Tag Archives: Guy van Dichele

#PennReport: Croydon has been let down by political leaders

Posted on October 5, 2022 by insidecroydon

CROYDON IN CRISIS: The report into the council’s financial collapse that has been withheld for nearly two years includes damning criticisms of some of the council’s most senior staff and political leaders. EXCLUSIVE by STEVEN DOWNES Croydon’s dysfunctional council went … Continue reading →

Posted in Alison Butler, Children's Services, Croydon Council, Guy van Dichele, Hazel Simmonds, Jacqueline Harris-Baker, Jo Negrini, Katherine Kerswell, Lisa Taylor, Paul Scott, Report in the Public Interest, Richard Simpson, Section 114 notice, Shifa Mustafa, Simon Hall, The Penn Report, Tony Newman | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

#PennReport wanted police probe into possible misconduct

Posted on October 4, 2022 by insidecroydon

CROYDON IN CRISIS: For nearly two years, the council has withheld a detailed report into ‘possible wrong-doing’ at the Town Hall, together with recommendations for a Met Police investigation and the seeking of a refund on the £437,000 pay-off to … Continue reading →

Posted in Brick by Brick, Crime, Croydon Council, Guy van Dichele, Hazel Simmonds, Inside Croydon, Jacqueline Harris-Baker, Jo Negrini, Katherine Kerswell, Lisa Taylor, Report in the Public Interest, Section 114 notice, Shifa Mustafa, Simon Hall, The Penn Report, Tony Newman | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 19 Comments

Former council exec drops employment case on technicality

Posted on September 30, 2022 by insidecroydon

Guy van Dichele, the former council exec director who was suspended in February 2021 as part of the “Kerswell Kull” of senior staffers who had run the borough in the lead-up to its financial collapse, has dropped his Employment Tribunal … Continue reading →

Posted in Croydon Council, Guy van Dichele, Hazel Simmonds, Jacqueline Harris-Baker, Jo Negrini, Katherine Kerswell, Lisa Taylor, Shifa Mustafa, The Penn Report | Tagged , , , , | 3 Comments

The deal is in: council facing another expensive staff pay-off

Posted on September 15, 2022 by insidecroydon

CROYDON IN CRISIS: Late cancellation of an Employment Tribunal hearing this morning avoids the council washing its dirty linen in public. EXCLUSIVE by STEVEN DOWNES Jason Perry, Croydon’s part-time Mayor, could soon be asked to rubber-stamp another expensive “golden handshake” … Continue reading →

Posted in Croydon Council, Guy van Dichele, Hazel Simmonds, Jo Negrini, Katherine Kerswell, Mayor Jason Perry, Shifa Mustafa | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 5 Comments

CEO Kerswell could face race discrimination claims at Tribunal

Posted on September 14, 2022 by insidecroydon

CROYDON IN CRISIS: To be dragged before an Employment Tribunal by one six-figure salaried exec might be seen as unfortunate. To be taken to the ET by two top execs, with one of them accusing the council of being racist, … Continue reading →

Posted in Croydon Council, Guy van Dichele, Hazel Simmonds, Katherine Kerswell, Section 114 notice | Tagged , , , , | 1 Comment

Council exec Simmonds quits after 18 months ‘gardening leave’

Posted on September 12, 2022 by insidecroydon

CROYDON IN CRISIS: The final obstacle to the release of the Penn Report into possible wrongdoing in Croydon has finally been removed, just ahead of an Employment Tribunal hearing this week. By STEVEN DOWNES Hazel Simmonds, one of five council … Continue reading →

Posted in Croydon Council, Guy van Dichele, Hazel Simmonds, Jacqueline Harris-Baker, Jo Negrini, Katherine Kerswell, Lisa Taylor, Report in the Public Interest, RIPI II: Fairfield Halls, Section 114 notice, Shifa Mustafa | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

Secret report into wrong-doing at council still kept under wraps

Posted on April 25, 2022 by insidecroydon

CROYDON IN CRISIS: Eighteen months after an investigation into how the council’s finances collapsed, the report into the affair – which prompted the resignation of the council leader and four execs – remains unpublished. And the council CEO intends keeping … Continue reading →

Posted in Croydon Council, Guy van Dichele, Hamida Ali, Hazel Simmonds, Jacqueline Harris-Baker, Jo Negrini, Joy Prince, Katherine Kerswell, Lisa Taylor, Lynne Hale, Report in the Public Interest, Section 114 notice, Shifa Mustafa, Tony Newman | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 13 Comments

Suspended director sues Kerswell for ‘race discrimination’

Posted on March 3, 2022 by insidecroydon

CROYDON IN CRISIS: The council running one of the country’s most ethnically diverse boroughs could be dragged through the courts, with one of its rare BAME directors accusing it, and its chief executive, of racism. By STEVEN DOWNES Hazel Simmonds, … Continue reading →

Posted in Croydon Council, Guy van Dichele, Hazel Simmonds, Jacqueline Harris-Baker, Jo Negrini, Katherine Kerswell, Lisa Taylor, Section 114 notice, Shifa Mustafa | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

Former health director suing council for constructive dismissal

Posted on July 26, 2021 by insidecroydon

CROYDON IN CRISIS: ‘Kerswell’s cull’ of the council’s executive directors appointed or promoted by her predecessor, Jo Negrini,  is not going as smoothly as might have been hoped. And it appears that most will escape any disciplinary action. By STEVEN … Continue reading →

Posted in Brick by Brick, Croydon Council, Guy van Dichele, Hazel Simmonds, Jacqueline Harris-Baker, Jo Negrini, Katherine Kerswell, Lisa Taylor, Report in the Public Interest, Section 114 notice, Shifa Mustafa | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

Mystery of £200k council exec points towards BxB’s Lacey

Posted on June 25, 2021 by insidecroydon

CROYDON IN CRISIS: While the average salary of council employees is a modest £23,000, those at the top of the organisation, even when it was heading for financial collapse, still made sure they awarded themselves cushty pay hikes. By STEVEN … Continue reading →

Posted in Brick by Brick, Colm Lacey, Croydon Council, Guy van Dichele, Hazel Simmonds, Jacqueline Harris-Baker, Jo Negrini, Katherine Kerswell, Nathan Elvery | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 7 Comments

Exec director resigned week before suspension was announced

Posted on February 20, 2021 by insidecroydon

CROYDON IN CRISIS: Minutes from another council’s meeting shows that Guy Van Dichele was offered a job in Southampton eight days before he was ‘suspended’ from his post as executive director ‘health, well-being and adults’. EXCLUSIVE by STEVEN DOWNES Documents … Continue reading →

Posted in Croydon Council, Guy van Dichele, Hamida Ali, Hazel Simmonds, Jacqueline Harris-Baker, Katherine Kerswell, Lisa Taylor, Robert Henderson, Shifa Mustafa | Tagged , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Two executive directors in shock resignations from council

Posted on February 18, 2021 by insidecroydon

CROYDON IN CRISIS: Staff were told this afternoon that two of the ‘executive leadership team’ who were suspended from duty last week have quit their jobs. EXCLUSIVE by STEVEN DOWNES Guy Van Dichele, Croydon’s executive director “health, well-being and adults”, … Continue reading →

Posted in Croydon Council, Guy van Dichele, Hazel Simmonds, Jacqueline Harris-Baker, Lisa Taylor, Shifa Mustafa, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , | 2 Comments

‘Unintended consequences’: government scraps pay-off cap

Posted on February 15, 2021 by insidecroydon

CROYDON IN CRISIS: Political editor WALTER CRONXITE finds that the era of half-million-pound rewards for failure might not be over at the council just yet Those council exec directors on six-figure salaries who are sweating on the outcome of a … Continue reading →

Posted in Croydon Council, Guy van Dichele, Hazel Simmonds, Jacqueline Harris-Baker, Jo Negrini, Katherine Kerswell, Lisa Taylor, Shifa Mustafa | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | 7 Comments

The Kerswell cull: ‘This is a really difficult situation’ says CEO

Posted on February 10, 2021 by insidecroydon

CROYDON IN CRISIS: Our Town Hall reporter, KEN LEE, on the latest bulletin to council staff intended, perhaps, to keep up morale In the vintage (and not very “woke”) BBC sitcom Are You Being Served, the doddering old proprietor of … Continue reading →

Posted in Croydon Council, Guy van Dichele, Hazel Simmonds, Jacqueline Harris-Baker, Katherine Kerswell, Lisa Taylor, Shifa Mustafa | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 7 Comments

The Kerswell cull begins: five senior council execs go ‘off-grid’

Posted on February 9, 2021 by insidecroydon

CROYDON IN CRISIS: Monday night’s constitutional changes at the Town Hall were quickly followed by ‘unprecedented’ action from the interim CEO. By STEVEN DOWNES Almost the whole of the senior leadership team at the council “went off-grid” today. Inside Croydon … Continue reading →

Posted in Croydon Council, Guy van Dichele, Hamida Ali, Hazel Simmonds, Jacqueline Harris-Baker, Jo Negrini, Katherine Kerswell, Lisa Taylor, Shifa Mustafa, Tony Newman | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | 6 Comments

Reshuffle puts execs in high-stakes game of musical chairs

Posted on December 15, 2020 by insidecroydon

EXCLUSIVE: Leaked council documents suggest that the interim chief executive has already made her mind up as to who she wants in her top team. By STEVEN DOWNES Katherine Kerswell, Croydon’s £192,474 per year interim CEO, looks set to demote … Continue reading →

Posted in Croydon Council, Guy van Dichele, Jacqueline Harris-Baker, Katherine Kerswell, Lisa Taylor, Section 114 notice, Shifa Mustafa | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 10 Comments

Kerswell’s management savings plan: no change at the top

Posted on December 11, 2020 by insidecroydon

CROYDON IN CRISIS: Staff, unions and residents expected to react angrily to the council’s £193,000 interim CEO’s plan to make only minor changes to the staff on the biggest salaries at Fisher’s Folly. EXCLUSIVE by STEVEN DOWNES Katherine Kerswell’s plan … Continue reading →

Posted in Adult Social Care, Children's Services, Croydon Council, Debbie Jones, Elaine Jackson, Guy van Dichele, Hazel Simmonds, Jacqueline Harris-Baker, Katherine Kerswell, Lisa Taylor, Section 114 notice, Shifa Mustafa | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 5 Comments

Croydon in crisis: Council makes 20% cuts to adult services

Posted on September 9, 2020 by insidecroydon

KEN LEE, our Town Hall reporter, on the latest cuts at the council While Jo Negrini was having her lawyers haggle over the size of her six-figure pay-off for leaving her job as chief executive of the council, the scale … Continue reading →

Posted in Adult Social Care, Croydon Council, Guy van Dichele, Jo Negrini, Sean Fitzsimons, Simon Hall, Tony Newman | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Croydon In Crisis: Council in disarray as Negrini quits

Posted on August 20, 2020 by insidecroydon

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

Staff accuse Negrini of ‘cowardice’ ahead of showdown meet

Posted on August 5, 2020 by insidecroydon

The council chief exec is presiding over mounting anger over her handling of the borough finances and management of hundreds of job cuts. STEVEN DOWNES reports Dozens of council staff, many of them facing the prospect of redundancy as part … Continue reading →

Posted in Croydon Council, Guy van Dichele, Hazel Simmonds, Jacqueline Harris-Baker, Jo Negrini, Robert Henderson, Shifa Mustafa | Tagged , , , , , , | 9 Comments

Negrini reshuffles executive pack to cope with Henderson exit

Posted on July 28, 2020 by insidecroydon

Town Hall reporter KEN LEE on the latest changes in the executive suites at Fisher’s Folly The council could be looking to shave £150,000 or more per year from its on-going costs by not replacing Robert Henderson as the exec … Continue reading →

Posted in Adult Social Care, Children's Services, Croydon Council, Guy van Dichele, Jo Negrini, Nick Pendry, Robert Henderson, SEND | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Council denies using Coronavirus Act to axe adult care

Posted on April 23, 2020 by insidecroydon

KEN LEE reports on the latest controversy to hit Fisher’s Folly The leader of council was today demanding an apology from the Law Society – the governing body of all solicitors in England and Wales – after it published a … Continue reading →

Posted in Adult Social Care, Croydon Council, Guy van Dichele, Health, Jo Negrini, Tony Newman | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

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

Posted on April 16, 2020 by insidecroydon

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