Tag Archives: Council transformation

‘Time for new leadership’: ex-director’s broadside at Kerswell

Now even once loyal, £1,000-a-day execs are publicly voicing criticism of Croydon’s former CEO. By STEVEN DOWNES Katherine Kerswell’s abrupt exit as Croydon’s £204,000 per year chief executive was no surprise to someone who, until just a couple of months … Continue reading

Posted in Commissioners, Croydon Council, Elaine Jackson, Katherine Kerswell, Mayor Jason Perry, Section 114 notice, Stabilisation Plan | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 6 Comments

Jackson agrees to stand-in after Kerswell’s abrupt departure

CROYDON IN CRISIS: Council’s assistant CEO forced to cancel retirement plans in order to fill in for her former boss, who is being given a £50,000 pay-off for not working her notice period. By STEVEN DOWNES Elaine Jackson has been … Continue reading

Posted in Commissioners, Croydon Council, Elaine Jackson, Ged Curran, Jane West, Katherine Kerswell, Mayor Jason Perry, Section 114 notice, Stabilisation Plan | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 14 Comments

Kerswell gets ‘vote of confidence’ in email from Commissioner

Two months since the government sent in Commissioners to run Croydon’s cash-strapped and chaotic council, a round-robin message to staff today suggests that the team has already ‘gone native’. EXCLUSIVE by STEVEN DOWNES Staff working in Fisher’s Folly, cash-strapped Croydon … Continue reading

Posted in 'Future Croydon', Abi Brown, Commissioners, Council Tax, Croydon Council, Debbie Warren, Ged Curran, Improvement Board, Jackie Belton, Katherine Kerswell, Mayor Jason Perry, Section 114 notice, Stabilisation Plan | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 7 Comments

Now Kerswell’s deputy CEO joins the rush for council exits

EXCLUSIVE: To lose one of her trusted inner circle might be unfortunate for Croydon chief exec Katherine Kerswell, but to lose two is beginning to look like an exodus. By STEVEN DOWNES Elaine Jackson, the senior council executive who Croydon … Continue reading

Posted in Abi Brown, Commissioners, Council Tax, Croydon Council, Debbie Warren, Elaine Jackson, Ged Curran, Improvement Board, Jackie Belton, Jane West, Katherine Kerswell, Mayor Jason Perry, Section 114 notice, Stabilisation Plan | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 8 Comments

Go West! Cash-strapped council’s finance chief is set to quit

EXCLUSIVE: Councillors were kept in the dark about departure of council’s S151 officer, as her exit is linked to the government’s appointment of Commissioners. By STEVEN DOWNES Jane West, Croydon’s finance director since 2022, is to stand down from her … Continue reading

Posted in Abi Brown, Commissioners, Council Tax, Croydon Council, Debbie Warren, Ged Curran, Improvement Board, Jackie Belton, Jane West, Katherine Kerswell, Mayor Jason Perry, Section 114 notice, Stabilisation Plan | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

New director job ads signal end for Kerswell’s costly interims

EXCLUSIVE: Just a couple of weeks since the government Commissioners arrived in Croydon, and an obvious way of saving money is being implemented. By KEN LEE, Town Hall reporter Could it be that the era of £1,000 per day “interim”, … Continue reading

Posted in 'Future Croydon', Adam Wilkinson, Commissioners, Croydon Council, Heather Cheesbrough, Karen Agbabiaka, Katherine Kerswell, Mayor Jason Perry, Property, Sue Hanlon | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 8 Comments

McArdle’s reward for Croydon failure: £1,200 per day in Brum

Having delivered no appreciable improvement in Croydon after more than four years, the council’s ‘improvement’ panel left south London last week, to be replaced by Commissioners. But the panel members’ ride on the gravy train does not end there. By … Continue reading

Posted in Commissioners, Council Tax, Croydon Council, Ged Curran, Improvement Board, Katherine Kerswell, Mayor Jason Perry, Robert Ward, Section 114 notice, Tony McArdle | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 7 Comments

It’s a lock out as High Court bailiffs move in on Praise House

CROYDON IN CRISIS: Some of failed Mayor Perry’s biggest fans had a rude awakening on Friday morning when the council sent in bailiffs and locked them out of their civic-owned building. The tenants claim they have no idea why. EXCLUSIVE … Continue reading

Posted in 'Future Croydon', Business, Charity, Church and religions, Commissioners, Community associations, Council Tax, Croydon Council, Improvement Board, Katherine Kerswell, Mayor Jason Perry, Stabilisation Plan | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 18 Comments

Tory improvement panel ‘clearly failed’, says Tory councillor

In the first break with the omerta adopted by Mayor Jason Perry and council CEO Katherine Kerswell over the so-called ‘improvement panel’, a senior Tory councillor says that the appointees of the Conservative government ‘failed’. By WALTER CONXITE, Political Editor … Continue reading

Posted in 'Future Croydon', Commissioners, Council Tax, Croydon Council, Ged Curran, Improvement Board, Katherine Kerswell, Mayor Jason Perry, Robert Ward, Section 114 notice, Selsdon and Addington Village, Stabilisation Plan | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

£642,000: the annual cost of government’s four Commissioners

The government might have decided to send in Commissioners, but it will be Croydon’s Council Tax-payers who will be picking up the bill. Yet again. EXCLUSIVE by STEVEN DOWNES Croydon’s long-suffering residents will be expected to pay the generous daily … Continue reading

Posted in 'Future Croydon', Abi Brown, Commissioners, Council Tax, Croydon Council, Debbie Warren, Ged Curran, Improvement Board, Jackie Belton, Katherine Kerswell, Mayor Jason Perry, Section 114 notice, Stabilisation Plan | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 6 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 , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 11 Comments

Minister McMahon orders in Commissioners to run council

STEVEN DOWNES reports on another day of shame for Croydon’s Tory Mayor and his £204,000 chief executive, as government minister orders ‘a short and sharp reset, with fast action… to shift the dial on the council’s recovery’ The government today … Continue reading

Posted in 'Future Croydon', Abi Brown, Commissioners, Council Tax, Croydon Council, Debbie Warren, Ged Curran, Improvement Board, Jackie Belton, Katherine Kerswell, Mayor Jason Perry, Section 114 notice, Stabilisation Plan | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 23 Comments

Meet the Commissioners: council experts sent to save Croydon

Just who are the Commissioners named today by the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government to have been appointed with the task of steering Croydon Council off the rocks of toxic debt and crass mismanagement? Last month, local government … Continue reading

Posted in 'Future Croydon', Abi Brown, Commissioners, Council Tax, Croydon Council, Debbie Warren, Ged Curran, Improvement Board, Jackie Belton, Katherine Kerswell, Mayor Jason Perry, Section 114 notice, Stabilisation Plan | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

Kerswell tells staff: Commissioner news could come this week

Croydon’s £204,000 per year chief exec appears to have bowed to the inevitable that the government will take over the running of the debt-laden council. By WALTER CRONXITE, Political Editor “Her empire is crumbling around her.” That’s how one Croydon … Continue reading

Posted in 'Future Croydon', Commissioners, Council Tax, Croydon Council, Improvement Board, Katherine Kerswell, Mayor Jason Perry, Property, Section 114 notice, Stabilisation Plan | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 22 Comments

Property salesman Lewis quits council job over interim costs

EXCLUSIVE: One of the cash-strapped council’s £1,000 per day ‘temporary’ directors left Fisher’s Folly in a bit of a rush last week – getting out before the Commissioners arrive. By STEVEN DOWNES Huw Rhys Lewis BSc, BArch, MSc, MRIBA, MAPM, … Continue reading

Posted in 'Future Croydon', Adam Wilkinson, Commissioners, Council Tax, Croydon Council, Croydon Nightwatch, Heather Cheesbrough, Heathfield House, Improvement Board, Karen Agbabiaka, Katherine Kerswell, Mayor Jason Perry, Nazeya Hussain, Nick Hibberd, Property, Section 114 notice, Stabilisation Plan, Tony McArdle | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 12 Comments

From tantrum to grovel, Perry shifts posture for Commissioners

TOWN HALL SKETCH: When Mayor’s deputy tells a council meeting that, ‘Aside from the finances, we are performing well’, it is clear that outside help is urgently required. By WALTER CRONXITE, Political Editor “Data!” Croydon Mayor Jason Perry had just … Continue reading

Posted in 'Future Croydon', Callton Young, Commissioners, Council Tax, Croydon Council, Improvement Board, Katherine Kerswell, Lynne Hale, Mayor Jason Perry, Rowenna Davis, Section 114 notice, Stabilisation Plan, Stuart King | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 26 Comments

Council chief made mates’ rates payments at £726 per hour

Lack of proper governance over payments and ‘interims’ working at the council for up to five years raise further questions over ‘runaway’ spending for chief exec Kerswell and Mayor Jason Perry. EXCLUSIVE by STEVEN DOWNES Croydon Council’s chief executive Katherine … Continue reading

Posted in 'Future Croydon', Alasdair Stewart, Business, Commissioners, Council Tax, Croydon Council, Dean Shoesmith, General Purposes and Audit Committee, Improvement Board, Katherine Kerswell, Mayor Jason Perry, Section 114 notice, Stabilisation Plan | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 13 Comments

Official figures show Croydon’s £90.8m in unpaid Council Tax

Croydon households owe £90.8million in unpaid Council Tax, the second-highest level in London, in what reports say is another indication of the cost-of-living crisis. It is also another sign of cash-strapped Croydon’s poor administration, with an increasing rate of non-collection. … Continue reading

Posted in 'Future Croydon', Business, Commissioners, Council Tax, Croydon Council, Improvement Board, Katherine Kerswell, Mayor Jason Perry, Section 114 notice, Stabilisation Plan, Tony McArdle | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 16 Comments

Agency spend scandal: Perry blasted for ‘ridiculous shambles’

EXCLUSIVE by STEVEN DOWNES Rowenna Davis, the Labour Party’s candidate for Croydon Mayor, has described the cash-strapped council’s “runaway” spending on agency staff as “disgusting” and “unforgivable”. “It’s a ridiculous shambles,” Davis said. Davis, a councillor for Waddon ward and, … Continue reading

Posted in 'Future Croydon', Business, Children's Services, Commissioners, Council Tax, Croydon Council, Dean Shoesmith, Improvement Board, Katherine Kerswell, Mayor Jason Perry, Rowenna Davis, Section 114 notice, Stabilisation Plan, Tony McArdle, Waddon | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 8 Comments

Council accused of cover-up over multi-million agency spend

CROYDON IN CRISIS: LibDems’ election candidate has examined expenditure accounts and confirms that spending on temporary staff has risen to £53m per year under Tory Mayor. By STEVEN DOWNES  Richard Howard, the Liberal Democrat candidate standing for Croydon Mayor next … Continue reading

Posted in 'Future Croydon', Children's Services, Commissioners, Council Tax, Croydon Council, Dean Shoesmith, General Purposes and Audit Committee, Improvement Board, Katherine Kerswell, Mayor Jason Perry, Richard Howard, Section 114 notice, Stabilisation Plan | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

Council’s agency staff bill includes £726 per hour consultant

EXCLUSIVE by STEVEN DOWNES Council’s spending on agency staff has quadrupled under Tory Mayor Jason Perry One ‘transformation’ consultant is paid £726 PER HOUR Adecco employee allowed to sign off hundreds of thousands of pounds in Croydon Council payments to… … Continue reading

Posted in 'Future Croydon', Business, Children's Services, Commissioners, Council Tax, Croydon Council, Dean Shoesmith, General Purposes and Audit Committee, Improvement Board, Jo Negrini, Katherine Kerswell, Mayor Jason Perry, Section 114 notice, Stabilisation Plan, Tony McArdle | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 16 Comments