Category Archives: Richard Simpson

Ofgem called in to rule over SDEN’s unfair heating prices

Sutton’s deputy leader has much to account for over the ‘too complicated’ business model for the misfiring power network. CARL SHILTON reports Just days after appointing independent accountants to conduct a review into the business of Sutton’s controversial heating network, … Continue reading

Posted in Environment, Jayne McCoy, Nick Mattey, Outside Croydon, Richard Simpson, Sutton Council, Waste incinerator | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Simpson feels heat from MP over SDEN ‘independent’ review

A Sutton MP has raised serious doubts whether a supposedly “independent” review into the controversial council-owned SDEN company will make any difference for the hundreds of Hackbridge residents whose homes and lives have been blighted by the expensive and unreliable … Continue reading

Posted in Elliot Colburn, London-wide issues, Nick Mattey, Outside Croydon, Richard Simpson, Sutton Council, Waste incinerator | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Complaints to regulator over council’s £100m pensions deal

CROYDON IN CRISIS: The scandals at Fisher’s Folly surrounding questionable property transactions keep emerging. EXCLUSIVE By STEVEN DOWNES The council’s £1.5billion pension fund has been the subject of two complaints to the statutory watchdog, the Pensions Regulator, Inside Croydon has … Continue reading

Posted in Andrew Pelling, Chris Buss, Croydon Council, Richard Simpson, Simon Hall | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

Investigation gets under way but left waiting for Negrini

CROYDON IN CRISIS: The terms of reference for an independent investigation into the disastrous decisions and mismanagement which led to the council going broke have been leaked to Inside Croydon. STEVEN DOWNES reports It might be seen as appropriate, given … Continue reading

Posted in Brick by Brick, Croydon Council, Jo Negrini, Katherine Kerswell, Report in the Public Interest, Richard Simpson, Robert Henderson, Section 114 notice | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

CEO Kerswell: council staff ‘are angry, upset and want answers’

CROYDON IN CRISIS: They say confession is good for the soul, though apologies issued yesterday by several council executives read more like pleas to keep their jobs. By WALTER CRONXITE There were several council staff members who half-expected Katherine Kerswell, … Continue reading

Posted in Croydon Council, Elaine Jackson, Hamida Ali, Hazel Simmonds, Heather Cheesbrough, Jacqueline Harris-Baker, Jo Negrini, Katherine Kerswell, Lisa Taylor, Report in the Public Interest, Richard Simpson, Shifa Mustafa | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 15 Comments

The Audit Report: ‘Tony Newman always has been a coward’

CROYDON IN CRISIS: More senior council figures could lose their positions as a result of the Report in the Public Interest which was released last night, as the Town Hall politicians take stock of its consequences. KEN LEE reports Half … Continue reading

Posted in Adult Social Care, Brick by Brick, Children's Services, Croydon Council, Jason Perry, Jo Negrini, Report in the Public Interest, Richard Simpson, Simon Hall, Tony Newman | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Consultant gives 75 reasons for council’s financial mess

CROYDON IN CRISIS: Tony Newman goes into tonight’s council meeting without the cabinet member for finance who has been at his side for a decade, and confronted with a report that shows his administration failed to listen to the warnings … Continue reading

Posted in Callton Young, Croydon Council, Jacqueline Harris-Baker, Jo Negrini, Lisa Taylor, Richard Simpson, Simon Hall, Tony Newman | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 10 Comments

Croydon In Crisis: Council in disarray as Negrini quits

EXCLUSIVE: Unconfirmed reports suggest that the borough’s £220,000 pa chief exec is about to announce her resignation, leaving behind a trail of calamity as the Town Hall axes at least 400 jobs. By STEVEN DOWNES Jo Negrini, Croydon Council’s chief … Continue reading

Posted in Barbara Peacock, Brick by Brick, Children's Services, Colm Lacey, Croydon Council, Guy van Dichele, Jacqueline Harris-Baker, Jo Negrini, Planning, Richard Simpson, Robert Henderson, Tony Newman | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 30 Comments

Croydon in crisis: Council spent £5.5m on legal fees in a year

EXCLUSIVE: The Town Hall has mounting legal issues, as it paid south London Rumpoles nearly half a million pounds a month over the past year, reports WALTER CRONXITE Croydon Council spent £5,477,010 in fees for external legal advice in the … Continue reading

Posted in Croydon Council, Jacqueline Harris-Baker, Jo Negrini, Richard Simpson | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Troubleshooter’s report may give Negrini no choice of action

STEVEN DOWNES on a crucial couple of days for the borough At some point today, Ian O’Donnell will deliver his report on the state of the borough’s finances and what he recommends that needs to be done to get the … Continue reading

Posted in Alison Butler, Brick by Brick, Children's Services, Colm Lacey, Croydon Council, Jo Negrini, Paul Scott, Richard Simpson, Tony Newman | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 5 Comments

Croydon now has three employees paid £200,000+ per year

Our political correspondent, WALTER CRONXITE, reports on the latest startling figures coming out of the council Croydon Council had three members of staff who took home more than £200,000 in the last financial year for which figures are available. That’s … Continue reading

Posted in Children's Services, Colm Lacey, Council Tax, Croydon Council, Eleni Ioannides, Guy van Dichele, Heather Cheesbrough, Jacqueline Harris-Baker, Jo Negrini, Richard Simpson, Robert Henderson, Shifa Mustafa | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

Council tries a cover-up over £41m spent on Fairfield Halls

WALTER CRONXITE reports on the latest attempt by council officials to disguise blundering that is costing the borough millions The increasingly secretive Croydon Council has taken to hiding behind its wholly owned building firm, Brick by Brick, as it tries … Continue reading

Posted in Brick by Brick, Croydon Council, Fairfield Halls, Jo Negrini, Richard Simpson, Simon Hall | Tagged , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

Council exec handed 76% pay rise, while CEO collects £213,000

Town Hall reporter KEN LEE on some startling pay rises among the council’s elite executives While presiding over continuing austerity cuts to Town Hall budgets, staff redundancies and service reductions, all amid maximum Council Tax increases, Jo Negrini, the borough’s … Continue reading

Posted in Barbara Peacock, Croydon Council, Jacqueline Harris-Baker, Jo Negrini, Richard Simpson | Tagged , , , , , , , | 13 Comments

Another director quits job as pressure mounts on Negrini

Our political editor, WALTER CRONXITE, on the storm gathering around the council’s ‘regeneration practitioner’ chief executive Pressure continues to mount on Croydon’s £200,000 per year chief executive, Jo Negrini. Another key member of her executive team is quitting the council, … Continue reading

Posted in "Hammersfield", Brick by Brick, Business, Croydon Council, Jacqueline Harris-Baker, Jo Negrini, Richard Simpson, Robert Henderson, Whitgift Centre | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

The last 12 months told through Inside Croydon reports

So how was it for you dear? As 2018 draws to an end, we rifle through the past year’s archive to highlight what Inside Croydon’s loyal reader was reading about most JANUARY: Council ‘Godfather’ is made an offer he can’t … Continue reading

Posted in "Hammersfield", 2018 council elections, Addiscombe East, Art, Brick by Brick, Business, Centrale, Chris Philp MP, Croydon Council, East Croydon, Environment, Fairfield Halls, Housing, Inside Croydon, Jo Negrini, London-wide issues, Niall Bolger, Oliver Lewis, Paul Scott, Planning, Purley, Refuse collection, Richard Simpson, Ruth Dombey, Schools, South Norwood, Sutton Council, TfL, Tony Newman, Tramlink, Transport, Veolia, Waste incinerator, Whitgift Centre, Whitgift Foundation, Wildlife | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Councils’ property deals are ‘gambling with public money’

Councils across England – including Croydon and Sutton – have between them borrowed billions of pounds of public money to finance the purchase of real estate and commercial properties, a policy which could place some at risk of financial collapse, … Continue reading

Posted in Croydon Council, Jo Negrini, Property, Richard Simpson, Simon Hall, Sutton Council | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Council is rocked by news that finance chief has resigned

EXCLUSIVE: Our local democracy reporter KEN LEE on a shock departure from Fisher’s Folly Richard Simpson, effectively the second-in-command at the council to chief executive Jo “We’re Not Stupid” Negrini, is to leave Croydon. Simpson has worked at Croydon Council … Continue reading

Posted in Croydon Council, Jo Negrini, Richard Simpson, Tony Newman | Tagged , , , , , , | 5 Comments

Town Hall meeting told to expect 4% Council Tax increase

Our political editor WALTER CONXITE on an admission from the council’s finance chief that they have little idea how to plan the borough’s budgets A Town Hall meeting has been told to expect a 4 per cent hike in Council … Continue reading

Posted in Council Tax, Croydon Council, Richard Simpson, Simon Hall | Tagged , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Tory cuts force Newman to increase Council Tax by 4.3%

With 14 months to go until the next local elections, this year’s council budget has fired the starting gun on the Town Hall political campaign. WALTER CRONXITE reports on a Labour gamble to hint at no local tax increases above … Continue reading

Posted in Adult Social Care, Bernard Weatherill House, Council Tax, Croydon Council, Housing, Louisa Woodley, Richard Simpson, Tony Newman | 1 Comment

Council finance chief Simpson’s promotion is confirmed

Richard Simpson, formerly the council’s finance director, has been promoted to the role of executive director of resources, it was confirmed today. Simpson’s move into one of the six-figure salary roles at Fisher’s Folly is part of the on-going reshuffle … Continue reading

Posted in Bernard Weatherill House, Croydon Council, Jo Negrini, Nathan Elvery, Paul Greenhalgh, Richard Simpson, Taberner House, Tony Newman, URV | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment