chase Negrini for golden handshake cash

CROYDON IN CRISIS: The same committee which met in August 2020 to agree the £437,000 payment to the departing CEO today decided to ignore the advice of senior lawyers and spend more council cash in trying to recover the pay-off. … Continue reading

Posted in Brick by Brick, Callton Young, Croydon Council, Enid Mollyneaux, Jason Cummings, Jo Negrini, Katherine Kerswell, Lynne Hale, Mayor Jason Perry, Patricia Hay-Justice, Report in the Public Interest, RIPI II: Fairfield Halls, Section 114 notice, Shifa Mustafa, Simon Hall, The Penn Report, Tony Newman | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 9 Comments

High Court judge finds against council in disability tax case

Croydon’s lawyers have been reproached by a senior judge (again), as they ‘surrendered’ their case over their poorly implemented Council Tax Reduction scheme and were ordered to pay costs and damages For the second time in four months, Croydon Council’s … Continue reading

Posted in Council Tax, Croydon Council | Tagged , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

Regina Road residents to be balloted over estate demolition

The 100-or-so households living in council tower blocks and surrounding properties on Regina Road are to be balloted in the next month over whether the damp and mould-blighted buildings should be demolished. The decision to go-ahead with the estate ballot … Continue reading

Posted in Croydon Council, Housing, Regina Road Residents' Support Group, South Norwood, Susmita Sen | Tagged , , , | 3 Comments

MP calls for misconduct charges against ex-councillor Hall

CROYDON IN CRISIS: Home Office junior minister Chris Philp says that some of the council’s former leaders ‘committed such egregious breaches of public trust that they should be formally investigated by the police for the criminal offence of misconduct in … Continue reading

Posted in Brick by Brick, Chris Philp MP, Crime, Croydon Council, Jo Negrini, Katherine Kerswell, Lisa Taylor, Richard Simpson, RIPI II: Fairfield Halls, Section 114 notice, Simon Hall, The Penn Report, Tony Newman | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | 7 Comments

All you ever need to know about ‘misconduct in public office’…

… but couldn’t be bothered to ask. Here’s a potted summary taken from the Law Commission, Crown Prosecution Service and independent legal advisors on the prospects of a successful prosecution being brought against Croydon’s borough bankrupters using this arcane offence … Continue reading

Posted in Brick by Brick, Chris Philp MP, Crime, Croydon Council, Jo Negrini, Katherine Kerswell, Lisa Taylor, Richard Simpson, RIPI II: Fairfield Halls, Section 114 notice, Simon Hall, The Penn Report, Tony Newman | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Tory Perry tries to appoint £123,000 ‘transformation director’

CROYDON IN CRISIS: Spend, spend, spend… the bad old habits of the dark days of the Negreedy era don’t seem to have been eradicated altogether, as CEO Kerswell looks to hire a new director to do her dirty work for … Continue reading

Posted in Council Tax, Croydon Council, Elaine Jackson, Improvement Board, Jo Negrini, Katherine Kerswell, Mayor Jason Perry, Neil Williams, Section 114 notice, Tony McArdle | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 16 Comments

Council facing strike in payroll over discrimination claims

One-quarter of staff in one council section are facing losing their jobs – and all those being made redundant are BAME women Union members in Croydon Council’s payroll department at Fisher’s Folly are being balloted over strike action in response … Continue reading

Posted in Council Tax, Croydon Council, Croydon TUC, Katherine Kerswell, Mayor Jason Perry | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Take a Peep at this: public garden planned for Zodiac Court

Zodiac Court, fabled as the home of Jez and Mark in Channel 4’s cult comedy Peep Show, is to get a complete makeover, including the addition of a community garden and café in a space which for half a century … Continue reading

Posted in Broad Green, Broad Green Common, Business, Community associations, Croydon parks, Environment, Housing, Planning, Property | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

‘Too often councils are failing in their duties’ on homelessness

Two-thirds of all upheld complaints to the Local Government Ombudsman about homelessness involve local authorities in London, including Croydon, according to a report published today. “Too often we are finding councils at fault,” Ombudsman Michael King said today in releasing … Continue reading

Posted in Croydon Council, Housing, London-wide issues, Mayor Jason Perry | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Council Tax fightback begins with community action meeting

The Croydon Assembly is to stage a “community strategy meeting” this Thursday, two weeks after Mayor Jason Perry was allowed to impose his 15per cent Council Tax hike on the borough’s residents when every single Labour councillor abstained on Town … Continue reading

Posted in Community associations, Council Tax, Croydon TUC, Mayor Jason Perry | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments