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Category Archives: Children’s Services
Outsourcing children’s home has proved costly and high risk
CROYDON COMMENTARY: The collapse of a multi-million-pound contract to manage a children’s home in the borough has exposed the flaws in the procurement process and sunk Mayor Perry’s claims of running a ‘more efficient’ council. Green Party councillor NATALIE VESTY, … Continue reading
Posted in Children's Services, Croydon Council, Mayor Jason Perry, Natalie Vesty, Sanderstead, Stabilisation Plan, Stuart Collins
Tagged Care Homes, Children's homes, Children's Services, Cllr Natalie Vesty, Conservative, Croydon, Croydon Council, London Borough of Croydon, Mayor Jason Perry, St Christopher's Fellowship, Tory
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‘Appalled’ Labour call for inquiry into children’s home contract
Council opposition makes call for investigation into the collapse of multi-million-pound contract, as charity placed in charge of home says council report does not ‘accurately reflect’ events. EXCLUSIVE by STEVEN DOWNES The Labour opposition group at Croydon Town Hall has … Continue reading
Posted in Children's Services, Croydon Council, Mayor Jason Perry, Sanderstead, Stabilisation Plan, Stuart Collins, Stuart King
Tagged Care Homes, Children's homes, Children's Services, Cllr Stuart King, Conservative, Croydon, Croydon Council, Labour, London Borough of Croydon, Mayor Jason Perry, St Christopher's Fellowship, Tory
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Charity ‘strongly disputes’ council report on children’s home
Inside Croydon broke the news of how a £8.6m contract to run a children’s home was cancelled by the council in less than six months. Here is the response of the St Christopher’s Fellowship in full: St Christopher’s Fellowship strongly … Continue reading
Council cancels £8.6m children’s home contract after 6 months
‘Hospital admissions’ of children in care are among serious concerns over the management of a home which was only registered in March. EXCLUSIVE by STEVEN DOWNES Croydon Council has served notice on a contract for managing a children’s home less … Continue reading
Posted in Children's Services, Croydon Council, Mayor Jason Perry, Sanderstead, Stabilisation Plan, Stuart Collins
Tagged Children's home, Children's Services, Cllr Andy Stranack, Conservative, Croydon, Croydon Council, Debbie Jones, London Borough of Croydon, Mayor Jason Perry, St Christopher's Fellowship, Stuart Collins, Tory
6 Comments
Children’s home firm based in New Addington fined £100,000
A care company based in New Addington has become the first to be successfully prosecuted and fined for running unregistered children’s homes. Catalyst Care Ltd and its directors, Davidson Lynch-Shyllon and Miriam Ekathor, pleaded guilty to 10 charges at Croydon … Continue reading
Posted in Business, Children's Services, Crime
Tagged Catalyst Care Ltd, Children's homes, Davidson Lynch-Shyllon, Medway Council, Miriam Ekathor, Ofsted
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Complaints against Perry’s council soar by 51% in two years
Croydon, under its Tory Mayor, is getting worse, not better, judging by the number of complaints upheld by the Local Government Ombudsman in the last year. EXCLUSIVE by STEVEN DOWNES Croydon continues to be among the country’s most rotten boroughs, … Continue reading
Posted in Adult Social Care, Bromley Council, Children's Services, Croydon Council, Housing, Katherine Kerswell, Lambeth Council, London-wide issues, Mayor Jason Perry, Planning, SEND, Surrey, Sutton Council
Tagged Bromley, Conservative, Croydon, Croydon Council, Katherine Kerswell, Lambeth, League tables, Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman, Local Government Ombudsman, London, London Borough of Croydon, Mayor Jason Perry, Rotten Boroughs, Rotten boroughs league tables 2025-2026, Sutton, Tory
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Perry’s plan: More borrowing. More debt. And £58m more cuts
CROYDON IN CRISIS: Reports sneaked out ahead of next Wednesday’s council cabinet meeting talk of ‘difficult decisions’, after residents have already suffered six years of the consequences of ‘difficult decisions’. By STEVEN DOWNES Less than six months since he pushed … Continue reading
Posted in 'Future Croydon', Adult Social Care, Children's Services, Claire Bonham, Commissioners, Conrad Hall, Council Tax, Croydon Council, Elaine Jackson, Jo Negrini, Katherine Kerswell, Mayor Jason Perry, Paul Ainscough, SEND, Stabilisation Plan, Stuart King
Tagged Cllr Claire Bonham, Cllr Paul Ainscough, Cllr Stuart King, Conrad Hall, Conservative, Council debt, Croydon, Croydon Council, EFS, Exceptional financial support, HM Treasury, Jo Negrini, Katherine Kerswell, Labour, Liberal Democrats, London Borough of Croydon, Mayor Jason Perry, MHCLG, Ministry of Housing Communities and Local Government, Section 114 Notice, The Green Party, Tory
8 Comments
Sutton defends its Ofsted failure by claiming ‘no child was hurt’
EXCLUSIVE: LibDem council deliberately delayed publication of damning report to avoid its failures of SEND children appearing before the local elections. DAVE BURTON reports how councillors and officials have broken confidentiality rules and tried to pass the buck Ofsted and … Continue reading
We’re glad all over! The Croydon Insider looks back on Leipzig
The Croydon Insider returns to its more eclectic look at recent local news, with a visit from the website’s football correspondent to share his experience of travelling to Leipzig for the European Conference League final. Plus, the panel discusses how … Continue reading
Posted in 2026 council elections, Andrew Sinclair, Annabel Smith, Croydon Council, Croydon Insider, Crystal Palace and Upper Norwood, Education, Inside Croydon, Ken Towl, Old Palace, Schools, SEND, Tom Bowell, Trinity School, Under The Flyover, Whitgift School
Tagged Andrew Sinclair, Annabel Smith, Croydon, Croydon Council, Crystal Palace and Upper Norwood, Crystal Palace FC, Ken Towl, Leipzig, Oliver Glasner, SEND, Special Educational Needs and Disabilities, Steve Parish, The Croydon Insider, Trinity School, Under The Flyover, Westfield, Whitgift Centre, Whitgift Foundation, Whitgift School, Yusuf Osman
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Boy survived SEND system to become Broad Green councillor
The council term formally begins at the Town Hall tonight, with Croydon facing many of the same problems which previous administrations have failed to resolve. GABRIEL MacARTHUR meets a new councillor with unique insights Councillor Tom Bowell’s visits to Croydon … Continue reading
Posted in 2026 council elections, Broad Green, Children's Services, Croydon Council, Education, Gabriel MacArthur, Schools, SEND, Tom Bowell
Tagged Broad Green, Cllr Tom Bowell, Croydon, Croydon Council, Gabriel MacArthur, Labour, London Borough of Croydon, SEND, Special Educational Needs and Disabilities, Special schools, Tom Bowell
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Commissioners: council lacks focus and robust delivery plans
CROYDON IN CRISIS: Government releases report critical of the lack of progress and slow pace of improvements in finances under Tory Mayor Jason Perry. By WALTER CRONXITE, Political Editor Six weeks out from the local elections, the government has published … Continue reading
Posted in Abi Brown, Adult Social Care, Children's Services, Commissioners, Conrad Hall, Council Tax, Croydon Council, Debbie Warren, Elaine Jackson, Ged Curran, Jackie Belton, Jenny Rowlands, Katherine Kerswell, Mayor Jason Perry, Stabilisation Plan
Tagged Commissioners, Conrad Hall, Conservative, Council Tax, Croydon, Croydon Council, Elaine Jackson, Ged Curran, Jenny Rowlands, Katherine Kerswell, Labour, London Borough of Croydon, MHCLG, Ministry of Housing Communities and Local Government, Tory
8 Comments
Whatever could they mean? Commissioners call for ‘honesty’
In what is overall a highly critical report from the government-appointed Commissioners after six months working closely with the council run by successive chief execs Katherine Kerswell (until she left in October with a £50,000 pay-off) and Elaine Jackson, and … Continue reading
Posted in Abi Brown, Adult Social Care, Children's Services, Commissioners, Conrad Hall, Council Tax, Croydon Council, Debbie Warren, Elaine Jackson, Ged Curran, Jackie Belton, Jenny Rowlands, Katherine Kerswell, Mayor Jason Perry, Stabilisation Plan
Tagged Commissioners, Conservative, Council Tax, Croydon, Croydon Council, Elaine Jackson, Ged Curran, Jenny Rowlands, Katherine Kerswell, Labour, London Borough of Croydon, MHCLG, Ministry of Housing Communities and Local Government, Tory
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No cover-up over £12m SEND overspend, claims council chief
CROYDON IN CRISIS: Town Hall bosses have been forced to accept 23 recommendations from external accountants after IT problems saw them lose track of thousands of payments, in the latest council cock-up that was described by a veteran Tory councillor … Continue reading
Posted in Amy Foster, Commissioners, Conrad Hall, Croydon Council, Dr Ola Olasode, Education, General Purposes and Audit Committee, Ian Parker, Katherine Kerswell, Report in the Public Interest, SEND
Tagged 2026 council budget, audit and governance committee, Cllr Amy Foster, Cllr Ian Parker, Conrad Hall, Conservative, Council budget, Council IT department, Croydon, Croydon Council, Education, Ian Parker, Jason Cummings, Katherine Kerswell, Labour, London Borough of Croydon, Mayor Jason Perry, Oracle, SEND, Shelley Davies, Special Educational Needs and Disabilities, Synergy, Tory
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Perry has stabilised council finances in state of perpetual crisis
TV and radio politics pundit ANDREW FISHER, right, sat through three hours of false claims and spin at the Town Hall last night, as Croydon’s £87,000 per year lame duck Mayor still says he has done a decent job “I … Continue reading
Posted in 2026 council elections, 2026 Croydon Mayor election, Andrew Fisher, Commissioners, Council Tax, Croydon Council, Housing, London-wide issues, Mayor Jason Perry, SEND
Tagged 2026 council budget, 2026 council elections, 2026 Croydon mayoral election, 2026 local elections, Andrew Fisher, Budget, Capitalisation direction, Commissioners, Conservative, Council budget, Council Tax, Croydon, Croydon Council, EFS, Exceptional financial support, Labour, London, London Borough of Croydon, Mayor Jason Perry, MHCLG, Ministry of Housing Communities and Local Government, Tory
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£84,000 per year Tory Mayor approves his own pay rise
EXCLUSIVE: It’s trebles all-round for directors at Croydon’s cash-strapped council, as there’s a second generous pay rise in 12 months for council chiefs, while allowances paid to councillors are also to rise, and amount to £1.6m per year. Yet long-suffering … Continue reading
Posted in 2026 council elections, 2026 Croydon Mayor election, Commissioners, Council Tax, Croydon Council, Housing, Katherine Kerswell, London-wide issues, Mayor Jason Perry, Section 114 notice, SEND
Tagged 2026 council budget, 2026 council elections, 2026 Croydon mayoral election, 2026 local elections, Budget, Capitalisation direction, Cllr Scott Roche, Commissioners, Conservative, Council budget, Council Tax, Croydon, Croydon Council, EFS, Elaine Jackson, Exceptional financial support, Jenny Rowlands, Katherine Kerswell, Labour, London, London Borough of Croydon, Mayor Jason Perry, MHCLG, Ministry of Housing Communities and Local Government, S114, S114 notice, Section 114 Notice, Tony Newman, Tory
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Perry begs for another £119m to balance his busted budget
Croydon’s Conservative Mayor, who has hiked Council Tax by 33% since 2023, still needs another £119m government bail-out to make his council budget balance. By STEVEN DOWNES Jason Perry, Croydon’s Conservative Mayor, has got his begging bowl out again to … Continue reading
Posted in 2026 council elections, 2026 Croydon Mayor election, Adult Social Care, Children's Services, Commissioners, Council Tax, Croydon Council, Housing, Lambeth Council, London-wide issues, Mayor Jason Perry, Section 114 notice, SEND
Tagged 2026 council budget, 2026 council elections, 2026 Croydon mayoral election, 2026 local elections, Budget, Capitalisation direction, Commissioners, Conservative, Council budget, Council Tax, Croydon, Croydon Council, EFS, Exceptional financial support, Labour, London, London Borough of Croydon, Mayor Jason Perry, MHCLG, Ministry of Housing Communities and Local Government, S114, S114 notice, Section 114 Notice, Steve Reed OBE, Tory
8 Comments
12,500 Croydon children lifted out of poverty by scrapping the two-child benefit cap. But what about homelessness?
ANDREW FISHER pores over the fine detail in the Budget, including more income tax, lower energy bills and frozen rail fares, and highlights some of the important areas that were not addressed by Chancellor Rachel Reeves Just over a year … Continue reading
Posted in Andrew Fisher, Croydon Council, Croydon East, Croydon West, Natasha Irons, Sarah Jones MP, SEND
Tagged Andrew Fisher, Budget, Chancellor Rachel Reeves, Conservative, Croydon, Croydon Council, Croydon East, Croydon West, Electric vehicles, Labour, London, London Borough of Croydon, Mayor Sadiq Khan, Mayor Sir Sadiq Khan, Natasha Irons MP, Sarah Jones MP, SEND, Special Educational Needs and Disabilities, Tory, Tourist Tax
8 Comments
Council lied about risk assessments for axed lollipop patrols
CROYDON IN CRISIS: First, they failed to hold a public consultation over the ending of school street patrols. Then, they failed to inform the affected schools. Now, following an investigation by this website, it is confirmed that the council deliberately … Continue reading
Posted in Children's Services, Croydon Council, Crystal Palace and Upper Norwood, Katherine Kerswell, Mayor Jason Perry, Oasis Academy, Ryelands Primary and Nursery, Schools, Scott Roche, Selsdon, Shirley North, Shirley South, Transport, Woodside
Tagged Cllr Scott Roche, Councillor Claire Bonham, Croydon, Croydon Council, Crystal Palace and Upper Norwood, Cypress Infants and Juniors, Cypress Infants and Juniors (Upper Norwood and Crystal Palace), Greenvale Primary, Katherine Kerswell, Labour, Lollipop ladies, Lollipop men, Lollipop patrols, London Borough of Croydon, Mayor Jason Perry, Monks Orchard Primary, Norbury, Norbury Manor, Norbury Manor Primary, Oasis Academy Ryelands, Orchard Way Primary (Shirley), Orchard Way Primary School, School road safety patrols, Selsdon, Shirley, Tory, Upper Norwood and Crystal Palace, Woodside
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Here’s the safety reports your council did not want you to see
EXCLUSIVE: Here are the six road safety assessment reports that Croydon Council lied about, and then tried to withhold from the public After breaking the news that Croydon Council was to axe six primary school road safety patrols – “lollipop … Continue reading
Posted in Children's Services, Croydon Council, Crystal Palace and Upper Norwood, Katherine Kerswell, Mayor Jason Perry, Oasis Academy, Ryelands Primary and Nursery, Schools, Scott Roche, Selsdon, Shirley North, Shirley South, Transport, Woodside
Tagged Cllr Scott Roche, Councillor Claire Bonham, Croydon, Croydon Council, Crystal Palace and Upper Norwood, Cypress Infants and Juniors, Cypress Infants and Juniors (Upper Norwood and Crystal Palace), Greenvale Primary, Katherine Kerswell, Labour, Lollipop ladies, Lollipop men, Lollipop patrols, London Borough of Croydon, Mayor Jason Perry, Monks Orchard Primary, Norbury, Norbury Manor, Norbury Manor Primary, Oasis Academy Ryelands, Orchard Way Primary School, School road safety patrols, Selsdon, Shirley, Tory, Upper Norwood and Crystal Palace, Woodside
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Perry misleads parents as he confirms lollipop patrol cuts
Town Hall reporter KEN LEE on how Croydon’s £84,000 per year Mayor is ignoring parents and pushing through cuts on road safety patrols for little children to make a saving of £58,000 Whatever the “review” was that Jason Perry’s council … Continue reading
Posted in Children's Services, Croydon Council, Crystal Palace and Upper Norwood, Katherine Kerswell, Mayor Jason Perry, Rowenna Davis, Schools, Scott Roche
Tagged Cllr Scott Roche, Croydon, Croydon Council, Crystal Palace and Upper Norwood, Katherine Kerswell, Labour, Lollipop ladies, Lollipop men, Lollipop patrols, London Borough of Croydon, Mayor Jason Perry, School road safety patrols, Tory
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Surrey, Lambeth and Bromley beat Croydon as rotten boroughs
Based on official Ombudsman figures, our council remains among the most complained about in England. But might there be a glimmer of improvement in the figures, or has our borough just been overtaken for rotteness by others? EXCLUSIVE by STEVEN … Continue reading
Posted in Adult Social Care, Children's Services, Council Tax, Croydon Council, Katherine Kerswell, Mayor Jason Perry, Planning
Tagged Amerdeep Somal, Bromley Council, Conservative, Council Tax, Croydon, Croydon Council, Katherine Kerswell, Lambeth council, LGO, Local Government Ombudsman, London, London Borough of Croydon, Mayor Jason Perry, Surrey County Council, Tory
16 Comments
Mayor gets his mumbler to suggest a ‘review’ of lollipop cuts
Has Mayor Perry’s council backed down from ending lollipop road safety patrols at six of the borough’s primary schools? That’s what it sounded like at this week’s Town Hall meeting, as KEN LEE reports Did one of Croydon Mayor Jason … Continue reading
Posted in Children's Services, Claire Bonham, Croydon Council, Crystal Palace and Upper Norwood, Katherine Kerswell, Mayor Jason Perry, Rowenna Davis, Schools, Scott Roche, Waddon
Tagged Cllr Claire Bonham, Cllr Scott Roche, Croydon, Croydon Council, Crystal Palace and Upper Norwood, Katherine Kerswell, Labour, Liberal Democrats, Lollipop ladies, Lollipop men, Lollipop patrols, London Borough of Croydon, Mayor Jason Perry, School road safety patrols, Tory, Waddon
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Parents stop traffic in Upper Norwood to save lollipop patrol
CROYDON IN CRISIS: Mayor Perry’s council tried to block protest petition over proposals to axe school safety patrols from being presented at next week’s Town Hall meeting. By STEVEN DOWNES Parents and children from Cypress Primary School in Upper Norwood … Continue reading
Posted in Children's Services, Claire Bonham, Croydon Council, Crystal Palace and Upper Norwood, Katherine Kerswell, Mayor Jason Perry, Rowenna Davis, Schools, Waddon
Tagged Cllr Claire Bonham, Cllr Rowenna Davis, Croydon, Croydon Council, Crystal Palace and Upper Norwood, Green Party, Katherine Kerswell, Labour, Liberal Democrats, Lollipop ladies, Lollipop men, Lollipop patrols, London Borough of Croydon, Mayor Jason Perry, Peter Underwood, School road safety patrols, Tory, Waddon
4 Comments
