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Nick Davies on Police dispersal notice in cla… Jim Bush on Cabinet post puts Fahnbulleh… insidecroydon on Philp all at sea as he claims… Derek Nicholls on Philp all at sea as he claims… Sarah Hartman on Police dispersal notice in cla… Arfur Towcrate on Police dispersal notice in cla…
Category Archives: Woodside
Bromley by-election sees historic first Reform win in London
Political Editor, WALTER CRONXITE, on how Alan Cook’s poll success on the other side of the borough boundary is sending shock waves into Croydon They’re going to need a bigger vote… You know how, early in the original Jaws movie, … Continue reading
Posted in 2026 council elections, 2026 Croydon Mayor election, Addiscombe East, Bromley Council, Coulsdon, Croydon East, Croydon Greens, Croydon West, London-wide issues, Mayor Jason Perry, New Addington North, New Addington South, Rowenna Davis, Sarah Jones MP, Steve Reed MP, Streatham and Croydon North, Tony Newman, Waddon, Zack Polanski
Tagged Addiscombe East, Alan Cook, Bromley, Bromley Common and Holwood, Cllr Rowenna Davis, Conservative, Coulsdon, Council Tax, Croydon, Croydon Council, Croydon South, Green Party, Labour, Liberal Democrats, London, London Borough of Croydon, Mayor Jason Perry, New Addington, Nic Stewert, Nigel Farage, Reform, Reform UK, Rowenna Davis, Sarah Jones MP, Scott Holman, Shirley, Steve Reed OBE, Streatham and Croydon North, Tony Newman, Tory, Waddon, Zack Polanski
10 Comments
‘The government was left with no choice’ over Commissioners
The government “was left with no choice” but to appoint Commissioners to take over the running of Croydon’s omnishambles council, a decision which reflects “serious failings on leadership and culture” at the Town Hall. Two of Croydon’s Labour MPs, Sarah … Continue reading
Posted in 'Future Croydon', Chris Philp MP, Commissioners, Council Tax, Croydon Council, Croydon East, Croydon South, Croydon West, Ged Curran, Improvement Board, Katherine Kerswell, Mayor Jason Perry, Natasha Irons, Rowenna Davis, Sarah Jones MP, Section 114 notice, Stabilisation Plan, Steve Reed MP, Streatham and Croydon North, Tony Newman
Tagged Chris Philp MP, Commissioner, Conservative, Council Tax, Council transformation, Croydon, Croydon Council, Croydon East, Croydon South, Croydon West, Ged Curran, Improvement and Assurance Panel, Improvement Panel, Jim McMahon, Katherine Kerswell, Labour, Merton, MHCLG, Ministry of Housing Communities and Local Government, Natasha Irons MP, Sarah Jones MP, Section 114 Notice, Steve Reed OBE, Streatham and Croydon North, Tory, Transformation plan
11 Comments
Jewitt tops councillor charts for a second successive year
After the brickbats for the work-shy do-littles who populate our Town Hall Chamber, today we celebrate those elected representatives who keep busy by keeping council officials busy They will be dancing down Sauchiehall Street tonight, as proud Scot Karen Jewitt … Continue reading
Posted in Amy Foster, Claire Bonham, Croydon Council, Crystal Palace and Upper Norwood, Fairfield, Gayle Gander, Karen Jewitt, Lynne Hale, Mayor Jason Perry, Ria Patel, Robert Ward, Rowenna Davis, Samir Dwesar, Simon Fox, Stuart King, Thornton Heath, West Thornton, Woodside
Tagged Cllr Amy Foster, Cllr Claire Bonham, Cllr Karen Jewitt, Cllr Rowenna Davis, Cllr Stuart King, Conservative, Councillor allowances, Croydon, Croydon Council, Gayle Gander, Green Party, Labour, Liberal Democrats, London Borough of Croydon, Lynne Hale, Mayor Jason Perry, Ria Patel, Samir Dwesar, Sherwan Chowdhury, Simon Fox, Tory, Toss-cars
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The Toss-cars 2025: We name Croydon’s laziest councillors
It’s Inside Croydon’s annual round-up of official figures which show which of our 70 elected councillors have been asking the most questions. And which councillors need to be seriously questioned, after they’ve effectively given a grand ‘up yours’ to the … Continue reading
Posted in Adele Benson, Alisa Flemming, Brigitte Graham, Callton Young, Clive Fraser, Croydon Council, Fatima Zaman, Jason Cummings, Mayor Jason Perry, Norbury Park, Richard Chatterjee, Scott Roche, Sherwan Chowdhury, Shirley North, Shirley South, Tamar Barrett (was Nwafor), Tony Pearson
Tagged Brigitte Graham, Clive Fraser, Conservative, Councillor allowances, Croydon, Croydon Council, Fatima Zaman, Labour, Liberal Democrats, London Borough of Croydon, Mayor Jason Perry, Richard Chatterjee, Scott Roche, Sherwan Chowdhury, Tory, Toss-cars
4 Comments
Minister rules out new mayors – but Croydon’s stuck with ours
Government proposals over the running of local councils will mean more ‘strong leaders’ across the country – like Tony Newman. Or Mike Fisher. WALTER CRONXITE, Political Editor, reports The Labour government wants to “standardise” local council governance so that most … Continue reading
Posted in 2026 council elections, 2026 Croydon Mayor election, Croydon Council, London-wide issues, Mayor Jason Perry, Mayor of London, Mike Fisher, Reigate and Banstead Council, Sadiq Khan, Surrey, Tony Newman
Tagged Angela Rayner MP, Conservative, Croydon, Croydon Council, Jim McMahon, Labour, Lewisham, London, London Assembly, London Borough of Croydon, London Borough of Hackney, London Borough of Newham, London Borough of Tower Hamlets, Lutfer Rahman, Mayor Jason Perry, MHCLG, Mike Fisher, Ministry of Housing Communities and Local Government, Newham, Reigate and Banstead, Surrey County Council, Tandridge District Council, Tony Newman, Tory
2 Comments
Labour deputy leaders Young and Collins to stand down in 2026
At least 15% of Croydon’s sitting councillors won’t be seeking election in 2026, while some are doing the ‘chicken run’ to stay on the council gravy train. EXCLUSIVE by WALTER CRONXITE, Political Editor Nearly a dozen of Croydon’s current 70 … Continue reading
Posted in 2026 council elections, 2026 Croydon Mayor election, Addiscombe West, Brigitte Graham, Broad Green, Callton Young, Chris Clark, Claire Bonham, Clive Fraser, Coulsdon Town, Crystal Palace and Upper Norwood, Fairfield, Louis Carserides, Maria Gatland, Mario Creatura, Old Coulsdon, Patricia Hay-Justice, Paul Ainscough, Purley, Ria Patel, Richard Chatterjee, Rowenna Davis, Shirley North, Simon Brew, Simon Fox, South Croydon, South Norwood, Stuart Collins, Sue Bennett, Thornton Heath, Waddon, Woodside
Tagged 2026 Croydon mayoral election, 2026 local elections, Addiscombe, Addiscombe West, Brigitte Graham, Broad Green, Callton Young, Chris Clark, Clive Fraser, Cllr Rowenna Davis, Cllr Stuart King, Conservative, Coulsdon Town, Croham, Croydon, Croydon Council, Fairfield, Green Party, Labour, Labour National Executive Council, Labour NEC, LibDems, Liberal Democrats, Louis Carserides, Maria Gatland, Mario Creatura, Patricia Hay-Justice, Purley and Woodcote, Richard Chatterjee, Shirley North, Simon Brew, South Croydon, South Norwood, Stuart Collins, Sue Bennett, Thornton Heath, Tory, Woodside
13 Comments
Perry accused of ‘betrayal’ as he smuggles out more youth cuts
CROYDON IN CRISIS: Local MP and opposition councillors accuse the council of having no clear plan on what will replace an in-house team which works to reduce drugs and knife crime and to engage the borough’s youngsters. By our Town … Continue reading
Posted in Amy Foster, Children's Services, Crime, Croydon Council, Croydon East, CVA, Education, Fieldway, Knife crime, London-wide issues, Mayor Jason Perry, Natasha Irons, New Addington North, New Addington South, Policing, Restaurants, Schools
Tagged Amy Foster, Cllr Amy Foster, Conservative, Croydon, Croydon Council, Croydon East, Elianne Andam, Labour, London, London Borough of Croydon, Mayor Jason Perry, MOPAC, Natasha Irons MP, New Addington, Tory, YET, Youth Engagement Service, Youth Engagement Team
8 Comments
Owner Ansari seeks to avoid Leslie Arms planning conditions
CROYDON IN CRISIS: Since 2000, a multi-millionaire property developer has been allowing a Grade II-listed pub to decay. Now, he wants to change the conditions of his latest planning permission. KEN LEE, Town Hall reporter, on the sorry tale of … Continue reading
Posted in Addiscombe West, Business, Croydon Council, Housing, Leslie Arms, Planning, Property, Pubs, Tony Newman, Uncategorized
Tagged AA Homes, Addiscombe, Addiscombe West, Anwar Ansari, Cherry Orchard Road, Croydon, Croydon Council, Dogs attack, Dr Anwar Ansari, English Heritage, Kangal, Labour, Landlord licensing, Leslie Arms, Lloyd Park, Lower Addiscombe Road, Sadiq Khan, Sir Sadiq Khan, The Victorian Society, Tony Newman, Turkish Kangal, Yvette Cooper
16 Comments
Trebles all-round! Kerswell’s nominated herself for an award
CROYDON IN CRISIS: The council still has debts of £1.4bn, or more, but that won’t stop a select few execs attending a gala event at a Mayfair hotel next week, where tables cost up to £5,000 and our bureaucrats are … Continue reading
Posted in Alisa Flemming, Alison Butler, Council Tax, Croydon Council, Katherine Kerswell, Mayor Jason Perry, Section 114 notice, Tony Newman, Veolia
Tagged Alisa Flemming, Alison Butler, Conservative, Council Tax, Croydon, Croydon Council, Grosvenor House Hotel, Katherine Kerswell, Labour, LGC, Local Government Chronicle, Local Government Chronicle Awards, London Borough of Croydon, Mayor Jason Perry, Tony Newman, Tory
11 Comments
All change at Boxpark as they appoint Farrell as ‘growth officer’
The company behind Boozepark at East Croydon has appointed Michelle Farrell as its first “chief growth officer”. “It makes her sound like she’s in charge of verrucas and warts,” according to one punter stepping into the Croydon venue this morning. … Continue reading
Posted in Boxpark, Business, Jo Negrini, Tony Newman
Tagged Boozepark, Boxpark, Croydon, Jo Negrini, LDC, Matt Snell, Michelle Farrell, Roger Wade, Tony Newman
9 Comments
Now Perry wants to axe school safety patrols to save £58,000
CROYDON IN CRISIS: Without any debate or discussion at the Town Hall, the Tory Mayor is trying to sneak through cuts which some fear will put thousands of children’s safety at risk on a daily basis. EXCLUSIVE by STEVEN DOWNES … Continue reading
Posted in 2026 Croydon Mayor election, Claire Bonham, Council Tax, Croydon Council, Crystal Palace and Upper Norwood, Mayor Jason Perry, Norbury Manor, Orchard Park High, Rowenna Davis, Ryelands Primary and Nursery, Schools, Selsdon and Addington Village, Waddon, Woodside
Tagged Cllr Claire Bonham, Cllr Rowenna Davis, Conservative, Croydon, Croydon Council, Crystal Palace, Crystal Palace and Upper Norwood, Katherine Kerswell, Labour, Liberal Democrats, London Borough of Croydon, Mayor Jason Perry, Monks Orchard, Norbury, Selsdon, South Norwood, Tory, Woodside
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Agent on a mission overlooks Coulsdon Tories’ dark secret
It is just over a year until Croydon goes to the polls in its second Mayoral election, and the local Tories already seem up for the fight. But leading the way for them is a paid gofer who struggles to … Continue reading
Posted in 2026 council elections, 2026 Croydon Mayor election, Ben Taylor, Chris Philp MP, Coulsdon, Coulsdon Town, Council Tax, Croydon South, Ian Parker, Mario Creatura, Mayor Jason Perry, Rowenna Davis, Tony Newman, Waddon
Tagged Chris Philp MP, Cllr Rowenna Davis, Conservative, Coulsdon, Council Tax, Croydon, Croydon Council, Croydon South, Ian Parker, Labour, Mayor Jason Perry, Peter Morgan, Tony Newman, Tory
9 Comments
Party bosses criticised over bungled Mayor candidate selection
WALTER CRONXITE, Political Editor, on the grumblings of disaffection among ‘loyal’ Labour members in Croydon What’s left of Labour’s membership in Croydon, even those described as being part of the “loyal mainstream”, are getting increasingly unhappy with the way the … Continue reading
Posted in Croydon East, Simon Hall, Tony Newman
Tagged Croydon, Croydon Council, Croydon East, Croydon East CLP, Labour, London, Simon Hall, Tony Newman, Woodside
6 Comments
Labour Party ends suspension of ex-council leader Newman
CROYDON IN CRISIS: After more than four years, the two men who presided over what at the time was the biggest financial collapse in the history of local authorities in England have been allowed back into their political party. EXCLUSIVE … Continue reading
Posted in Brick by Brick, Council Tax, Croydon Council, Croydon Park Hotel, David Evans, Fieldway, Jason Cummings, Jo Negrini, Mayor Jason Perry, New Addington South, Report in the Public Interest, RIPI II: Fairfield Halls, Rowenna Davis, Section 114 notice, Simon Hall, Steve Reed MP, The Penn Report, Tony Newman
Tagged Brick by Brick, Cllr Rowenna Davis, Conservative, Council Tax, Croydon, Croydon Council, David Evans, Fieldway, Jo Negrini, Labour, Lord Evans of Penge, Mayor Jason Perry, New Addington, Simon Hall, Steve Reed OBE, Tony Newman, Tory, Woodside
23 Comments
82% of Labour members back Davis as 2026 Mayor candidate
The 2026 Croydon Mayoral contest began in earnest today when Labour finally got round to naming their chosen candidate EXCLUSIVE by WALTER CRONXITE, Political Editor To the surprise of absolutely nobody – except perhaps Manju Shahul-Hameed – Rowenna Davis has … Continue reading
Posted in 2026 council elections, 2026 Croydon Mayor election, Broad Green, Croydon Council, Manju Shahul Hameed, Mayor Jason Perry, Rowenna Davis, Tony Newman, Waddon
Tagged Conservative, Council Tax, Croydon, Croydon Council, Labour, Manju Shahul Hameed, Mayor Jason Perry, Rowenna Davis, Scrutiny and Overview Committee, Scrutiny committee, Tony Newman, Tory, Waddon
11 Comments
Labour blocks members from questioning mayoral candidates
Our Political Editor, WALTER CRONXITE, sneaked in at the back of Labour’s Zoom room last night to discover what the party’s 2026 mayoral candidates might have to offer to the people of Croydon, and found himself in a dystopian bonus … Continue reading
Posted in 2026 council elections, 2026 Croydon Mayor election, Broad Green, Croydon Council, Manju Shahul Hameed, Mayor Jason Perry, Rowenna Davis, Tony Newman, Waddon
Tagged Anonyvoter, Broad Green, Conservative, Council Tax, Croydon, Croydon Council, David Evans, Keir Starmer, Labour, Labour London Region, Manju Shahul Hameed, Mayor Jason Perry, Rowenna Davis, Severance, Tony Newman, Tory, Waddon
8 Comments
Labour sticks with Anonyvoter to choose its mayor candidate
Labour’s inexplicably delayed selection process to choose a candidate to run for Croydon Mayor in 2026 enters its final stages tomorrow, but without the party holding a single in-person selection meeting with the pair of wannabes, councillors Rowenna Davis and … Continue reading
Posted in 2026 council elections, 2026 Croydon Mayor election, Broad Green, Croydon Council, Manju Shahul Hameed, Mayor Jason Perry, Rowenna Davis, Tony Newman, Waddon
Tagged Anonyvoter, Broad Green, Conservative, Council Tax, Croydon, Croydon Council, Labour, Labour London Region, Manju Shahul Hameed, Mayor Jason Perry, Rowenna Davis, Tony Newman, Tory, Waddon
3 Comments
‘We need a Mayor who puts people first’ says Labour’s Davis
Rowenna Davis has emerged as the front-runner in the race for selection to be Labour’s candidate for next year’s Croydon mayoral elections. A councillor for Waddon since 2022, Davis announced over the weekend that she has been shortlisted in her … Continue reading
Posted in 2026 council elections, 2026 Croydon Mayor election, Broad Green, Croydon Council, Manju Shahul Hameed, Mayor Jason Perry, Rowenna Davis, Tony Newman, Waddon
Tagged Conservative, Council Tax, Croydon, Croydon Council, Labour, Manju Shahul Hameed, Mayor Jason Perry, Rowenna Davis, Scrutiny and Overview Committee, Scrutiny committee, Tony Newman, Tory, Waddon
25 Comments
Newman Numpty could seek Labour pick as Mayor candidate
EXCLUSIVE: In 2021, one councillor seeking to be chosen as her party’s candidate for elected Mayor ran a campaign with the slogan: ‘I can do more for the people I care about’. What might be her catchphrase be in 2025? … Continue reading
Posted in 2026 council elections, 2026 Croydon Mayor election, Broad Green, Croydon Council, Manju Shahul Hameed, Mayor Jason Perry, Rowenna Davis, Tony Newman, Waddon
Tagged Alan Patridge, Conservative, Council Tax, Croydon, Croydon Council, Labour, Manju Shahul Hameed, Mayor Jason Perry, Rowenna Davis, Scrutiny and Overview Committee, Scrutiny committee, Tony Newman, Tory, Waddon
5 Comments
They voted to raise your Council Tax, then to increase their pay
TOWN HALL SKETCH: Things don’t sound too good in the Chamber these days, and it is not just because the council has hired a cheaper contractor for its audio system. As tempers frayed at the most important meeting of the … Continue reading
Posted in 'Future Croydon', Amy Foster, Avril Slipper, Callton Young, Christopher Herman, Claire Bonham, Council Tax, Croydon Carers, Croydon Council, Croydon Greens, Esther Sutton, Ian Parker, Jason Cummings, Katherine Kerswell, Kola Agboola, Mayor Jason Perry, Ria Patel, Rowenna Davis, Sean Fitzsimons, Section 114 notice, Stuart King
Tagged 2025 Council budget, Claire Bonham, Conservative, Council Tax, Croydon, Croydon Council, Jason Cummings, Kola Agboola, Labour, Liberal Democrats, London Borough of Croydon, Mayor Jason Perry, Ria Patel, Rowenna Davis, STUART KING, Tory
5 Comments
Accountancy watchdog moves in on officials from Woking
After almost five years, not a single person in Croydon has ever been held responsible for their parts in the council’s financial collapse, the scandal of Brick by Brick or the Fairfield Halls refurbishment fiasco. But in Surrey, two former … Continue reading
Posted in Brick by Brick, Business, Colm Lacey, Crime, Croydon Council, Jacqueline Harris-Baker, Jo Negrini, Katherine Kerswell, Lisa Taylor, Report in the Public Interest, Richard Simpson, RIPI II: Fairfield Halls, Section 114 notice, Shifa Mustafa, Simon Hall, The Penn Report, Tony Newman
Tagged Brick by Brick, Colm Lacey, Conservative, Croydon, Croydon Council, Fairfield Halls, Financial Reporting Council, Grant Thornton, Jo Negrini, Katherine Kerswell, Kroll, Kroll Report, Labour, Lisa Taylor, London Borough of Croydon, Mayor Jason Perry, Penn Report, Report in the Public Interest, Richard Simpson, RIPI, RIPI2, Simon Hall, The Kroll Report, The Penn Report, Tory, Woking Borough Council, Woking Council
9 Comments
News black-out after Labour Party suspends Assembly Member
EXCLUSIVE by STEVEN DOWNES Unmesh Desai, the London Assembly Member for The City and East London, has been suspended by the Labour Party following what was initially reported as “a police investigation into a serious allegation”. A spokesperson for the … Continue reading
MP Reed claims those who left borough broke ‘have now gone’
WALTER CRONXITE, political editor, checks the ‘facts’ where other local news outlets dare not look Steve Reed OBE, the MP who was Labour’s front bench spokesperson on local government at the time that the council for the area he is … Continue reading
Posted in Alisa Flemming, Alison Butler, Brick by Brick, Callton Young, Council Tax, Croydon Council, Croydon North, David Evans, Environment, Fairfield Halls, Lambeth Council, Manju Shahul Hameed, Mayor Jason Perry, Paul Scott, Report in the Public Interest, RIPI II: Fairfield Halls, Sean Fitzsimons, Section 114 notice, Simon Hall, Steve Reed MP, Streatham and Croydon North, Stuart Collins, Stuart King, The Penn Report, Tony Newman
Tagged Alisa Flemming, Alison Butler, Brick by Brick, Clive Fraser, Council Tax, Croydon, Croydon Council, Croydon North, Croydon Park Hotel, David Evans, Fairfield Halls, Labour, London Borough of Croydon, Paul Scott, Sean Fitzsimons, Simon Hall, Steve Reed OBE, Streatham and Croydon North, Tony Newman
8 Comments
Lord Evans of Penge completes clique’s stranglehold of Labour
Political editor WALTER CRONXITE gives his crystal ball a polish after one of his easier predictions came to pass Friday’s announcement of another raft of political peerages was the latest move to consolidate a takeover of the Labour Party by … Continue reading
Posted in David Evans, Lambeth Council, Steve Reed MP, Streatham and Croydon North, Tony Newman
Tagged Alison Butler, Brick by Brick, Croydon, Croydon Council, David Evans, House of Lords, Imogen Walker, Keir Starmer, Labour, London Borough of Croydon, Morgan McSweeney, Simon Hall, Steve Reed OBE, Sue Gray, The Campaign Company, Tony Newman
2 Comments
Negrini doctored specialist reports and withheld finance details
CROYDON IN CRISIS: Investigators from Kroll never had investigatory powers to check people’s bank accounts in the search for possible fraud over the £73m refurbishment of the Fairfield Halls. But there was evidence in the public domain of ‘direct personal … Continue reading
Posted in Alison Butler, Brick by Brick, Business, College Green, Colm Lacey, Crime, Croydon Council, Fairfield Halls, Jacqueline Harris-Baker, Jo Negrini, Katherine Kerswell, Lisa Taylor, Mott MacDonald, Paul Scott, Report in the Public Interest, Richard Simpson, RIPI II: Fairfield Halls, Section 114 notice, Shifa Mustafa, The Penn Report, Tony Newman
Tagged Alison Butler, Arup, Brick by Brick, Colm Lacey, Conservative, Croydon, Croydon Council, Fairfield Halls, Grant Thornton, Jo Negrini, Katherine Kerswell, Kroll, Kroll Report, Labour, London Borough of Croydon, Mayor Jason Perry, Mott MacDonald, Penn Report, Project Dillon, Report in the Public Interest, Richard Simpson, RIPI, RIPI2, The Kroll Report, The Penn Report, Tory, Vinci, Vinci Construction UK Ltd
15 Comments
