Category Archives: Stephen Lawrence-Orumwense

Council admits it has no idea who it paid £1.1m in legal fees

EXCLUSIVE by JOSHUA STEIN Croydon Council has admitted that it does not know how it spent £1.082million of public money on legal fees over the past two years. Croydon’s cash-strapped council has debts totalling £1.7billion. In July 2025, following the … Continue reading →

Posted in Commissioners, Conrad Hall, Croydon Council, Inside Croydon Investigates, Joshua Stein, Mayor Jason Perry, Stephen Lawrence-Orumwense | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 21 Comments

Whistleblower’s lonely eight-year battle over council spending

CROYDON IN CRISIS: In 2018, Daniel Cox blew the whistle when he discovered that a contractor was charging the council almost double what he was being paid for his work. Cox was dismissed, and the council has spent the past … Continue reading →

Posted in Children's Services, Croydon Council, Jacqueline Harris-Baker, Jo Negrini, Mayor Jason Perry, SEND, Stephen Lawrence-Orumwense | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 9 Comments

Borough’s motorists will be forced to pay for Perry’s mistakes

CROYDON IN CRISIS: An above-inflation hike for resident parking permits, parking fees and penalties is being lined up to help plug the hole in the council budgets caused by the Mayor opening his big mouth. By our transport correspondent, JEREMY … Continue reading →

Posted in Croydon Council, Environment, London-wide issues, Mayor Jason Perry, Stephen Lawrence-Orumwense | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 5 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 , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 7 Comments

Perry dodges scrutiny as council delays refunds of LTN fines

CROYDON IN CRISIS: What do you mean, you can’t easily find how to claim a refund of the unlawful low traffic neighbourhood fine you were forced to pay? Do you expect the council to make the repayments system simple and … Continue reading →

Posted in Alasdair Stewart, Broad Green, Croydon Council, Crystal Palace and Upper Norwood, Environment, Leila Ben-Hassel, London-wide issues, Mayor Jason Perry, Stephen Lawrence-Orumwense, Venetia Reid-Baptiste | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

Labour’s Town Hall leader files complaint over Perry’s spending

Council’s top lawyer questioned over the public funds used to distribute a propaganda freesheet worthy of something from the regime of dictator Kim Jong-un. WALTER CRONXITE, Political Editor, reports Jason Perry has been accused of abusing his position as Croydon … Continue reading →

Posted in 2026 council elections, 2026 Croydon Mayor election, Commissioners, Council Tax, Croydon Council, Katherine Kerswell, Mayor Jason Perry, Stephen Lawrence-Orumwense, Stuart King | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 14 Comments

LTN fine refunds on the way – but Perry doesn’t yet know how

CROYDON IN CRISIS: It has taken the borough’s £86,000 per year Mayor more than a week to make an official statement on his unlawful LTN moneyspinners. But he still doesn’t know how the cash-strapped council will refund the PCN fines. … Continue reading →

Posted in Broad Green, Croydon Council, Crystal Palace and Upper Norwood, Environment, London-wide issues, Mayor Jason Perry, Stephen Lawrence-Orumwense | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 5 Comments

Traffic creeps back on to Croydon’s now-banned LTN streets

What has been the reaction of residents to the sudden removal, by order of a High Court judge, of motoring restrictions in Croydon’s former Low Traffic Neighbourhoods? We sent GABRIEL MacARTHUR along to two streets affected in Broad Green to … Continue reading →

Posted in Broad Green, Community associations, Croydon Council, Crystal Palace and Upper Norwood, Environment, Gabriel MacArthur, London-wide issues, Mayor Jason Perry, Stephen Lawrence-Orumwense | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 10 Comments

Perry accused of ‘shameless lying’ as he abandons LTN appeal

CROYDON IN CRISIS: After spending two years in a High Court battle to defend his decision to make six Low Traffic Neighbourhoods permanent, today Croydon’s Mayor tried to claim credit for their forced removal. By STEVEN DOWNES Croydon Council will … Continue reading →

Posted in Broad Green, Community associations, Croydon Council, Crystal Palace and Upper Norwood, Environment, London-wide issues, Mayor Jason Perry, Stephen Lawrence-Orumwense | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 36 Comments

Council failed to include High Court LTN case on risk register

CROYDON IN CRISIS: Council bosses were either over-confident that they would win the Low Traffic Neighbourhoods case at the High Court, or ‘completely, crassly incompetent’. EXCLUSIVE by STEVEN DOWNES Mayor Jason Perry, who has been claiming that he has got … Continue reading →

Posted in Broad Green, Community associations, Croydon Council, Crystal Palace and Upper Norwood, Environment, London-wide issues, Mayor Jason Perry, Stephen Lawrence-Orumwense | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 8 Comments

Quashing of orders ‘raises serious questions’ about LTN fines

CROYDON IN CRISIS: Following the High Court ruling quashing Croydon’s ‘unlawful’ Low Traffic Neighbourhoods, the shadowy organisation behind the legal case, Open Our Roads, issued the following statement: Open Our Roads welcomes today’s landmark High Court judgement in Lawrence v … Continue reading →

Posted in Broad Green, Community associations, Croydon Council, Crystal Palace and Upper Norwood, Environment, London-wide issues, Mayor Jason Perry, Stephen Lawrence-Orumwense | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

High Court judge orders end to Croydon’s ‘unlawful’ LTNs

CROYDON IN CRISIS: Judge Edward Pepperall has handed down his ruling in the case brought against the borough’s Low Traffic Neighbourhoods and found that comments by Mayor Jason Perry proved that the measures were introduced to make money for the … Continue reading →

Posted in Broad Green, Community associations, Croydon Council, Crystal Palace and Upper Norwood, Environment, London-wide issues, Mayor Jason Perry, Stephen Lawrence-Orumwense | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 17 Comments

Mayor Perry’s ‘£20m income’ remark crucial to LTN legal case

CROYDON IN CRISIS: Careless comments made at a public meeting by the Tory Mayor over LTNs – Low Traffic Neighbourhoods – have already cost the borough’s residents dearly. By our Town Hall reporter, SANDRA STEAD Jason Perry, the failed Mayor … Continue reading →

Posted in Broad Green, Croydon Council, Crystal Palace and Upper Norwood, Environment, London-wide issues, Mayor Jason Perry, Stephen Lawrence-Orumwense | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 5 Comments

When’s a pay-off not a pay-off? When it’s 50 grand in Croydon

CROYDON IN CRISIS: At public expense (again), Mayor Perry deploys the council’s top lawyer to try to shut down reporting of his £50,000 pay-off to departing chief executive Katherine Kerswell. By STEVEN DOWNES “When’s a pay-off not a pay-off?” a … Continue reading →

Posted in Commissioners, Croydon Council, Ged Curran, Improvement Board, Jo Negrini, Katherine Kerswell, Mayor Jason Perry, Section 114 notice, Stephen Lawrence-Orumwense | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 17 Comments

Council pays £10,000 grant to councillor’s undeclared business

Labour councillor Tamar Barrett, who has gone nearly four years without declaring her directorship of a company, has just received a £10,000 grant from the council for services provided by her business. EXCLUSIVE by STEVEN DOWNES Croydon Council has handed … Continue reading →

Posted in 2026 council elections, Croydon Council, Rowenna Davis, Stephen Lawrence-Orumwense, Tamar Barrett (was Nwafor), Thornton Heath | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

Councillor has been breaking law on disclosures since 2022

Tamar Barrett, a company director who has been a Labour councillor for almost four years, has never submitted an accurate declaration of interest. Tonight, the councillor is seeking reselection in Thornton Heath. EXCLUSIVE by STEVEN DOWNES A councillor who is … Continue reading →

Posted in 2026 council elections, Croydon Council, Rowenna Davis, Scott Roche, Shirley South, Stephen Lawrence-Orumwense, Tamar Barrett (was Nwafor), Thornton Heath, Tony Newman | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

Carserides gets new job as a lobbyist offering inside influence

Who does your local councillor really represent? It’s a reasonable question for all residents to ask, particularly those in South Norwood. By WALTER CRONXITE, Political Editor Just who does Labour councillor Louis Carserides represent? It’s not an unreasonable question for … Continue reading →

Posted in Croydon Council, Louis Carserides, South Norwood, Stephen Lawrence-Orumwense, Steve Reed MP, Streatham and Croydon North, Stuart King, Tony Newman | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

Acting without listening is not sustainable way to create change

Has this week’s High Court non-event been just the latest example of Perry’s porkie pies – where the ‘listening’ Mayor cocks a deaf ‘un to residents? Political Editor WALTER CRONXITE looks back at what the Tory Mayor was saying four … Continue reading →

Posted in 2022 Croydon Mayor election, Croydon Council, Crystal Palace and Upper Norwood, Cycling, London-wide issues, Mayor Jason Perry, South Norwood, Stephen Lawrence-Orumwense, Transport | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

High Court judge dismisses LTN case brought against council

Croydon Mayor Perry uses a legal objection to stop a residents’ group from having their day in court. By STEVEN DOWNES A case claiming that Croydon’s Low Traffic Neighbourhood schemes are an unlawful cash-cow, taxing motorists who fail to follow … Continue reading →

Posted in 2022 Croydon Mayor election, Croydon Council, Crystal Palace and Upper Norwood, Cycling, London-wide issues, Mayor Jason Perry, South Norwood, Stephen Lawrence-Orumwense, Steve Iles, Transport | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

Mayor Perry on trial: LTN admission could cost council millions

CROYDON IN CRISIS: A High Court case claims the authority has misused its powers over Low Traffic Neighbourhoods, with lawyers for the council expected to defend the Mayor’s manifesto U-turn by claiming that ‘election promises are not a binding contract’. … Continue reading →

Posted in 2022 Croydon Mayor election, Croydon Council, Crystal Palace and Upper Norwood, Cycling, Lambeth Council, London-wide issues, Mayor Jason Perry, South Norwood, Stephen Lawrence-Orumwense, Steve Iles, Transport | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

Protests mount as Perry rejects petitions with 5,000 signatures

CROYDON IN CRISIS: MP Natasha Irons says that ‘democracy is being undermined by Croydon Council’, as the Conservative-controlled authority is refusing to debate the situation at the carers’ centre on George Street and the on-off-on-again sale of listed building Heathfield … Continue reading →

Posted in Adult Social Care, Carers First, Community associations, Croydon Council, Croydon East, Heathfield House, Katherine Kerswell, Mayor Jason Perry, Natasha Irons, Ria Patel, Stephen Lawrence-Orumwense, Stuart King | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 11 Comments

Council settles legal challenge by blind man over postal voting

A Croydon resident who is registered blind has won a legal challenge brought against the council, which claimed that it had failed to make reasonable adjustments to make postal voting more accessible for him and other people with visual impairments. … Continue reading →

Posted in Charity, Croydon Council, Norbury, Stephen Lawrence-Orumwense | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Councillor’s workplace issue: House of Fraser or Commons?

EXCLUSIVE: It’s not just Chancellor Rachel Reeves who struggles to get her CV right, as SANDRA STEAD, our in-house number-cruncher, uncovers a fifth case of an elected representative in Croydon failing to keep proper records in their register of interest … Continue reading →

Posted in Claire Holland, Clive Fraser, Croydon Council, London Councils, London-wide issues, Louis Carserides, Mayor Jason Perry, Scott Roche, Shirley South, Simon Fox, South Norwood, Stephen Lawrence-Orumwense, Streatham and Croydon North, Waddon | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 11 Comments

Perry’s ‘nice little earner’ – Tory Mayor’s undeclared £10,000

CROYDON IN CRISIS: Elected figures across the capital are pocketing generous ‘bonuses’ – all paid for by Council Tax-payers, just for attending a few committee meetings for the London Councils organisation. EXCLUSIVE by WALTER CRONXITE, political editor Croydon’s Tory Mayor … Continue reading →

Posted in Claire Holland, Clive Fraser, Croydon Council, London Councils, London-wide issues, Louis Carserides, Mayor Jason Perry, Scott Roche, Shirley South, South Norwood, Stephen Lawrence-Orumwense, Streatham and Croydon North | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 8 Comments

Very interesting: councillors often slow to update their registers

EXCLUSIVE: Our Town Hall number-cruncher, SANDRA STEAD, has checked out the updates to the register of interests of all 70 Croydon councillors and Mayor Perry – from 50p passion fruits to hundreds of pounds’ worth of free tickets to Selhurst … Continue reading →

Posted in Alisa Flemming, Birch (Selsdon), Clive Fraser, Croydon Council, Esther Sutton, Fairfield, Margaret Bird, Mayor Jason Perry, Norbury Park, Ria Patel, Stephen Lawrence-Orumwense, Surrey Street | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 4 Comments