Category Archives: Croydon Council

Sutton defends its Ofsted failure by claiming ‘no child was hurt’

EXCLUSIVE: LibDem council deliberately delayed publication of damning report to avoid its failures of SEND children appearing before the local elections. DAVE BURTON reports how councillors and officials have broken confidentiality rules and tried to pass the buck Ofsted and … Continue reading

Posted in Bobby Dean, Dave Burton, Education, Gemma Munday, Jonathan Williams, SEND, Sutton Council | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Jackson fires starting pistol in the race for council’s top job

CROYDON IN CRISIS: The omnishambles council is looking for its third chief exec in the space of nine months, with the challenge for the borough’s failed Mayor of finding anyone willing to work with him. By STEVEN DOWNES Elaine Jackson, … Continue reading

Posted in Commissioners, Croydon Council, Elaine Jackson, Ged Curran, Katherine Kerswell, Mayor Jason Perry, Section 114 notice, Stabilisation Plan | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Perry’s go-slow council could take 5 years to pay LTN refunds

CROYDON IN CRISIS: Figures from the council show that it has issued refunds to fewer than 1-in-10 of the motorists who were fined for driving through Low Traffic Neighbourhoods which the High Court ruled as ‘unlawful’. EXCLUSIVE by STEVEN DOWNES … Continue reading

Posted in Broad Green, Conrad Hall, Croydon Council, Crystal Palace and Upper Norwood, Leila Ben-Hassel, London-wide issues, Mayor Jason Perry | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 5 Comments

End for ‘Uncle Keir’ leaves Croydon MPs scrambling for jobs

Political Editor WALTER CRONXITE on how Croydon’s Labour politicians responded to the Prime Minister announcing his resignation Keir today, gone tomorrow. And for Croydon’s right-wing Labour MPs, the scramble to preserve their positions, or to gain some favour under Keir … Continue reading

Posted in Croydon Council, Croydon East, Croydon West, Natasha Irons, Sarah Jones MP, Steve Reed MP, Streatham and Croydon North, Stuart King | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 15 Comments

Croydon Park to reopen in 2027 as ‘The Canopy’ apart-hotel

A year later than promised, with little more than half the homes proposed in the planning application, and with no sign of the 39- and 36-storey towers that council planners had insisted upon, there are plans for the  Croydon Park … Continue reading

Posted in Addiscombe West, Botanical House, Business, Croydon Council, Croydon Park Hotel, Housing, Nicola Townsend, Planning, Property, The Canopy | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | 5 Comments

It’s really time to go when they throw ‘Mix’ into gesture politics

CROYDON COMMENTARY: Are you a ‘Mr’, a ‘Ms’, or a ‘Mx’? You’re unlikely to be a ‘Mix’, unless you’re a member of the Labour Party in its troubled Croydon East CLP. KEN TOWL, pictured right, explains A couple of days … Continue reading

Posted in Croydon East, Inside Croydon, Ken Towl, Melanie Felten, Nicola Townsend, Planning, South Norwood | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

How to navigate the planning process without getting it wrong

ZAEEM CHAUDHARY, pictured left, offers some expert advice for any Croydon homeowners planning to undertake building works When you are looking to make a home renovation project, one of the first things you need to check is whether you need … Continue reading

Posted in Croydon Council, Planning, Property | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Sherlock Holmes and the mystery of the 24 unaffordable flats

Planning permission was refused last night for a scheme that threatens a South Norwood heritage building which was once home to Arthur Conan Doyle. But this case is not closed yet… And so it came to pass… The first planning … Continue reading

Posted in Business, Croydon Council, History, Housing, Nicola Townsend, Planning, Property, Sean Fitzsimons, South Norwood | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 5 Comments

£1.45m Addiscombe landmark building withdrawn from auction

Financial figures published for the sale of Grade II-listed Leslie Arms were altered ahead of the auction date, with a two-bedroom flat shown now to be paying just £800 per month in rent. EXCLUSIVE by STEVEN DOWNES Anwar Ansari, the … Continue reading

Posted in Addiscombe West, Business, Croydon Council, Housing, Leslie Arms, Planning, Property, Pubs | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 7 Comments

Massive blaze at Bermondsey incinerator under investigation

While the Environment Agency reckons all is safe and sound at the Viridor incinerator in Beddington, a massive blaze broke out close to another waste incineration plant in south London around the evening rush hour yesterday. Fifteen fire engines and … Continue reading

Posted in Business, Environment, London Fire Brigade, Veolia, Waste incinerator | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

We need new election system which makes all votes matter

CROYDON COMMENTARY: One month on from Croydon’s local elections, PETER UNDERWOOD, pictured right, takes another look at our electoral system There is a growing consensus that FPTP, the first-past-the-post system we use for Westminster and local council elections, needs to … Continue reading

Posted in 2026 council elections, 2026 Croydon Mayor election, Croydon Council, Croydon Greens, Peter Underwood | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 19 Comments

Free legal advice and webinars on adult social care this month

‘We urgently need a significant investment in social care staff, services and support for unpaid carers to ensure that the current social care system does not collapse’ Martin Searle Solicitors, with offices in central Croydon, is running its Social Care … Continue reading

Posted in Activities, Adult Social Care, Croydon Council | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

Report calls urban sprawl ‘forgotten disaster of last 50 years’

A report from CPRE London published today says successive governments over the past half-century have actively enabled urban sprawl into the countryside. Urban sprawl means building low-density housing outside of towns, on green fields, and far from shops, schools and … Continue reading

Posted in Business, Croydon Council, Environment, Parking, Planning, Property | Tagged , , , , , | 2 Comments

Perry’s council failed to respond to incinerator consultation

While LibDem leader Ed Davey has called for a review of the Environment Agency’s decision to allow permit-busting polluters Viridor to burn even more rubbish at Beddington, Croydon Labour MPs stay silent. By STEVEN DOWNES Croydon Council under Tory Mayor … Continue reading

Posted in Bobby Dean, Broad Green, Business, Carshalton and Wallington, Croydon Council, Dave Tchil, Environment, Kingston, Luke Taylor MP, Mayor Jason Perry, Mayor of London, Merton, Nick Mattey, Refuse collection, Sadiq Khan, Sutton and Cheam, Sutton Council, Waste incinerator | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 5 Comments

How Labour-Tory marriage of convenience is failing Croydon

CROYDON COMMENTARY: With the Green Party deliberately excluded from the planning committee by a Labour-Tory pact at the Town Hall, new councillor PAUL AINSCOUGH, pictured left, says that the borough’s two largest parties are still not listening to the public … Continue reading

Posted in Croydon Council, Croydon Greens, Fairfield, Paul Ainscough, Planning | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 6 Comments

Viridor is using PR firm with links to Labour Together scandal

When Viridor, operators of the toxic polluting Beddington incinerator, issued their triumphalist press release yesterday announcing that they had been granted an extension on their licence to burn rubbish, it was sent from a public relations firm which is owned … Continue reading

Posted in Broad Green, Business, Croydon Council, Environment, Merton, Nick Mattey, Refuse collection, Sutton Council, Waste incinerator | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

‘Sickening’: EA allows even more waste to burn in Beddington

Despite nearly 1,000 breaches of its existing permit in a 15-month period, Viridor has had its licence extension for the Beddington incinerator granted, to the dismay of local councillors and environmentalists. By STEVEN DOWNES The Environment Agency, already known as … Continue reading

Posted in Broad Green, Business, Croydon Council, Environment, Merton, Nick Mattey, Refuse collection, Sutton Council, Waste incinerator | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 11 Comments

10 invoices show council is keeping failed heat network afloat

INSIDE SUTTON: Chief exec and company director refuse to explain why £265,000 has been paid in ‘consultancy’ fees to the authority’s own energy company. EXCLUSIVE by DAVE BURTON Sutton Council’s official registers of payments include 10 invoices, paid between February … Continue reading

Posted in Dave Burton, Helen Bailey, Nick Mattey, Richard Simpson, SDEN, Sutton Council, Tim Crowley, Waste incinerator | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Labour’s secret deal with Tories to block Greens on planning

EXCLUSIVE: Once the election results were in last month, Croydon’s Labour leader agreed what’s been called ‘a shabby, short-sighted stitch-up’ to keep Green councillors away from important planning decisions – while also boosting allowances paid to their party. By STEVEN … Continue reading

Posted in 2026 council elections, Croydon Council, Crystal Palace and Upper Norwood, Jason Cummings, Mark Adderley, Mayor Jason Perry, Paul Ainscough, Planning, Rowenna Davis, Steve Reed MP, Streatham and Croydon North, Stuart King | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 17 Comments

We’re glad all over! The Croydon Insider looks back on Leipzig

The Croydon Insider returns to its more eclectic look at recent local news, with a visit from the website’s football correspondent to share his experience of travelling to Leipzig for the European Conference League final. Plus, the panel discusses how … Continue reading

Posted in 2026 council elections, Andrew Sinclair, Annabel Smith, Croydon Council, Croydon Insider, Crystal Palace and Upper Norwood, Education, Inside Croydon, Ken Towl, Old Palace, Schools, SEND, Tom Bowell, Trinity School, Under The Flyover, Whitgift School | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

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 , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 5 Comments

Desperate Perry is denied his victory parade for a second year

Jason Perry, Croydon’s failed and increasingly desperate Mayor, has been snubbed for a second time in 12 months, as Crystal Palace Football Club announced today that there would be no immediate trophy parade following their triumph in the UEFA Conference … Continue reading

Posted in Croydon Council, Crystal Palace FC, Football, Mayor Jason Perry, Oliver Glasner, Selhurst, South Norwood, Steve Parish | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 17 Comments

Boy survived SEND system to become Broad Green councillor

The council term formally begins at the Town Hall tonight, with Croydon facing many of the same problems which previous administrations have failed to resolve. GABRIEL MacARTHUR meets a new councillor with unique insights Councillor Tom Bowell’s visits to Croydon … Continue reading

Posted in 2026 council elections, Broad Green, Children's Services, Croydon Council, Education, Gabriel MacArthur, Schools, SEND, Tom Bowell | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 7 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

Posted in Council Tax, Croydon Council, Jo Negrini, Katherine Kerswell | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 8 Comments

Leslie Arms timeline: sad 25-year decline of heritage building

Between 2000 and 2025, the owner of the Grade II-listed Leslie Arms on Lower Addiscombe Road submitted 13 separate planning applications for the building – 14 if you include his 2009 appeal against a refusal of a planning application. Ten … Continue reading

Posted in Addiscombe West, Business, Croydon Council, History, Housing, Leslie Arms, Planning, Property, Pubs | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 3 Comments