Category Archives: URV

Going live and going Dutch offering encouraging early signs

THE FIRST 100 DAYS: Following a fortnight’s post-election hiatus at Fisher’s Folly (the council shredding machines were glowing red-hot, allegedly), Tony Newman’s Labour group finally got the keys to Croydon Town Hall for the first time in eight years. This … Continue reading →

Posted in Bernard Weatherill House, Croydon Council, David Callam, Fly tipping, Nathan Elvery, Refuse collection, Tony Newman, URV | Tagged , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

#WadGate: Fisher is forced to resign as Croydon’s Tory leader

Mike Fisher, for eight years the leader of Croydon Council, was forced to quit as the head of the Tories at the Town Hall on Friday night, less than 72 hours after he was exposed as having secretly claimed an … Continue reading →

Posted in 2015 General Election, Andrew Pelling, Bernard Weatherill House, Croydon Central, Croydon Council, David Osland, Dudley Mead, Gavin Barwell, Mike Fisher, Shirley North, Tim Pollard, Tony Newman, URV | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 10 Comments

#WadGate latest: Fisher’s deputies put pressure on him to go

WALTER CRONXITE reports on how the Town Hall allowances scandal does not reflect well on councillors of either of the political parties Say what you like about George Galloway (keep it polite, please), but he does have one phrase which … Continue reading →

Posted in 2015 General Election, Bernard Weatherill House, Croydon Central, Croydon Council, Croydon North, Dudley Mead, Gavin Barwell, Mike Fisher, Sara Bashford, Shirley North, Steve Reed MP, Tim Pollard, Tony Newman, URV | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

One year on: Fisher’s Folly staff shunted into Davis House

It shows how desperate the new council is to untangle the web of financial calamity caused by the disaster that is the CCURV property speculation scam scheme, that many council staff are being told that they are to be moved … Continue reading →

Posted in Bernard Weatherill House, Croydon Council, Mike Fisher, Planning, Tony Newman, URV | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

Revised plan for Taberner site keeps 32-storey yuppie tower

As Inside Croydon first reported in July, Croydon Council has abandoned previous Tory plans to build on public open space in Queen’s Gardens, beside the Town Hall. That is a victory of sorts for those who objected to yet more … Continue reading →

Posted in Alison Butler, Bernard Weatherill House, Business, Croydon Council, Fairfield, Planning, Taberner House, Tony Newman, URV | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Labour and the hidden agenda as Elvery is handed top job

STEVEN DOWNES on how Croydon Council’s new political leadership kept a key item off the notification of the meeting to appoint the £180,000 CEO “Who governs Britain?” was a headline beloved of right-leaning newspapers in the 1970s when questioning the … Continue reading →

Posted in Croydon Council, Jon Rouse, Nathan Elvery, Tony Newman, URV | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

At £220m, is Fisher’s Folly the most costly council HQ ever?

According to figures presented at last night’s Croydon Council cabinet meeting, Fisher’s Folly, the new council office building which some people insist on calling Bernard Weatherill House, will cost Council Tax-payers a scandalous £85 million more than even the gloomiest multi-million-pound … Continue reading →

Posted in Bernard Weatherill House, Business, Council Tax, Croydon Council, Jon Rouse, Mike Fisher, Nathan Elvery, Planning, Simon Hall, Taberner House, URV | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 8 Comments

Developers’ bulldozers ordered to get off Queen’s Gardens

Queen’s Gardens, the much-loved open space between the Fairfield Halls and the Town Hall, could yet be saved from going under developers’ bulldozers after John Laing, the council’s “partners” in an “urban regeneration” joint venture, have been ordered back to … Continue reading →

Posted in Bernard Weatherill House, Croydon Council, Environment, Planning, Taberner House, URV | Tagged , , , , , , | 5 Comments

Aimless opposition could make for an extended honeymoon

THE VIEW FROM THE BACK BENCHES: Last night’s first council cabinet meeting of the new Labour administration was full of interesting announcements for Waddon councillor ANDREW PELLING So that’s what my Labour colleagues have been up to over the last … Continue reading →

Posted in Andrew Pelling, Bernard Weatherill House, Bishop of Croydon, Boris Johnson, Croydon Council, Dudley Mead, Environment, Fly tipping, Housing, Mike Fisher, Phil Thomas, Refuse collection, Steve Reed MP, Taberner House, Tony Newman, URV, Vidhi Mohan, Waddon | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Does Croydon’s new council have much to rave about?

One month on, WALTER CRONXITE, our local elections pollster who was first to call correctly the result of the Croydon Town Hall vote, takes a look behind the scenes in Fisher’s Folly to see what changes might be in store … Continue reading →

Posted in 2014 council elections, Bernard Weatherill House, Capita, Coulsdon Town, Croydon 8/8, Croydon Central, Croydon Council, Croydon Radio, Fly tipping, Gavin Barwell, Jon Rouse, Mario Creatura, Mike Fisher, Nathan Elvery, Oliver Lewis, Phil Thomas, Planning, Refuse collection, Richard Ottaway MP, Steve Reed MP, Stuart Collins, Taberner House, Tony Newman, URV, Waste incinerator | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

Spot the difference: Crapita sponsors Labour Mayor’s banquet

STEVEN DOWNES, editor of Inside Croydon, suggests that the borough’s new council has allowed itself to be compromised by the council’s senior staff, developers and big business even before it has been in office for a month Spot the difference. … Continue reading →

Posted in "Hammersfield", 2014 council elections, Bernard Weatherill House, Business, Capita, Council Tax, Croydon Council, Environment, Fairfield Halls, Fly tipping, Julie Belvir, Manju Shahul Hameed, Mike Fisher, Nathan Elvery, Phil Thomas, Planning, Refuse collection, Steve Reed MP, Tony Newman, URV, Waste incinerator, Whitgift Centre | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Mayor has to apologise as Crapita draws a blank for public

Virtually the first thing which Croydon’s new mayor, Councillor Manju Shahul-Hameed, was forced to do on taking office last night was to apologise to around two dozen members of the public because of the latest embarrassing council technology short-coming caused … Continue reading →

Posted in 2014 council elections, Addiscombe West, Bernard Weatherill House, Broad Green, Capita, Charity, Croydon Council, Dudley Mead, Gavin Barwell, Libraries, Manju Shahul Hameed, Margaret Mead, Mike Fisher, Nathan Elvery, Patricia Hay-Justice, Sara Bashford, Stuart Collins, Tony Newman, URV, Waste incinerator, Yvette Hopley | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | 14 Comments

Time for thorough ethical review of Croydon’s governance

 CROYDON COMMENTARY: The nexus of connections that have been developed between the local authority – of whatever political hue – and vested interests in the borough makes it long overdue for a review of proper governance, says CHARLOTTE DAVIES The … Continue reading →

Posted in "Hammersfield", Art, Ashcroft Theatre, Bishop of Croydon, Business, Care Homes, Croydon Commitment, Croydon Council, CVA, Dudley Mead, Fairfield Halls, Gavin Barwell, George Ayres, Housing, Jason Perry, Jo Negrini, Lynne Hale, Margaret Mead, Planning, Property, Riesco Collection, Timothy Godfrey, Toni Letts, Trinity School, URV, Whitgift Centre, Whitgift Foundation, Whitgift School | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 12 Comments

Library deal questioned as council blacklists the blacklisters

Croydon Council is set to stop using building contractors that have blacklisted workers for their union affiliations, following Labour winning last week’s local elections, the trade magazine Building is reporting. The policy of the new council could also place Carillion, … Continue reading →

Posted in Carillion, Libraries, URV | Tagged , , , , , , | 3 Comments

Croydon’s political weather signals Town Hall climate change

VOTE 2014: Newly elected Waddon councillor ANDREW PELLING provides his analysis of how the council elections were won, and lost Political pundits sometimes belittle council elections as being just barometers for the national standings of political parties. They see Town … Continue reading →

Posted in "Hammersfield", 2014 council elections, Addiscombe West, Andrew Pelling, Andrew Rendle, Ashburton, Bernard Weatherill House, Boris Johnson, Clare Hilley, Croydon Central, Gavin Barwell, Joy Prince, Maddie Henson, Mayor of London, Robert Canning, Sarah Jones MP, Stephen Mann, URV, Waddon, Waste incinerator | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 10 Comments

Newman’s front-bench team has Collins in charge of clean-up

Tony Newman, the new leader of Croydon Council, has announced his front-bench team following last Thursday’s Labour local election victory, with a line-up of mainly familiar faces after eight years in opposition. The positions were determined by Newman following a … Continue reading →

Posted in "Hammersfield", 2014 council elections, Alisa Flemming, Alison Butler, Andrew Pelling, Business, Croydon Council, Dudley Mead, Environment, Gerry Ryan, Jane Avis, Kathy Bee, Louisa Woodley, Planning, Simon Hall, Stuart Collins, Toni Letts, Tony Newman, URV, Waste incinerator, Whitgift Centre | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 8 Comments

You can make today’s council elections all about trust

STEVEN DOWNES, editor of Inside Croydon, winds up the pre-election coverage on what all parties agree is a vitally important day for the borough This is the £1 billion local election. As if eyeing a prize dangling at the end … Continue reading →

Posted in "Hammersfield", 2014 council elections, 2015 General Election, Art, Bernard Weatherill House, Cane Hill, Council Tax, Crime, Croydon 8/8, Croydon Council, David Lean Cinema Campaign, Family Justice Centre, Gavin Barwell, Libraries, Mike Fisher, Nathan Elvery, Planning, Riesco Collection, Taberner House, URV, Whitgift Centre | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Newman offers ambition for a fairer future for Croydon

VOTE 2014: The leader of Croydon’s Labour group, TONY NEWMAN, says that the time has come for a new council that no longer takes the borough’s people for granted Croydon goes to the polls tomorrow. As the leader of the … Continue reading →

Posted in 2014 council elections, Bernard Weatherill House, Croydon Council, Fly tipping, Housing, Planning, Refuse collection, Taberner House, Tony Newman, URV, Waste incinerator, Woodside | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Putting a roof over people’s heads ought to cap any policy

For the final piece comparing the policies of the parties ahead of the local elections tomorrow, WALTER CRONXITE has been window shopping around Croydon’s estate agents  Issue No4: HOUSING THE ISSUE: It was the steaming turd he left on his … Continue reading →

Posted in 2014 council elections, 2015 General Election, Cane Hill, Coulsdon, Croydon Council, Croydon Greens, Housing, Jon Rouse, Planning, URV | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

We’ve cut Council Tax and cut waste, claims Tory leader Fisher

VOTE 2014: After eight years of running Croydon Council, the leader of the Conservative group, MIKE FISHER, the man who approved the building of a £140 million council headquarters building, calls for your support in tomorrow’s local elections by claiming … Continue reading →

Posted in "Hammersfield", 2014 council elections, Bernard Weatherill House, Business, Council Tax, Mike Fisher, Schools, Shirley North, Taberner House, URV, Whitgift Centre | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

Lebanon Road pair launch site to give East Croydon a voice

A website to voice the views and concerns of people living around East Croydon Station has been launched. The people behind the East Croydon Community site are Rod Davies and Sasha Konechni, residents of Lebanon Road, who say that they … Continue reading →

Posted in Addiscombe Residents Association, Addiscombe West, Cherry Orchard Gardens, Community associations, Croydon Central, East Croydon, Housing, Local media, Menta Tower, Planning, Property, Tramlink, URV | Tagged , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Miliband leads calls for more affordable housing in Croydon

VOTE 2014: Ed Miliband, the Labour leader, has set up his local councillors in Croydon for what could be some frank discussions with major developers in the borough, including Westfield, Barratt Homes and John Laing, after he announced that his … Continue reading →

Posted in "Hammersfield", 2014 council elections, 2015 General Election, Boris Johnson, Business, Cane Hill, Coulsdon, Croydon Central, Croydon Council, Gavin Barwell, Housing, IYLO, Louisa Woodley, New Addington South, Oliver Lewis, Planning, Property, Steve Reed MP, Taberner House, Tony Pearson, URV, Whitgift Centre | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Council pays public money to private school for election count

Croydon’s Tory-run council is to pay thousands of pounds of tax-payers’ money to a wealthy private school to use its halls for the election count later this month, instead of using its own buildings, like the £140 million “Fisher’s Folly” … Continue reading →

Posted in 2014 council elections, Bernard Weatherill House, Croydon Council, Gavin Barwell, Nathan Elvery, Trinity School, URV | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 6 Comments

Chipstead residents want Cane Hill plans put to Pickles

A residents’ association annual meeting tonight will demand that Eric Pickles, the Secretary of State, should call-in the Barratt’s development at Cane Hill to provide a more rigorous and strategic overview of the scheme, which has been granted planning permission … Continue reading →

Posted in "Hammersfield", 2014 council elections, 2015 General Election, Boris Johnson, Business, Cane Hill, Community associations, Coulsdon, Coulsdon West Residents' Association, Croydon Council, East Coulsdon Residents' Association, Environment, Housing, London-wide issues, Mayor of London, Old Coulsdon Residents' Association, Outside Croydon, Planning, Surrey, URV | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

These councillors voted last night to build on a Croydon park: next month they will want you to trust them with your vote

When you last had a chance to vote for the local council four years ago, were you asked for your views on the council building on public open space so that the developers could make more than £100million in profit? … Continue reading →

Posted in 2014 council elections, Business, Chris Wright, Coulsdon East, Croydon Council, David Osland, Environment, Fairfield, Heathfield, Helen Pollard, Housing, London Assembly, London-wide issues, Lynne Hale, Planning, Property, Richard Chatterjee, Sanderstead, Shirley North, Sue Winborn, Taberner House, Tim Pollard, URV | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 11 Comments