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Category Archives: Jo Negrini
Town Hall boss Hibberd quits to take top job at Bristol council
CROYDON IN CRISIS: The £150,000 per year corporate director ultimately responsible for the council buying CCTV cameras that don’t work in Britain and who oversaw the procurement disaster over the borough’s bus shelters has now ensured the closure of four … Continue reading
290 homes planned for Sutton by man behind Brick by Brick
The senior council director who helped set up Croydon’s doomed housing company is now behind borrowing £26.4m towards 290 homes in Sutton town centre, reports CARL SHILTON Sutton Council is to quadruple the number of homes on its town centre … Continue reading
Roll up! Roll up! Chance to tell council what you really think
CROYDON IN CRISIS: Tomorrow evening staff at Fisher’s Folly are staging an under-publicised online engagement event where they ask you to ‘Come and have your say!’ It might be an invitation that they regret making. By KEN LEE, our Town … Continue reading
Brick by Brick residents tell Mayor Perry: ‘We’ve had enough’
As the housing company that did so much to bankrupt Croydon Council is being wound-up, residents in Crystal Palace who bought its new-build homes say their serious complaints are being ignored Residents of three Brick by Brick developments this week … Continue reading
Posted in Brick by Brick, Claire Bonham, Croydon Council, Crystal Palace and Upper Norwood, Housing, Mayor Jason Perry
Tagged Auckland Rise, Brick by Brick, Claire Bonham, Conservative, Croydon, Croydon Council, Crystal Palace, Crystal Palace and Upper Norwood, Liberal Democrats, London Borough of Croydon, Mayor Jason Perry, Tory
5 Comments
No one can afford ticket machines for the Bridge to Nowhere
After 11 years and at least £22m of public money, it now turns out that the organisations responsible for the pedestrian bridge at the northern end of East Croydon Station don’t have the readies to finally complete the project, as … Continue reading
Posted in Addiscombe West, Community associations, Commuting, Croydon Council, East Croydon, ECCO, Heather Cheesbrough, Jerry Fitzpatrick, Menta Tower, Planning, Property, Transport
Tagged Bridge to Nowhere, Croydon, Croydon Council, East Croydon Community Organisation, East Croydon station, ECCO, Govia Thameslink, Heather Cheesbrough, Jason Perry, Jerry Fitzpatrick, Mayor Jason Perry, Menta, Network Rail
13 Comments
Council’s action over Negrini pay-off ‘looks dead in the water’
CROYDON IN CRISIS: Despite a bit of grandstanding by Tory Mayor that he would ‘hold to account’ those responsible for bankrupting the borough, an official Freedom of Information response shows that the council is actually doing nothing. EXCLUSIVE by STEVEN … Continue reading
Posted in Croydon Council, Jacqueline Harris-Baker, Jo Negrini, Katherine Kerswell, Lisa Taylor, Mayor Jason Perry, Richard Simpson, Section 114 notice, Shifa Mustafa
Tagged Conservative, Croydon, Croydon Council, Jacqueline Harris-Baker, Jo Negrini, Katherine Kerswell, Labour, Lisa Taylor, London Borough of Croydon, Mayor Jason Perry, Penn Report, Richard Penn, Richard Simpson, S114 notice, Section 114, Section 114 Notice, Shifa Mustafa
7 Comments
Perry admits he has failed in begging letter to Labour’s Rayner
With bail-outs since 2021 of £417m, Croydon’s executive Mayor says that he cannot deliver ‘balanced’ budgets, as he asks the new government to do what his chums in the previous Conservative government refused to do: write off part of the … Continue reading
Posted in Council Tax, Croydon Council, Improvement Board, Jo Negrini, Katherine Kerswell, London-wide issues, Mayor Jason Perry, Section 114 notice, Tony McArdle, Uncategorized
Tagged Angela Rayner MP, Conservative, Council Tax, Croydon, Croydon Council, Jo Negrini, Labour, Levelling Up, London Borough of Croydon, Mayor Jason Perry, MHCLG, Mike Fisher, Ministry of Housing Communities and Local Government, Section 114, Section 114 Notice, Tory
11 Comments
Younger people have had their futures sold down the river
CROYDON ELECTION QUESTIONS For this General Election, Inside Croydon has been offering a platform to candidates from across the political spectrum, from across the borough’s four constituencies. Much the same questions, their answers published at length. Our first interview is … Continue reading
Posted in 2024 General Election, Brick by Brick, Claire Bonham, Council Tax, Croydon parks, Crystal Palace and Upper Norwood, Housing, London-wide issues
Tagged 15% Council Tax hike, 2024 General Election, Brick by Brick, Claire Bonham, Council Tax, Croydon, Crystal Palace, Crystal Palace and Upper Norwood, David Cameron, General Election, General Election 2024, Liberal Democrats, London, Nick Clegg, Say No To 15%, Sir Ed Davey, Streatham and Croydon North
2 Comments
Coulsdon flats deal was rushed through as massive tax dodge
CROYDON COMMENTARY: Professional financial analyst RICHARD HOWARD, pictured left, has been concerned for some time about the multi-million-pound sale-and-leaseback arrangement that the council has carved out with an Essex property firm for Red Clover Gardens in Coulsdon. Here, he goes … Continue reading
Posted in 2024 General Election, Brick by Brick, Business, Chris Philp MP, Coulsdon, Croydon Council, Croydon South, Housing, Jason Cummings, London-wide issues, Mayor Jason Perry, Rick Howard
Tagged Brick by Brick, Chris Philp MP, Conservative, Croydon, Croydon Council, Croydon South, Jason Cummings, London, London Borough of Croydon, Mayor Jason Perry, Mears, Red Clover Gardens, Regen Capital, Richard Howard, Tory
14 Comments
Coulsdon’s new flats with ‘parking option’ for £100 per month
Residents have started to take occupancy in the long-vacant Red Clover Gardens. But as housing correspondent BARRATT HOLMES reports, anyone owning a car is likely to get hit with extra bills Private tenants looking to live in new blocks of … Continue reading
Posted in Brick by Brick, Business, Coulsdon, Coulsdon East, Coulsdon Town, Croydon Council, Housing, Mayor Jason Perry
Tagged Brick by Brick, BxB, Conservative, Coulsdon, Croydon, Croydon Council, Lion Green Road car park, London Borough of Croydon, Mears Group Plc, Red Clover Gardens, Regen Capital, Tory
3 Comments
Perry’s ‘sale’ of Coulsdon flats will cost Croydon £60million!
CROYDON IN CRISIS: The borough’s Tory Mayor is accused of ‘doing a Tony Newman’ over a multi-million-pound property deal, one which will cost future generations tens of millions. EXCLUSIVE by STEVEN DOWNES Meet the new boss. Same as the old … Continue reading
Posted in Andrew Pelling, Brick by Brick, Business, Chris Philp MP, Coulsdon, Croydon Council, Croydon East, Croydon South, Housing, Jane West, Jason Cummings, Mayor Jason Perry, Mears, Property, Rick Howard, Susmita Sen
Tagged Andrew Pelling, Brick by Brick, Chris Philp MP, Conservative, Coulsdon, Croydon, Croydon Affordable Homes, Croydon Council, Croydon South, Labour, Liberal Democrats, Lion Green Road car park, London Borough of Croydon, Mayor Jason Perry, Mears, Red Clover Gardens, Regen Capital, Richard Howard, Tony Newman, Tory
6 Comments
Brick by Brick’s final flats put up for rent at £2,400 per month
In Coulsdon, 157 flats have been standing empty for almost two years, in the middle of a housing crisis. But now, with the council silent on the multi-million sale of the properties, some are being made available for eye-watering rents. … Continue reading
Posted in Brick by Brick, Business, Coulsdon, Coulsdon East, Coulsdon Town, Coulsdon West Residents' Association, Croydon Council, East Coulsdon Residents' Association, Housing, Mayor Jason Perry
Tagged Alison Butler, Brick by Brick, BxB, Chris Philp MP, Colm Lacey, Conservative, Coulsdon, Croydon, Croydon Council, Jason Cummings, Jo Negrini, Labour, London Borough of Croydon, Mary Duggan, Mears Group Plc, Notting Hill Genesis, Paul Scott, Red Clover Gardens, Regen Capital, Tony Newman, Tory
4 Comments
Auckland Rise residents suffer the ‘curse’ of Brick by Brick
Our housing correspondent, BARRATT HOLMES, reports on how some of the warnings about the council house-builders’ ‘affordable’ homes are becoming an costly reality in Crystal Palace Residents in supposedly “affordable” shared ownership homes built in Crystal Palace by the council-owned … Continue reading
Posted in Brick by Brick, Business, Claire Bonham, Colm Lacey, Croydon Council, Crystal Palace and Upper Norwood, Housing, London-wide issues, Mayor Jason Perry, Planning
Tagged Alison Butler, Auckland Rise, Brick by Brick, Claire Bonham, Colm Lacey, Conservative, Croydon, Croydon Council, Crystal Palace and Upper Norwood, Jo Negrini, Labour, Liberal Democrats, London, London Borough of Croydon, Tory
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Council chief Kerswell has doubled up on £140,000+ executives
CROYDON IN CRISIS: While more than 400 frontline jobs have been axed since 2020, the executive suite in Fisher’s Folly has barely been touched. But the council CEO is spending even more on ‘cost-cutting’ consultants. EXCLUSIVE by STEVEN DOWNES Katherine … Continue reading
Posted in Council Tax, Croydon Council, Improvement Board, Jo Negrini, Katherine Kerswell, Mayor Jason Perry, Section 114 notice
Tagged 15% Council Tax hike, Conservative, Corporate directors, Council Tax, Croydon, Croydon Council, Elaine Jackson, Executive directors, Hamida Ali, Jo Negrini, Katherine Kerswell, Labour, London Borough of Croydon, Mayor Jason Perry, Regina Road, Tony Newman, Tory
6 Comments
Farewell but no thanks: troubleshooters leave BxB’s board
Step by tiny step, the winding up of failed developer Brick by Brick is coming to an end, reports BARRATT HOLMES, housing correspondent The deckchairs are being re-arranged on the deck of Brick by Brick, seemingly for one final time. … Continue reading
Posted in Brick by Brick, Business, Colm Lacey, Coulsdon, Croydon Council, David Courcoux, Jo Negrini, Report in the Public Interest, RIPI II: Fairfield Halls, Section 114 notice, Simon Hall, The Penn Report, Tony Newman
Tagged affordable housing, Andrew Percival, Brick by Brick, Companies House, Croydon, Croydon Council, David Corcoux, Duncan Whitfield, Griff Marshalsay, Griffith McCallum Marshalsay, Homes for Lambeth, Housing, Ian O'Donnell, Jo Negrini, Labour, Lambeth, London Borough of Croydon, Southwark Council, Stephen Hopkins, Tony Newman
8 Comments
How myth of shared ownership has made housing crisis worse
Six years ago, one of Inside Croydon’s loyal readers reported on the sheer unaffordability of the shared ownership homes being built in the borough by Brick by Brick. Now, as ANDREW FISHER explains, a parliamentary select committee has published a … Continue reading
Wanted: ‘storyteller’ to spin CEO Kerswell’s recruitment binge
CROYDON IN CRISIS: ‘History,’ said Marx (Karl, not Groucho), ‘repeats itself, first as tragedy, then as farce.’ At our cash-strapped council, we appear to have arrived at the farcical stage. EXCLUSIVE by STEVEN DOWNES How good is your “story-telling”? £50,000 … Continue reading
Posted in Council Tax, Croydon Council, Housing, Improvement Board, Jo Negrini, Katherine Kerswell, Mayor Jason Perry, Section 114 notice, Tony McArdle
Tagged 15% Council Tax hike, Conservative, Corporate directors, Council Tax, Croydon, Croydon Council, Elaine Jackson, Executive directors, Hamida Ali, Jo Negrini, Katherine Kerswell, London Borough of Croydon, Mayor Jason Perry, Regina Road, Tony Newman, Tory
8 Comments
£68m: final cost of Brick by Brick, as agreed by Mayor Perry
£68m This is what a “solvent liquidation” looks like, according to Croydon’s elected Mayor Jason Perry. That’s the latest final estimate of the exit costs of winding down and closing Brick by Brick, the failed housing company set up by … Continue reading
Posted in Alison Butler, Brick by Brick, Business, Colm Lacey, Coulsdon, Croydon Council, Housing, Improvement Board, Jo Negrini, Mayor Jason Perry, Paul Scott, Planning, Simon Hall, Tony McArdle, Tony Newman
Tagged Alison Butler, Brick by Brick, Colm Lacey, Conservative, Coulsdon, Council Tax, Croydon, Croydon Council, Jo Negrini, Labour, London Borough of Croydon, Mayor Jason Perry, Paul Scott, Tony Newman, Tory
13 Comments
Brick by Brick posts £7.6m loss in latest annual trading report
CROYDON IN CRISIS: Yet more bad news finally emerging into the public record. By BARRATT HOLMES, our house building correspondent Even when it is no longer paying above the odds to build new homes, Brick by Brick continues to lose … Continue reading
Council failed in legal duty to publish accounts for three years
CROYDON COMMENTARY: While the narrative from the Government-appointed improvement panel, the council and the levelling up department is upbeat about an ‘increased pace’ of change at the bankrupt borough, a more realistic picture, as NICHOLAS PANES points out, is of … Continue reading
Kerswell keeps councillors waiting for her tribunal feedback
CROYDON IN CRISIS: How will the borough’s £192,474 per year chief executive explain the suggestion that she lied under oath when defending herself against allegations of racism? By KEN LEE, Town Hall reporter Almost a month has passed since the … Continue reading
Posted in Croydon Council, Hazel Simmonds, Jacqueline Harris-Baker, Jo Negrini, Katherine Kerswell, Lisa Taylor, Richard Simpson, The Penn Report, Tony McArdle
Tagged #PennReport, Appointments and disciplinary committee, Croydon, Croydon Council, Employment Tribunal, Hazel Simmonds, Jo Negrini, Katherine Kerswell, London Borough of Croydon, Penn Report, Richard Penn, Section 114, The Penn Report
12 Comments
Accountancy body launches investigation of ex-finance chief
CROYDON IN CRISIS: Thurrock, in Essex, gave our own council a two-year head start in the bankruptcy stakes, but now they are taking the kind of action which was recommended here long ago. By our Town Hall reporter, KEN LEE … Continue reading
Posted in Croydon Council, Jacqueline Harris-Baker, Jo Negrini, Katherine Kerswell, Lisa Taylor, Outside Croydon, Richard Simpson, Section 114 notice, Shifa Mustafa, The Penn Report
Tagged Bureau of Investigative Journalism, Conservative, Croydon, Croydon Council, Essex, Jacqueline Harris-Baker, Jo Negrini, Katherine Kerswell, Liam Kavanagh, Lisa Taylor, London Borough of Croydon, Richard Simpson, Sean Clark, Shifa Mustafa, Thurrock, Thurrock Council, Tory
7 Comments
Tribunal judge finds no evidence of racism or unfair dismissal
CROYDON IN CRISIS: A landmark judgement, handed down today, determined that the council did not act in a racist, prejudicial or harrassing manner towards one of its former senior staff members. By STEVEN DOWNES This was one battle that David … Continue reading
Posted in Croydon Council, Hazel Simmonds, Jo Negrini, Katherine Kerswell, Section 114 notice, The Penn Report
Tagged Browne Jacobson, Conservative, Croydon, Croydon Council, Employment Tribunal, Hazel Simmonds, Jo Negrini, Judge Adam Leith, Katherine Kerswell, London Borough of Croydon, Patricia Leonard, S114, S114 notice, Section 114, To encourage the others
2 Comments
Simpson and the Sutton similarities over £100m property loan
Sutton’s investments, developments and procurement come under scrutiny after the Beech Tree Place débâcle. CARL SHILTON reports Sutton Council continues its acquisitions and regeneration projects in the borough. But in a tough economic climate, some cracks are beginning to show. … Continue reading
Posted in Brick by Brick, Business, Housing, Property, Richard Simpson, Sutton Council
Tagged Beech Tree Place, Brick by Brick, Croydon Council, Elm Grove, Fairfield Halls, Liberal Democrats, Oru Space, Richard Simpson, Royal Marsden Cancer Hub, skate park, St Nicholas Centre, Sutton Council
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