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Category Archives: Children’s Services
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
4 Comments
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
4 Comments
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
9 Comments
£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
3 Comments
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
10 Comments
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
5 Comments
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
5 Comments
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
9 Comments
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
‘Council’s finances remain broken’ MP Irons tells Commons
Local government minister admits that Croydon’s finances ‘are not small problems to deal with’ Natasha Irons, the Labour MP for Croydon East, yesterday made an 11th-hour plea to government ministers to act to salvage something from the wreckage of Croydon … Continue reading
Posted in Adult Social Care, Children's Services, Council Tax, Croydon Council, Croydon East, Housing, Mayor Jason Perry, Natasha Irons, Section 114 notice
Tagged Conservative, Council Tax, Croydon, Croydon Council, EFS, Exceptional financial support, Government Spending Review, Jim McMahon, Labour, London Borough of Croydon, Mayor Jason Perry, Natasha Irons MP, Rachel Reeves, Section 114, Section 114 Notice, Spending Review, Tory
4 Comments
Perry accused of ‘betrayal’ as he smuggles out more youth cuts
CROYDON IN CRISIS: Local MP and opposition councillors accuse the council of having no clear plan on what will replace an in-house team which works to reduce drugs and knife crime and to engage the borough’s youngsters. By our Town … Continue reading
Posted in Amy Foster, Children's Services, Crime, Croydon Council, Croydon East, CVA, Education, Fieldway, Knife crime, London-wide issues, Mayor Jason Perry, Natasha Irons, New Addington South, New Addington North, Policing, Restaurants, Schools
Tagged Amy Foster, Cllr Amy Foster, Conservative, Croydon, Croydon Council, Croydon East, Elianne Andam, Labour, London, London Borough of Croydon, Mayor Jason Perry, MOPAC, Natasha Irons MP, New Addington, Tory, YET, Youth Engagement Service, Youth Engagement Team
8 Comments
Council failed to tell affected schools about their lollipop cuts
CROYDON IN CRISIS: ‘Mayor Perry must really hate Croydon’s children’ says one local politician who criticises recent Town Hall pay hikes while the council was planning to axe school road safety patrols to save just £58,000 per year. By our … 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 Castlemaine Avenue, Cllr Claire Bonham, Cllr Rowenna Davis, Cllr Scott Roche, Conservative, 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, Melville Avenue, Peter Underwood, School road safety patrols, Tory, Waddon
9 Comments
Complaints against Perry’s council on rise, Ombudsman says
CROYDON IN CRISIS: Our Town Hall reporter, KEN LEE, on another year where our council is close to the top of a league table – for most upheld complaints Katherine Kerswell, Croydon’s £204,000 per year chief executive, if she bothered … Continue reading
Posted in Adult Social Care, Bromley Council, Children's Services, Croydon Council, Housing, Katherine Kerswell, Lambeth Council, Planning, Southwark Council, Surrey, Sutton Council
Tagged Amerdeep Somal, Bromley, Children's Care, Conservative, Croydon, Croydon Council, Housing, Katherine Kerswell, Lambeth, LGO, Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman, Local Government Ombudsman, London Borough of Croydon, Mayor Jason Perry, Ombudsman, Planning, social care, Southwark, Surrey County Council, Sutton, Tory
4 Comments
Perry slammed for £439,000 in ‘golden hellos’ paid to new staff
Political Editor WALTER CRONXITE on the latest revelation about the spendthrift council under its Tory Mayor Croydon Council, which came under fire after this website revealed that it had paid a “golden handshake” of £437,000 in a hush money settlement … Continue reading
Posted in Adult Social Care, Children's Services, Council Tax, Croydon Council, Jo Negrini, Mayor Jason Perry, Uncategorized
Tagged 'Golden hellos', Conservative, Council Tax, Croydon, Croydon Council, Daily Torygraph, Jo Negrini, London Borough of Croydon, Mayor Jason Perry, Social workers, Tory
5 Comments
Croydon families get help from second ‘hub’ in South Norwood
Croydon families will soon have more support, with a “Family Hub” opening at the Samuel Coleridge-Taylor Centre in South Norwood. The council said: “The opening of this hub marks another milestone in the council’s commitment to making sure Croydon’s families … Continue reading
Posted in Children's Services, Croydon Council, Education, Family Hubs, Health, Selsdon and Addington Village, Selsdon Vale and Forestdale, South Norwood
Tagged Department for Education, Department of Health and Social Care, Family Hub, Samuel Coleridge Taylor Centre, Selsdon, South Norwood, Woodlands Centre
3 Comments
Free STEM workshop for children with autism, BLBG, Mar 29
Croydon families have a unique opportunity to participate in a free Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths – STEM – workshop designed specifically for children with autism. Taking place on Saturday March 29 at the Hub Broad Green on Keeley Road, … Continue reading
Posted in Activities, Broad Green, Community associations, Education, SEND
Tagged autism, Big Local Broad Green, Broad Green, Chi Mu Mu Foundation, RoboThink UK, SEND
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Council reaches out to residents for more help with fostering
Croydon has a critical shortage of foster carers, according to the council. There are 231 children and young people looked after by 142 fostering households across the borough. “But more carers are needed to provide safe and loving homes for … Continue reading
Posted in Children's Services, Croydon Council
Tagged Croydon, Croydon Council, Foster care, Fostering Week, London
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