Recent Comments
Sarah Hartman on SOLD! Westfield in £31.5m deal… Jim Bush on How sci-fi author John Munro d… Arfur Towcrate on How sci-fi author John Munro d… BLG Gazetteer - Curt… on Heritage building Heathfield H… Arfur Towcrate on ‘It put my family at gre… Gordon Thompson on ‘The saddest news about…
Category Archives: Jane West
What will sending in Commissioners mean for our council?
Government-appointed bureaucrats taking over the running of local level services happens only in ‘very exceptional circumstances and very much as a last resort’ according to Whitehall guidance Since 2020, following Croydon’s first Section 114 Notice issued that November, a number … Continue reading
Posted in Council Tax, Croydon Council, Elaine Jackson, Improvement Board, Jane West, Katherine Kerswell, Marie Snelling, Mayor Jason Perry, Section 114 notice, Stabilisation Plan, Tony McArdle
Tagged 15% Council Tax hike, Commissioners, Conservative, Council Tax, Croydon, Croydon Council, Government, Government Commissioners, Improvement and Assurance Panel, Improvement Board, Jane West, Jim McMahon, Katherine Kerswell, London Borough of Croydon, Mayor Jason Perry, MHCLG, Ministry of Housing Communities and Local Government, Section 114, Section 114 Notice, Tony McArdle, Tory
6 Comments
Kerswell’s ‘Stabilisation Plan’ has failed before it is approved
CROYDON IN CRISIS: The fourth rescue plan issued by our cash-strapped council in as many years ‘cannot deliver a balanced budget’. By WALTER CRONXITE, Political Editor “Desperate” and “deluded” are a couple of the kinder things that have been said … Continue reading
Posted in 'Future Croydon', Council Tax, Croydon Council, Improvement Board, Jane West, Katherine Kerswell, Mayor Jason Perry, Section 114 notice, Stabilisation Plan, Tony McArdle
Tagged 2025 Council budget, Budget, Conservative, Council budget, Council Tax, Croydon, Croydon Council, Exceptional financial support, Exit Strategy, Improvement and Assurance Panel, Improvement Panel, Jane West, Katherine Kerswell, London Borough of Croydon, Mayor Jason Perry, MHCLG, Ministry of Housing Communities and Local Government, Stabilisation Plan, Tony McArdle, Tory, Unbalanced budget
10 Comments
Council chief West warns staff that finances ‘remain serious’
CROYDON IN CRISIS: The council appears to be sleepwalking into another financial crisis, without a full meeting at the Town Hall for three months, while bosses at Fisher’s Folly waiting for the next government directive. EXCLUSIVE by STEVEN DOWNES “Our … Continue reading
Posted in 'Future Croydon', Council Tax, Croydon Council, Improvement Board, Jane West, Katherine Kerswell, Mayor Jason Perry, Section 114 notice, Tony McArdle
Tagged 2025 Council budget, Budget, Conservative, Council budget, Council Tax, Croydon, Croydon Council, Exceptional financial support, Improvement and Assurance Panel, Improvement Panel, Jane West, Katherine Kerswell, London Borough of Croydon, Mayor Jason Perry, Tory, Unbalanced budget
6 Comments
Croydon’s finances are not sustainable warns council chief
CROYDON IN CRISIS: Ahead of tonight’s Council Tax-setting meeting, an exec director says the authority cannot continue by borrowing more, with overspends likely to rise to more than £200m by 2028. By our Town Hall reporter, KEN LEE Jason “Fix … Continue reading
Posted in Council Tax, Croydon Council, Jane West, Katherine Kerswell, Mayor Jason Perry, Section 114 notice
Tagged Angela Rayner, Conservative, Council Tax, Croydon, Croydon Council, Jane West, Jason Cummings, Jim McMahon, Katherine Kerswell, London Borough of Croydon, Mayor Jason Perry, MHCLG, Ministry of Housing Communities and Local Government, S114, S114 notice, Tory
12 Comments
Council Tax hits £2,500 per year as debts continue to mount
CROYDON IN CRISIS: Council chief exec and Mayor pass the buck to central government for borough’s continuing financial problems, while confirming that they are to axe another 360 jobs. Watch the world’s worst comedy double act – Perry and Kerswell … Continue reading
Posted in Adult Social Care, Children's Services, Council Tax, Croydon Council, Housing, Jane West, Katherine Kerswell, Mayor Jason Perry, SEND
Tagged Conservative, Council Tax, Croydon, Croydon Council, Jane West, Katherine Kerswell, London, London Borough of Croydon, Mayor Jason Perry, Tory
22 Comments
The Jase and Kathy Show – a Christmas Special for Croydon!
CROYDON IN CRISIS: Inside Croydon has obtained a leaked video from an internal council webinar earlier this month, where the Mayor fails to mention the £83m overspend predicted in a recent report to government, and council CEO seems to blame … Continue reading
Posted in Children's Services, Council Tax, Croydon Council, Debbie Jones, Improvement Board, Inside Croydon, Jane West, Katherine Kerswell, Libraries, Mayor Jason Perry, Section 114 notice, The Penn Report
Tagged Brick by Brick, Christmas, Conservative, Council Tax, Croydon, Croydon Council, Debbie Jones, Fairfield Halls, Jane West, Katherine Kerswell, London Borough of Croydon, Mayor Jason Perry, Morecambe and Wise, S114 notice, Section 114 Notice, Tory, Young Mr Grace
5 Comments
Norbury and Norwood Junction council car parks to be sold off
CROYDON IN CRISIS: Town Hall reporter KEN LEE on how 157 Brick by Brick flats in Coulsdon were sold below the market rate, as the council continues to overspend on Mayor Perry’s unbalanced budget Anything that is not nailed down … Continue reading
Posted in Brick by Brick, Business, Council Tax, Croydon Council, Jane West, Mayor Jason Perry, Section 114 notice
Tagged Belgrave Road car park, Brick by Brick, Clifford Road car park, Communities and Local Government, Conservative, Council Tax, Croydon, Croydon Council, Granville Gardens car park, Jane West, Jason Cummings, London Borough of Croydon, Mayor Jason Perry, MHCLG, Ministry of Housing, Norbury, Norwood Junction, Red Clover Gardens, S114, S114 notice, Section 114, Section 114 Notice, South Norwood, Tory
2 Comments
Mayor Perry will hike Council Tax by more than 5% if allowed
CROYDON IN CRISIS: In a trick of political deviousness, Chancellor Rachel Reeves might be able to claim she has not broken a manifesto commitment while Croydon’s Mayor will keep to his ‘pledge’. But ordinary residents will all end up paying … Continue reading
Perry’s Council Tax increases to reach 27% by April 2025
CROYDON IN CRISIS: More mega-millions borrowing, more maximum tax increases, but still no solution in sight for the borough’s residents, as officials pretend that they are running a balanced budget. By STEVEN DOWNES Croydon residents will be hit by another … Continue reading
Posted in Adult Social Care, Children's Services, Council Tax, Croydon Council, Housing, Jane West, Katherine Kerswell, London-wide issues, Mayor Jason Perry, Section 114 notice
Tagged Angela Rayner MP, Conservative, Council Tax, Croydon, Croydon Council, Jane West, Katherine Kerswell, London, London Borough of Croydon, Mayor Jason Perry, S114, S114 notice, Section 114, Section 114 Notice, Tory
12 Comments
Perry ducks scrutiny over council financials that don’t add up
CROYDON IN CRISIS: Elected Mayor didn’t hang around to face the music from councillors as the £42m overspend was discussed at the Town Hall this week. By STEVEN DOWNES The council’s projected £42million overspend this financial year is “unprecedented”, and … Continue reading
Posted in Adult Social Care, Children's Services, Council Tax, Croydon Council, Housing, Improvement Board, Jane West, Jason Cummings, Katherine Kerswell, Leila Ben-Hassel, London-wide issues, Mayor Jason Perry, Section 114 notice, Tony McArdle
Tagged Conservative, Council Tax, Croydon, Croydon Council, Improvement and Assurance Panel, Jane West, Jason Cummings, Katherine Kerswell, Leila Ben-Hassel, London, London Borough of Croydon, Mayor Jason Perry, MHCLG, Ministry of Housing Communities and Local Government, Scrutiny committee, Section 114, Section 114 Notice, Tory
15 Comments
Mayor Perry busts his unbalanced budget with £42m overspend
CROYDON IN CRISIS: According to official figures, even with a £38m government bail-out, the Conservative-run council looks like spending £42m over budget in this financial year – and that’s £10m more than when it first went bust in 2020. EXCLUSIVE … Continue reading
Posted in Adult Social Care, Children's Services, Council Tax, Croydon Council, Housing, Improvement Board, Jane West, Katherine Kerswell, London-wide issues, Mayor Jason Perry, Section 114 notice, Tony McArdle
Tagged Chris Philp MP, Conservative, Council Tax, Croydon, Croydon Council, Improvement and Assurance Panel, Jane West, Katherine Kerswell, London, London Borough of Croydon, Mayor Jason Perry, MHCLG, Ministry of Housing Communities and Local Government, Section 114, Section 114 Notice, Tory
14 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
King gets his bluff called over Tory cuts and Council Tax hike
CROYDON IN CRISIS: It was déjà vu all over again at last night’s budget meeting, where ‘steadfast’ opposition melted as soon as the borough’s opposition councillors were given a stern talking to. TOWN HALL SKETCH by STEVEN DOWNES Anyone out … Continue reading
Posted in Claire Bonham, Council Tax, Croydon Council, Croydon Greens, Esther Sutton, Jane West, Jason Cummings, Katherine Kerswell, Mayor Jason Perry, Ria Patel, Stuart King
Tagged 15% Council Tax hike, Claire Bonham, Conservative, Council Tax, Croydon, Croydon Council, Esther Sutton, Fund Croydon Fairly, Jane West, Jason Cummings, Katherine Kerswell, Labour, Liberal Democrats, London Borough of Croydon, Mayor Jason Perry, Pay More Get Less, Ria Patel, STUART KING, Tory
5 Comments
It’s time for our elected councillors to stand up for Croydon
CROYDON IN CRISIS: Saddled with £1.4bn of ‘toxic’ debt, Mayor Perry has been rendered paralysed in his management of the cash-strapped council’s finances. Ahead of tonight’s budget meeting, ANDREW PELLING outlines some of the options for the borough’s politicians There’s … Continue reading
Posted in Adult Social Care, Children's Services, Community associations, Council Tax, Croydon Council, Croydon Greens, Esther Sutton, Improvement Board, Jane West, Jason Cummings, Katherine Kerswell, Planning, Ria Patel, Sarah Jones MP, Section 114 notice, Tony McArdle
Tagged 15% Council Tax hike, Andrew Pelling, Conservative, Council Tax, Croydon, Croydon Council, Department of Levelling Up, DLUHC, Esther Sutton, Green Party, Jane West, Jason Cummings, Katherine Kerswell, Labour, Liberal Democrats, London Borough of Croydon, Mayor Jason Perry, Michael Gove, Ria Patel, S114, S114 notice, Say No To 15%, Section 114, Section 114 Notice, Tony McArdle, Tory
8 Comments
McArdle’s £94.8m error in crucial report to minister Gove
CROYDON IN CRISIS: The latest submission from government-appointed experts included a small error that added up to very big money – and no one in power noticed. EXCLUSIVE By STEVEN DOWNES The latest report to Michael Gove at the Department … Continue reading
Posted in Croydon Council, Elaine Jackson, Improvement Board, Jane West, Katherine Kerswell, Mayor Jason Perry, Tony McArdle
Tagged Brick by Brick, Croydon, Croydon Council, Department for Levelling Up, DLUHC, Improvement and Assurance Panel, Improvement Panel, Katherine Kerswell, London Borough of Croydon, Michael Gove, Tony McArdle
8 Comments
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
Perry struggles with numbers to offer us: Pay More, Get Less
Our columnist ANDREW FISHER watched the Croydon Council budget webcast this week, so that you wouldn’t have to… Croydon’s very own answer to Laurel and Hardy took to the airwaves this week, as Conservative Mayor Jason Perry and his finance … Continue reading
Posted in Adult Social Care, Andrew Fisher, Council Tax, Croydon Council, Jane West, Jason Cummings, Mayor Jason Perry
Tagged 15% Council Tax hike, 2024 Council Budget, Adult Social Care, Andrew Fisher, Conservative, Council Tax, Croydon, Croydon Council, Jane West, Jason Cummings, London Borough of Croydon, Mayor Jason Perry, Tory
5 Comments
Perry to host webinar on his plans for more cuts and more debt
Croydon Mayor Jason Perry is staging a webinar on Monday, at which the public can “hear more about the council’s budget proposals for next year”, according to the council. Perry and Jason Cummings, the cabinet member for finance, the Tory … Continue reading
Colonnades sold by council for £25m under purchase price
CROYDON IN CRISIS: The Government-enforced fire sale of council assets is about to see the borough lose even more money, on a commercial property that has been making millions for the borough. EXCLUSIVE by STEVEN DOWNES Croydon’s Mayor and Tory … Continue reading
Posted in Business, Croydon Council, Croydon Park Hotel, Improvement Board, Jane West, Property, Purley Way, Simon Hall, Tony McArdle, Waddon
Tagged Boxpark, Colonnades, Croydon Council, Hammersfield, Hammerson, Improvement and Assurance Panel, Improvement Panel, Labour, London Borough of Croydon, Purley Way, Waddon, Westfield, Whitgift Centre
13 Comments
Didn’t I do well?! Kerswell gives herself a pat on the back
CROYDON IN CRISIS: It is three years to the week since the emergency committee meeting, attended by Jason Perry, that decided in secret to give £437,000 to Jo Negrini to leave her job as council CEO. Today, Negreedy’s replacement, Katherine … Continue reading
Posted in Council Tax, Croydon Council, Hazel Simmonds, Improvement Board, Jane West, Jo Negrini, Katherine Kerswell, Mayor Jason Perry, Section 114 notice, Tony McArdle
Tagged #PennReport, 15% Council Tax hike, Conservative, Council Tax, Croydon, Croydon Council, DLUHC, Electoral Commission, Improvement and Assurance Panel, Information Commissioners Office, Jo Negrini, Katherine Kerswell, LGA, LGC, Local Government Association, Local Government Chronicle, London Borough of Croydon, Mayor Jason Perry, Michael Gove, Penn Report, The Penn Report, Tory
21 Comments
Town Hall bomb scare halts committee’s rubbish discussion
Last night’s council scrutiny meeting had to be abandoned after the building was evacuated because of a bomb scare. The committee, chaired by Labour councillor Rowenna Davis, had spent more than an hour discussing the latest budget figures and the … Continue reading
You can depend on Croydon Labour: they always let you down
By STEVEN DOWNES, Editor, Inside Croydon In the end, it was all so sadly predictable. Yet even old cynics didn’t believe it was really going to happen in such a swift and shabby manner until they actually saw it all … Continue reading
Posted in Alisa Flemming, Callton Young, Chris Clark, Claire Bonham, Community associations, Council Tax, Croydon Council, Esther Sutton, Jane West, Janet Campbell, Karen Jewitt, Katherine Kerswell, Mayor Jason Perry, Patricia Hay-Justice, Ria Patel, Stuart King, Tamar Barrett (was Nwafor)
Tagged 15% Council Tax hike, Callton Young, Conservative, Council Tax, Croydon, Croydon Council, Green Party, Jane West, Katherine Kerswel, Labour, Liberal Democrats, London Borough of Croydon, Mayor Jason Perry, Tory
15 Comments
Councillors ready to vote against Perry’s 15% tax hike again
CROYDON IN CRISIS: Facing threats from the council lawyer, auditors and even Keir Starmer’s Labour Party, some councillors are determined to vote ‘in the interests of residents’ tonight, also knowing that they could bring down Mayor Perry. EXCLUSIVE by STEVEN … Continue reading
Posted in Council Tax, Croydon Council, Jane West, Katherine Kerswell, Mayor Jason Perry, Stephen Lawrence-Orumwense
Tagged 15% Council Tax hike, Conservative, Council Tax, Croydon, Croydon Council, Grant Thornton, Green Party, Jane West, Katherine Kerswell, Labour, Liberal Democrats, Mayor Jason Perry, Stephen Lawrence-Orumwense, Tory
14 Comments
37-34: Mayor’s 15% Council Tax hike rejected in budget vote
ANDREW FISHER sat through the three-and-a-half hours of last night’s budget non-setting meeting, so that you didn’t have to Labour, Green and Liberal Democrat councillors voted together last night to reject the budget proposal from the borough’s Conservative Mayor, Jason … Continue reading
Posted in Adele Benson, Andrew Fisher, Andrew Stranack, Community associations, Council Tax, Croydon Council, Jane West, Jason Cummings, Mayor Jason Perry, New Addington North, New Addington South, Rowenna Davis, Tamar Barrett (was Nwafor)
Tagged 15% Council Tax hike, Adele Benson, Andrew Fisher, Andy Stranack, Conservative, Council Tax, Croydon, Croydon Council, Green Party, Jason Cummings, Labour, Liberal Democrats, London Borough of Croydon, Mayor Jason Perry, New Addington, Rowenna Davis, STUART KING, Tamar Nwafor, Thornton Heath, Tory
12 Comments
If council budget fails to pass, expect a long night on Mar 8
CROYDON IN CRISIS: Former senior councillor JERRY FITZPATRICK looks ahead to tomorrow night’s key budget meeting, and previews what could be in store in the Town Hall meeting under an executive Mayor and with the balance of power between the … Continue reading
Posted in Council Tax, Croydon Council, Jane West, Jerry Fitzpatrick, Katherine Kerswell, Mayor Jason Perry, Section 114 notice
Tagged 15% Council Tax hike, Conservative, Council Tax, Croydon, Croydon Council, Jane West, Jerry Fitzpatrick, Katherine Kerswell, Labour, Liberal Democrats, London Borough of Croydon, Mayor Jason Perry, Tory
11 Comments
