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Category Archives: Council Tax
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
Perry’s latest bright idea: a begging letter to new PM Burnham
CROYDON IN CRISIS: After four years of record Council Tax rises and record borrowing from central government, the borough’s bungling Mayor appears to think that the new occupier of No10 Downing Street might solve his problems. By our Town Hall … Continue reading
Perry’s council to face Judicial Review over Access Croydon
CROYDON IN CRISIS: Failed Mayor Jason Perry probably ought to get a season ticket for the High Court, as his council is facing yet another legal challenge over his decision to close the public access service inside Fisher’s Folly. By … Continue reading
Posted in Bernard Weatherill House, Council Tax, Croydon Council, Housing, Katherine Kerswell, Mayor Jason Perry
Tagged Access Croydon, Bernard Weatherill House, BWH, Conservative, Council Tax, Croydon, Croydon BME Forum, Croydon Council, Fisher's Folly, Homelessness, Katherine Kerswell, London Renters' Union, Mayor Jason Perry, PILC, Public Interest Law Centre, Public Services Delivery Hub, Tory
3 Comments
£275,000: Loadsamoney Perry breaks the bank for new CEO
CROYDON IN CRISIS: As the council faces having to replace its interim CEO with an interim interim CEO, the Mayor splashes the cash to try to find someone for what he calls ‘London’s most important leadership role’ Recruitment ads for … Continue reading
Posted in Brick by Brick, Commissioners, Conrad Hall, Council Tax, Croydon Council, Dean Shoesmith, Elaine Jackson, Ged Curran, Jenny Rowlands, Jo Negrini, Katherine Kerswell, Mayor Jason Perry, Nathan Elvery, Section 114 notice
Tagged CEO, Chief executive officer, Commisssioners, Conrad Hall, Conservative, Croydon, Croydon Council, Dean Shoesmith, Elaine Jackson, Ged Curran, Jo Negrini, Katherine Kerswell, London Borough of Croydon, Mayor Jason Perry, Nathan Elvery, Tory
7 Comments
Do you recognise your council as described in the CEO job ad?
CROYDON IN CRISIS In the recruitment ad, are the Commissioners seeking a competent and experienced civic administrator with more than the charisma of a dead fish for the role of council chief executive? Or are they looking for a knight … Continue reading
Posted in Brick by Brick, Commissioners, Conrad Hall, Council Tax, Croydon Council, Dean Shoesmith, Elaine Jackson, Ged Curran, Jenny Rowlands, Jo Negrini, Katherine Kerswell, Mayor Jason Perry, Nathan Elvery, Section 114 notice
Tagged CEO, Chief executive officer, Commisssioners, Conrad Hall, Conservative, Croydon, Croydon Council, Dean Shoesmith, Elaine Jackson, Ged Curran, Jo Negrini, Katherine Kerswell, London Borough of Croydon, Mayor Jason Perry, Nathan Elvery, Tory
7 Comments
Perry tries to hide homelessness service with South End move
CROYDON IN CRISIS: Just hours before his council was due at the High Court to face a possible Judicial Review over its closure of Access Croydon, the Mayor announced that he was moving the housing service. EXCLUSIVE by STEVEN DOWNES … Continue reading
Posted in Bernard Weatherill House, Council Tax, Croydon Council, Housing, Katherine Kerswell, Mayor Jason Perry
Tagged Access Croydon, Bernard Weatherill House, BWH, Cavendish House, Conservative, Council Tax, Croydon, Croydon BME Forum, Croydon Council, Croydon Nightwatch, Emma Gardiner, Fisher's Folly, Homelessness, Katherine Kerswell, London Renters' Union, Mayor Jason Perry, PILC, Public Interest Law Centre, Public Services Delivery Hub, South End, South Norwood Community Kitchen, South West London Law Centre, Tory
9 Comments
Perry’s council facing High Court threat over Access Croydon
CROYDON IN CRISIS: The council is being dragged into the High Court next week to face claims that it is failing to meet its statutory responsibilities on housing as a consequence of making its offices open only on an appointment … Continue reading
Posted in Bernard Weatherill House, Council Tax, Croydon Council, Housing, Katherine Kerswell, Mayor Jason Perry
Tagged Access Croydon, Bernard Weatherill House, BWH, Conservative, Council Tax, Croydon, Croydon BME Forum, Croydon Council, Croydon Nightwatch, Emma Gardiner, Fisher's Folly, Homelessness, Katherine Kerswell, London Renters' Union, Mayor Jason Perry, PILC, Public Interest Law Centre, Public Services Delivery Hub, South Norwood Community Kitchen, South West London Law Centre, Tory
7 Comments
Add poor time management to Mayor’s long list of failings
TOWN HALL SKETCH: Jason Perry missed the kick-off of the big match in Leipzig, and managed to deliver his annual ‘state of the borough’ speech without a single mention of the cash-strapped council’s finances. By WALTER CRONXITE, Political Editor Jason … Continue reading
Posted in Adam Kellett, Commissioners, Conrad Hall, Council Tax, Croydon Council, New Addington South, Scott Roche, Stuart King
Tagged 2026 council elections, 2026 Croydon mayoral election, 2026 local elections, Adam Kellett, Cllr Scott Holman, Conservative, Council constitution, Croydon, Croydon Council, Green Party, Labour, Liberal Democrats, London Borough of Croydon, Mayor Jason Perry, Reform Ltd, Reform UK, Scott Roche, The Green Party, Tory
5 Comments
Croydon’s GIGO ‘economy’ stops people paying Council Tax
Our cash-strapped council has squandered millions on its failed Croydon Digital department, and then wasted millions more on outside consultants who pressed on with the ‘Digital First’ policy. Yet we now have a council website which makes it more difficult … Continue reading
Just the job! Council hands £200,000 finance chief role to Hall
Town Hall reporter KEN LEE on the rushed recruitment of a Commissioner-approved appointee to a permanent role in Fisher’s Folly, helped with £30,000 in ‘danger money’ Croydon’s cash-strapped council under Tory Mayor Jason Perry is still able to find enough … Continue reading
Posted in 'Future Croydon', 2026 council elections, 2026 Croydon Mayor election, Commissioners, Conrad Hall, Council Tax, Croydon Council, Dean Shoesmith, Elaine Jackson, Jane West, Jenny Rowlands
Tagged Commissioners, Conrad Hall, Conservative, Corporate Director of Resources, Croydon, Croydon Council, Crystal Palace FC, Elaine Jackson, Ged Curran, Jane West, Jenny Rowlands, Labour, Leipzig, London Borough of Croydon, Mayor Jason Perry, Section 151 officer
2 Comments
Labour’s Davis should be in front when final whistle is blown
ONE DAY TO GO: An unusually subdued local campaign enters the final day with a last-minute visit from the Leader of the Opposition to try to salvage the Tory Mayor’s hopes of re-election. WALTER CRONXITE, Political Editor, sifts through the … Continue reading
Posted in 2026 council elections, 2026 Croydon Mayor election, Ben Flook, Council Tax, Croydon Greens, Croydon South, London-wide issues, Mayor Jason Perry, Michael Pusey, Peter Underwood, Richard Howard, Rick Howard, Rowenna Davis, Steve Reed MP, Zack Polanski
Tagged 2026 council elections, 2026 Croydon mayoral election, 2026 local elections, Ben Flook, Conservative, Council Tax, Croydon, Croydon Council, Green Party, Labour, Liberal Democrats, London, Major Richard Howard, Mayor Jason Perry, Peter Underwood, Reform Ltd, Reform UK, Richard Howard, Rowenna Davis, Tory
14 Comments
These are the questions that Mayor Perry is too afraid to face
ANDREW FISHER has interviewed three of the main candidates standing for election as Croydon Mayor. Only Tory Jason Perry refused our invitations. What has Perry got to hide? These are the questions Perry has left unanswered Apparently, “Mayor Perry remains … Continue reading
Posted in 2026 council elections, 2026 Croydon Mayor election, Andrew Fisher, Council Tax, Croydon Council, Mayor Jason Perry, The Andrew Fisher Interview
Tagged 15% Council Tax hike, 2026 council elections, 2026 Croydon mayoral election, 2026 local elections, Andrew Fisher, Brick by Brick, Conservative, Council Tax, Croydon, Croydon Council, Labour, Liberal Democrats, London Borough of Croydon, LTNs, Mayor Jason Perry, Red Clover Gardens, The Andrew Fisher Interview, Tim Pollard, Tory
14 Comments
Polls tighten in Town Hall race as Farage’s grifters get closer
SEVEN DAYS TO GO: You probably don’t want to read ‘It’s too close to call’ again, but judging by the latest, London-wide polling figures just published, the race to be Croydon Mayor is tighter than ever. By WALTER CRONXITE, Political … Continue reading
Posted in 2026 council elections, 2026 Croydon Mayor election, Ben Flook, Council Tax, Croydon Greens, Croydon South, London-wide issues, Mayor Jason Perry, Peter Underwood, Richard Howard, Rick Howard, Rowenna Davis, Shirley North, Steve Reed MP, Zack Polanski
Tagged 2026 council elections, 2026 Croydon mayoral election, 2026 local elections, Ben Flook, Conservative, Council Tax, Croydon, Croydon Council, Green Party, Labour, Liberal Democrats, London, Major Richard Howard, Mayor Jason Perry, Peter Underwood, Reform Ltd, Reform UK, Richard Howard, Rowenna Davis, Tory
16 Comments
The state of politics is a tragedy. It’s important that you vote
Have you been underwhelmed by the Croydon local election campaigns so far? ANDREW FISHER, pictured left, certainly has How are the campaigns going in Croydon? “What campaigns?” you might ask. Walking around my local neighbourhood (a knot of 20 roads … Continue reading
Posted in 2026 council elections, 2026 Croydon Mayor election, Andrew Fisher, Ben Flook, Council Tax, Croydon Council, Mayor Jason Perry, Michael Pusey, Rowenna Davis
Tagged 2026 council elections, 2026 Croydon mayoral election, 2026 local elections, Andrew Fisher, Cllr Rowenna Davis, Conservative, Council Tax, Councillor Rowenna Davis, Croydon, Croydon Council, Labour, London Borough of Croydon, Mayor Jason Perry, Rowenna Davis, Tory
7 Comments
Fewer than 100 votes in it between Perry and Davis for Mayor
Two weeks today, Croydon voters go to the polls to elect the Mayor of Croydon, with the bookies and pundits saying that in this corner of the capital, the race is just too close to call. Political Editor WALTER CRONXITE … Continue reading
Posted in 2026 council elections, 2026 Croydon Mayor election, Chris Philp MP, Council Tax, Croydon Greens, Croydon South, London-wide issues, Mayor Jason Perry, Merton, New Addington South, Peter Underwood, Richard Howard, Rick Howard, Rowenna Davis, Steve Reed MP, Sutton Council, Waddon, Zack Polanski
Tagged 2026 council elections, 2026 Croydon mayoral election, 2026 local elections, Ben Flook, Conservative, Council Tax, Croydon, Croydon Council, Green Party, Labour, Liberal Democrats, London, Major Richard Howard, Mayor Jason Perry, Peter Underwood, Reform Ltd, Richard Howard, Rowenna Davis, Tory
2 Comments
Council’s £166,000 assistant CEO quits Croydon after 8 weeks
More problems with recruitment and retention at the cash-strapped council as the woman tipped for top job heads for the exit. KEN LEE reports Jenny Rowlands, who was hired in February as the council’s £166,000 per year assistant chief executive, … Continue reading
Posted in 2026 council elections, 2026 Croydon Mayor election, Commissioners, Council Tax, Croydon Council, Elaine Jackson, Jenny Rowlands, Katherine Kerswell, Mayor Jason Perry, Section 114 notice
Tagged Camden Council, Conservative, Croydon, Croydon Council, Elaine Jackson, Interim assistant chief executive, Interims, Jenny Rowlands, Katherine Kerswell, Labour, London Borough of Croydon, Mayor Jason Perry, Tory
7 Comments
Croydon’s rewards for failure laid bare in Town Hall Rich List
Katherine Kerswell, Croydon’s chief executive who issued three Section 114 notices of effective bankruptcy during her time in charge at the council, was taking home salary and pensions totalling £223,838 in the year before she left Fisher’s Folly. Yet Kerswell … Continue reading
Posted in Annette McPartland, Bromley Council, Commissioners, Council Tax, Croydon Council, Dean Shoesmith, Elaine Jackson, Helen Bailey, Jenny Rowlands, Katherine Kerswell, Lambeth Council, Outside Croydon, Richard Simpson, Southwark Council, Susmita Sen, Sutton Council
Tagged Ade Adetosoye, Althea Loderick, Annette McPartland, Bromley Council, Commissioners, Conrad Hall, Conservative, Corporate Director of Resources, Croydon, Croydon Council, Elaine Jackson, Ged Curran, Helen Bailey, Jane West, Jenny Rowlands, Katherine Kerswell, Labour, Lambeth council, London Borough of Croydon, Mayor Jason Perry, Richard Simpson, Section 151 officer, Southwark Council, Susmita Sen, Sutton Council, Tax Payers Alliance, Town Hall Rich List, TPA
10 Comments
Council rushes through £200,000 finance job ahead of elections
Government-appointed Commissioners are pushing through the appointment of a new finance director at the Town Hall – regardless of who might become Croydon’s new Mayor. EXCLUSIVE by STEVEN DOWNES Croydon Council, which has debts of £1.4billion, is about to hire … Continue reading
Posted in 'Future Croydon', 2026 council elections, 2026 Croydon Mayor election, Annette McPartland, Commissioners, Conrad Hall, Council Tax, Croydon Council, Dean Shoesmith, Elaine Jackson, Jane West, Jenny Rowlands, Katherine Kerswell, Susmita Sen
Tagged Annette McPartland, Commissioners, Conrad Hall, Conservative, Corporate Director of Resources, Croydon, Croydon Council, Elaine Jackson, Ged Curran, Jane West, Jenny Rowlands, Katherine Kerswell, Labour, London Borough of Croydon, Mayor Jason Perry, Section 151 officer, Susmita Sen
3 Comments
The truth is simple: we need to solve Croydon’s financial crisis
CROYDON COMMENTARY: Even before her own party bosses censored her manifesto, there were spending commitments being made by Rowenna Davis, Labour’s candidate for Croydon Mayor, that just don’t add up. LibDem candidate RICHARD HOWARD, pictured left, explains Rowenna Davis’s mayoral … Continue reading
Posted in 2026 council elections, 2026 Croydon Mayor election, Council Tax, Richard Howard, Rowenna Davis
Tagged 2026 council elections, 2026 Croydon mayoral election, 2026 local elections, Cllr Rowenna Davis, Coulsdon, Council Tax, Councillor Rowenna Davis, Croydon, Croydon Council, Labour, Liberal Democrats, London Borough of Croydon, Richard Howard, Rowenna Davis
17 Comments
Election countdown: splintered voting could see Davis win
Less than one month until election day, our Political Editor, WALTER CRONXITE, looks at the latest polls and by-elections to assess – or guess – how the Croydon electorate will vote for executive Mayor on May 7 While the government … Continue reading
Posted in 2026 council elections, 2026 Croydon Mayor election, Ben Flook, Council Tax, Croydon Greens, Croydon South, London-wide issues, Merton, Peter Underwood, Richard Howard, Rick Howard, Shirley North, Sutton Council, Tony Newman, Zack Polanski
Tagged 2026 council elections, 2026 Croydon mayoral election, 2026 local elections, Ben Flook, Cllr Ria Patel, Conservative, Council Tax, Croydon, Croydon Council, Croydon South, Green Party, Labour, Liberal Democrats, London, Major Richard Howard, Mayor Jason Perry, Peter Underwood, Reform Ltd, Richard Howard, Rowenna Davis, Tory
16 Comments
Perry’s latest climbdown as his Purley banner is ruled unlawful
Fewer than 5% of Inside Croydon readers consider the Croydon Mayor’s banner to be ‘honest’, as the biased messaging is removed from outside council-owned leisure centre. By our Political Editor, WALTER CRONXITE Contractors have been ordered to remove a banner … Continue reading
Posted in 2026 council elections, 2026 Croydon Mayor election, Council Tax, Croydon Council, Local media, Mayor Jason Perry, Polaska, Property, Purley, Purley Pool, Stephen Lawrence-Orumwense, Stuart King
Tagged Cllr Stuart King, Conservative, Council Tax, Croydon, Croydon Council, Kim Jong Un, Labour, London Borough of Croydon, Mayor Jason Perry, North Korea, Our Croydon, Polaska, Propaganda, Purley Leisure Centre, Purley Pool, Purley Pool Towers, Richard Howard, Stephen Lawrence-Orumwense, STUART KING, Tory
7 Comments
Purley’s purdah banner is a matter of integrity and honesty
Which of these banners do you consider to provide the most honest messaging?
Posted in 2026 council elections, 2026 Croydon Mayor election, Council Tax, Croydon Council, Mayor Jason Perry, Polaska, Property, Purley, Purley Pool, Richard Howard
Tagged Cllr Stuart King, Conservative, Council Tax, Croydon, Croydon Council, Kim Jong Un, Labour, London Borough of Croydon, Major Richard Howard, Mayor Jason Perry, North Korea, Our Croydon, Polaska, Propaganda, Purley Leisure Centre, Purley Pool, Purley Pool Towers, Richard Howard, Tory
8 Comments
CEO accused of spending public cash for Perry’s benefit
A banner in council colours has appeared outside the Purley Pool this week lauding Jason Perry’s role in the (non-)development of the site in what rival politicians have described as a clear breach of election law. EXCLUSIVE by STEVEN DOWNES … Continue reading
Posted in 2026 council elections, 2026 Croydon Mayor election, Council Tax, Croydon Council, Croydon Greens, Local media, Mayor Jason Perry, Peter Underwood, Polaska, Property, Purley, Purley Pool, Richard Howard, Stuart King
Tagged Cllr Stuart King, Conservative, Council Tax, Croydon, Croydon Council, Kim Jong Un, Labour, London Borough of Croydon, Major Richard Howard, Mayor Jason Perry, North Korea, Our Croydon, Peter Underwood, Polaska, Propaganda, Purley Leisure Centre, Purley Pool, Purley Pool Towers, Richard Howard, STUART KING, Tory
9 Comments
The Mayor’s record in office has worse delivery than Royal Mail
With Tory Jason Perry’s election pledges dropping on residents’ doormats this week and Labour candidate Rowenna Davis publishing her manifesto, the claims and promises of the two front-runners for Croydon Mayor are examined here by ANDREW FISHER While incumbent Mayor … Continue reading
Posted in 2026 council elections, 2026 Croydon Mayor election, Andrew Fisher, Council Tax, Croydon Council, Croydon parks, Fly tipping, Mayor Jason Perry, Rowenna Davis
Tagged 2026 council elections, 2026 Croydon mayoral election, 2026 local elections, Andrew Fisher, Cllr Rowenna Davis, Conservative, Council Tax, Councillor Rowenna Davis, Croydon, Croydon Council, Fairfield Halls, Hammersfield, Labour, London Borough of Croydon, Mayor Jason Perry, Rowenna Davis, Tory, Westfield, Whitgift Centre
14 Comments
43 days to go and desperation is appearing in election leaflets
After all the calamities inflicted on Croydon by Tory Mayor Jason Perry, from his 33% Council Tax hikes to his unlawful LTN fines, has Labour fallen into their old trap of over-promising before under-delivering? WALTER CRONXITE, Political Editor, sifts through … Continue reading
Posted in 2026 council elections, 2026 Croydon Mayor election, Addiscombe East, Chris Clark, Claire Bonham, Council Tax, Croydon Greens, Croydon South, Croydon West, Crystal Palace and Upper Norwood, Esther Sutton, Fairfield, Jeet Bains, London-wide issues, New Addington North, New Addington South, Old Coulsdon, Paul Scott, Ria Patel, Richard Howard, Shirley North, Shirley South, Tony Newman
Tagged 2026 council elections, 2026 Croydon mayoral election, 2026 local elections, Brick by Brick, Claire Bonham, Cllr Esther Sutton, Cllr Ria Patel, Cllr Rowenna Davis, Conservative, Coulsdon, Council Tax, Croydon, Croydon Council, Croydon South, Crystal Palace and Upper Norwood, Green Party, Labour, Liberal Democrats, London, Mayor Jason Perry, New Addington, Peter Underwood, Rowenna Davis, Tory
3 Comments
