Recent Comments
Category Archives: Brick by Brick
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 Brick by Brick, Chris Philp MP, Conservative, Council Tax, CPS, Crown Prosecution Service, Croydon, Croydon Council, Jo Negrini, Labour, Law Commission, London Borough of Croydon, Simon Hall, Tony Newman, Tory
1 Comment
Grey man’s appointment places Gray with Croydon clique
Political editor WALTER CRONXITE delves into the shadowy south London connections that Sue Gray will encounter when she starts work as the Labour leader’s Chief of Staff The grey man of British politics, the terminally boring Keir Starmer, now has … Continue reading
Posted in Alison Butler, Brick by Brick, Business, Croydon Council, Croydon North, David Evans, Hamida Ali, Lambeth Council, Steve Reed MP, Tony Newman
Tagged Alison Butler, Croydon, Croydon Council, David Evans, Imogen Walker, Keir Starmer, Labour, Morgan McSweeney, Steve Reed OBE, The Campaign Company, Tony Newman
Leave a comment
10-year campaign by locals wins reprieve for Central Hill Estate
Plans by a labour-controlled south London council to bulldoze a residential estate have been binned, after a decade-long campaign by locals. Lambeth Council has paused the redevelopment of Central Hill and two other estates after a critical report recommended a … Continue reading
Posted in Brick by Brick, Business, Community associations, Croydon North, Crystal Palace and Upper Norwood, Environment, Housing, Lambeth Council, London-wide issues, Matthew Bennett, Steve Reed MP
Tagged Central Hill estate, Cressingham Gardens, Croydon North, Homes for Lambeth, Labour, Lambeth, Lambeth council, Mathhew Bennett, Steve Reed OBE
1 Comment
Newman’s defence slips: there’s ‘no evidence’ of wrongdoing
CROYDON IN CRISIS: The latest in-depth coverage of the borough’s bankruptcy by a national newspaper sees the former Labour council leader dump blame on his erstwhile colleagues. By STEVEN DOWNES The council leader who oversaw Town Hall meetings and gatherings … Continue reading
Posted in Alisa Flemming, Alison Butler, Andrew Pelling, Brick by Brick, Callton Young, Clive Fraser, Colm Lacey, Croydon Council, Inside Croydon, Jo Negrini, Katherine Kerswell, Manju Shahul Hameed, Paul Scott, Report in the Public Interest, Section 114 notice, Simon Hall, Stuart Collins, Stuart King, The Penn Report, Tony Newman
Tagged #PennReport, Alisa Flemming, Alison Butler, Andrew Ellson, Callton Young, Clive Fraser, Conservative, Council Tax, Croydon, Croydon Council, Enid Mollyneaux, Jo Negrini, Labour, London Borough of Croydon, Manju Shahul Hameed, Paul Scott, Penn Report, Simon Hall, Stuart Collins, STUART KING, The Penn Report, The Times, Tony Newman, Tory
9 Comments
Kerswell still holds out over Penn Report’s recommendations
CROYDON IN CRISIS: ‘Those with the biggest responsibilities and with statutory duties let the organisation down’ according to the investigation into the council’s financial collapse. The two-year delay in publication appears to have let down the borough’s residents and council … Continue reading
Posted in Brick by Brick, Croydon Council, Jacqueline Harris-Baker, Jo Negrini, Katherine Kerswell, Lisa Taylor, Report in the Public Interest, Shifa Mustafa, Simon Hall, The Penn Report, Tony Newman
Tagged #PennReport, Brick by Brick, CIPFA, Conservative, Croydon, Croydon Council, Jacqueline Harris-Baker, Jo Negrini, Katherine Kerswell, Labour, Lisa Taylor, London Borough of Croydon, Metropolitan Police, Penn Report, Shifa Mustafa, Simon Hall, Solicitors Regulation Authority, The Penn Report, Tony Newman, Tory
12 Comments
Newman breaks his silence to tell Mail: I did no wrong
CROYDON IN CRISIS: With the Penn Report into possible wrong-doing at the council expected to be released by officials shortly, the former council leader has responded to reports in the national press. By STEVEN DOWNES The Daily Mail today became … Continue reading
Posted in Brick by Brick, Business, Council Tax, Croydon Council, Croydon Park Hotel, Inside Croydon, Jacqueline Harris-Baker, Jo Negrini, Katherine Kerswell, Lisa Taylor, Mayor Jason Perry, Report in the Public Interest, Richard Simpson, RIPI II: Fairfield Halls, Simon Hall, Stuart King, The Penn Report, Tony Newman
Tagged #PennReport, Brick by Brick, Conservative, Council Tax, Croydon, Croydon Council, Jo Negrini, Katherine Kerswell, Labour, Mayor Jason Perry, Penn Report, The Penn Report, Tony Newman, Tory
14 Comments
Taxing times for Perry as he deploys Negrini as his ‘dead cat’
Try not to get your hopes up too much ahead of next week’s Penn Report meeting, suggests STEVEN DOWNES. The Mayor might be over-promising before under-delivering again Is Jo Negrini being used as a “dead cat” by Croydon Mayor Jason … Continue reading
Posted in "Hammersfield", Brick by Brick, Business, Colm Lacey, Croydon Council, Jo Negrini, Katherine Kerswell, Mayor Jason Perry, Richard Simpson, RIPI II: Fairfield Halls, The Penn Report
Tagged #PennReport, Boris Johnson, Brick by Brick, Colm Lacey, Conservative, Croydon, Croydon Council, Fairfield Halls, Hammersfield, High Court, Jane Mulcahy KC, Jo Negrini, London Borough of Croydon, Lynton Crosby, Mayor Jason Perry, Penn Report, Richard Simpson, The Penn Report, Tory, Westfield
12 Comments
£495,000 for a flat – this is Brick by Brick’s ‘affordable’ housing
The argument that the council-owned property developer was somehow the answer to the borough’s housing crisis appears lost among the high cost of its properties in Coulsdon. By BARRATT HOLMES, housing correspondent Flats in Coulsdon that were built by council-owned … Continue reading
Mayor Perry: ‘It’s going to get worse before it gets better’
CROYDON IN CRISIS: It didn’t take very long once he became Croydon’s first executive Mayor after telling the electorate that he had a plan, that Jason Perry was forced to admit that he never had a plan at all. By … Continue reading
Posted in Bernard Weatherill House, Brick by Brick, Council Tax, Croydon Council, Jo Negrini, Katherine Kerswell, Mayor Jason Perry, Mike Fisher, Section 114 notice, URV
Tagged #PennReport, 15% Council Tax hike, Bernard Weatherill House, CCURV, Conservative, Council Tax, Croydon, Croydon Council, Fisher's Folly, John Laing, Labour, Mayor, Mayor Jason Perry, Mike Fisher, Penn Report, The Penn Report, The Shard, Tory, Town Hall petition, Toxic debt
12 Comments
Perry to preside over record-breaking 15% Council Tax hike
CROYDON IN CRISIS: The borough with one of the biggest Council Tax bills in London has just been given permission to make those bills even bigger. Much bigger. EXCLUSIVE by STEVEN DOWNES Croydon, under Tory Mayor Jason Perry, has been … Continue reading
Posted in Adult Social Care, Brick by Brick, Children's Services, Council Tax, Croydon Council, Improvement Board, Mayor Jason Perry, Section 114 notice, Tony McArdle
Tagged Conservative, Council Tax, Croydon, Croydon Council, Department for Levelling Up, DLUHC, Labour, London, London Borough of Croydon, Mayor Jason Perry, Michael Gove, Slough Borough Council, Thurrock Council, Tory
15 Comments
The end is nigh: Brick by Brick’s final tower block is sold off
Our housing correspondent, BARRATT HOLMES, on the council’s increasingly desperate efforts to flog off the last developments from its inept house-builder Flyover Towers, the final development by Brick by Brick, Croydon Council’s bankrupting building firm, has been sold as a … Continue reading
Perry LIED to council over Brick by Brick’s ‘stair-less’ house
CROYDON IN CRISIS: Opposition councillors demand an immediate apology and question whether the borough’s credulous Tory Mayor can be trusted. EXCLUSIVE by STEVEN DOWNES Officials from Croydon Council have been forced to admit that the Conservative Mayor, Jason Perry, lied … Continue reading
Posted in Andrew Pelling, Brick by Brick, Croydon Council, Croydon Greens, Libraries, Mayor Jason Perry, Ria Patel, Section 114 notice, Stuart King
Tagged Andrew Pelling, Brick by Brick, Conservative, Croydon, Croydon Council, Gayle Gander, Green Party, Labour, London Borough of Croydon, Mayor Jason Perry, Nolan Principles, Stair-less house, STUART KING, Tory
20 Comments
Negrini strikes out with her post-council business venture
Times are tough for start-up businesses in the construction sector. Especially those with little to offer but their own hubris. EXCLUSIVE by STEVEN DOWNES Jo “Negreedy” Negrini has applied to strike-off the consultancy business that she set-up in the weeks … Continue reading
Croydon needs deal that could set precedent for all councils
CROYDON IN CRISIS: A government-appointed inspector, council directors and senior councillors all agree that throwing millions more at the cash-strapped council won’t fix its deep-seated problems. EXCLUSIVE by STEVEN DOWNES The Tories who control Croydon Town Hall have already done … Continue reading
Posted in Brick by Brick, Council Tax, Croydon Council, Improvement Board, Jane West, Jason Cummings, Jo Negrini, Mayor Jason Perry, Mike Fisher, Section 114 notice, Tony McArdle, Tony Newman
Tagged Boris Johnson, Conservative, Council Tax, Croydon, Croydon Council, Department for Levelling Up, DLUHC, Improvement and Assurance Panel, Improvement Panel, Jason Cummings, Jo Negrini, Labour, Liverpool City Council, London Borough of Croydon, Mayor Jason Perry, Michael Gove, Thurrock Council, Tony McArdle, Tony Newman, Tory
8 Comments
Mayor Perry must get at least £33m for BxB’s Coulsdon flats
CROYDON COMMENTARY: In our first public platform article of 2023, former MP and Mayoral candidate ANDREW PELLING, pictured right, says that it is essential to get maximum value from the cash-strapped council’s assets – and having more than a single … Continue reading
Posted in Andrew Pelling, Brick by Brick, Croydon Council, Housing, Mayor Jason Perry, Planning, Property
Tagged Andrew Pelling, Brick by Brick, Conservative, Coulsdon, Croydon, Croydon Council, Labour, Lion Green Road, Lion Green Road car park, London Borough of Croydon, Red Clover Gardens, Tory
8 Comments
Brick by Brick close to selling off Coulsdon flats at half-price
CROYDON IN CRISIS: The borough’s residents could be short-changed again as the council’s housing developer bails out by selling Lion Green Road flats on the cheap. EXCLUSIVE by STEVEN DOWNES One of the country’s biggest housing associations is in talks … Continue reading
Now Lambeth Labour forced to ditch its failed housing venture
Our housing correspondent, BARRATT HOLMES, on the latest embarrassing climbdown by a south London council Lambeth Council is to wind up its arms-length housebuilding company Homes for Lambeth after an official review described its performance as “very poor” and recommended … Continue reading
Posted in Brick by Brick, Business, Community associations, Croydon North, Housing, Lambeth Council, London-wide issues, Matthew Bennett, Steve Reed MP
Tagged Bob Kerslake, Brick by Brick, Central Hill estate, Cressingham Gardens, Croydon, Croydon North, Homes for Lambeth, Kerslake Review, Labour, Lambeth council, Lord Kerslake, Matthew Bennett, Pete Elliott, Steve Reed OBE
11 Comments
Gove’s broadside at builders over their ‘ugly’ developments
Michael Gove, in his second spell as the Tories’ Levelling Up Secretary, has declared war against “ugly” buildings, in an effort to reduce opposition to residential developments. That could be bad news for the profit-hungry developers who seek to replace … Continue reading
Posted in Brick by Brick, Environment, Housing, Planning
Tagged Brick by Brick, Conservative, Croydon, Department for Levelling Up, DLUHC, Housing, Michael Gove, Planning, Tory
2 Comments
‘You seem to be trying to put the genie back in the bottle’
A High Court judge yesterday refused Croydon Council’s attempt to ‘unpublish’ documents that it had itself put into the public domain. STEVEN DOWNES, Editor of Inside Croydon, on a small victory for the freedom of the press Two years ago … Continue reading
Posted in Brick by Brick, Croydon Council, Inside Croydon, Jo Negrini, Katherine Kerswell, Stephen Lawrence-Orumwense
Tagged Brick by Brick, Court 13, Croydon, Croydon Council, High Court, Jo Negrini, Judge Nicklin, Royal Courts of Justice, Stephen Lawrence-Orumwense, The Honourable Mr Justice Nicklin, Tony Newman
30 Comments
#PennReport: No referrals sent to staff’s professional bodies
CROYDON IN CRISIS: Recommendations for action made by auditors, a Local Government Association report and two sets of legal experts have not been acted on by the current CEO. EXCLUSIVE by STEVEN DOWNES Confidential legal advice provided to Croydon Council … Continue reading
Posted in Brick by Brick, Croydon Council, Fairfield Halls, Hamida Ali, Jo Negrini, Katherine Kerswell, Lisa Taylor, Report in the Public Interest, RIPI II: Fairfield Halls, Section 114 notice, Shifa Mustafa, Stuart King, The Penn Report
Tagged #PennReport, Brick by Brick, Browne Jacobson, CIPFA, Croydon, Croydon Council, Hamida Ali, Jane Mulcahy KC, Jo Negrini, Katherine Kerswell, Labour, Lisa Taylor, London Borough of Croydon, Penn Report, Richard Penn, Shifa Mustafa, Solicitors Regulation Authority, STUART KING, The Penn Report
7 Comments
Council threatens injunction over reports it published itself
CROYDON IN CRISIS: Having published two confidential reports on its own website last week, today Croydon Council’s top legal official threatened this website with a High Court injunction. By STEVEN DOWNES The myth that Jason Perry, Croydon’s part-time Mayor, has … Continue reading
Posted in Brick by Brick, Croydon Council, Jo Negrini, Katherine Kerswell, Mayor Jason Perry, Report in the Public Interest, RIPI II: Fairfield Halls, Section 114 notice, Stephen Lawrence-Orumwense, The Penn Report
Tagged #PennReport, Brick by Brick, Croydon, Croydon Council, Jo Negrini, Katherine Kerswell, Labour, London Borough of Croydon, Mayor Jason Perry, Penn Report, Richard Penn, Stephen Lawrence-Orumwnese, The Penn Report
5 Comments
‘Better than evens’ chance of winning Negrini legal case
CROYDON IN CRISIS: After doing their utmost for almost two years to suppress the findings and recommendations of the Penn Report investigation into the council’s financial collapse, Katherine Kerswell’s blundering local authority managed to publish two confidential legal reports on … Continue reading
Posted in Brick by Brick, Croydon Council, Fairfield Halls, Hamida Ali, Jo Negrini, Katherine Kerswell, Lisa Taylor, Report in the Public Interest, RIPI II: Fairfield Halls, Section 114 notice, Shifa Mustafa, Stuart King, The Penn Report
Tagged #PennReport, Brick by Brick, Croydon, Croydon Council, Hamida Ali, Jane Mulcahy KC, Jo Negrini, Katherine Kerswell, Labour, Lisa Taylor, London Borough of Croydon, Penn Report, Richard Penn, Shifa Mustafa, STUART KING, The Penn Report
13 Comments
Mayor Khan calls for ‘better, safer, fairer housing’ in London
Croydon Council could face financial penalties if it fails to keep its social housing up to higher standards, Sadiq Khan, the Mayor of London, has warned. City Hall holds the purse strings for billions of pounds of housing development funding, … Continue reading
Posted in Brick by Brick, Community associations, Croydon Council, Housing, Katherine Kerswell, London-wide issues, Mayor of London, Regina Road Residents' Support Group, Sadiq Khan, South Norwood, Tom Copley
Tagged Brick by Brick, City Hall, Croydon, Croydon Council, GLA, Greater London Authority, Housing, London, London Assembly, Mayor, Mayor Sadiq Khan, Sadiq Khan
Leave a comment
After nearly a year, Gove is sitting on two ‘improvement’ reports
CROYDON IN CRISIS: Millions of pounds of public money are at stake, a matter not to be sniffed at, but government minister is staying schtum over state of cash-strapped council’s finances. EXCLUSIVE by STEVEN DOWNES Michael Gove, re-installed as Secretary … Continue reading
Posted in Brick by Brick, Croydon Council, Housing, Improvement Board, Katherine Kerswell, Mayor Jason Perry, Report in the Public Interest, Section 114 notice, Tony McArdle
Tagged Conservative, Croydon, Croydon Council, Department for Levelling Up, DLUHC, Improvement and Assurance Panel, Katherine Kerswell, Labour, Mayor Jason Perry, Michael Gove, Robert Jenrick, Tony McArdle, Tory
1 Comment
#PennReport: Negrini staged a power-grab over councillors
CROYDON IN CRISIS: The long-withheld Penn Report describes a dysfunctional local authority where the former CEO was accused of ignoring elected representatives and keeping vital information from them. In our latest extract, we reveal what one Labour cabinet member really … Continue reading
Posted in Alison Butler, Brick by Brick, Croydon Council, Jo Negrini, Katherine Kerswell, Paul Scott, Report in the Public Interest, Section 114 notice, Simon Hall, The Penn Report, Tony Newman
Tagged #PennReport, Brick by Brick, Croydon, Croydon Council, Grant Thornton, Jo Negrini, Katherine Kerswell, Labour, Penn Report, Report in the Public Interest, Richard Penn, RIPI, Simon Hall, The Penn Report, Tony Newman
12 Comments
