Tag Archives: Jo Negrini

Mayor fails to find ‘right’ person for £275,000 CEO vacancy

CROYDON IN CRISIS: A year since the vacancy arose at Fisher’s Folly, the Mayor is no closer to recruiting someone for the top job to take over from Katherine Kerswell. KEN LEE, Town Hall correspondent, reports Jason Perry has failed … Continue reading →

Posted in Commissioners, Conrad Hall, Council Tax, Croydon Council, Elaine Jackson, Jo Negrini, Katherine Kerswell, Mike Jackson, Section 114 notice | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

Coulsdon’s Red Clover Gardens gets a new coat of whitewash

A housing scheme in Coulsdon has won the country’s top architecture award. Yet there’s not been a peep from the council’s propaganda department, usually desperate to spin anything as ‘good’ news in Croydon. STEVEN DOWNES on the desperate efforts of … Continue reading →

Posted in Brick by Brick, Business, Colm Lacey, Coulsdon, Croydon Council, Environment, Housing, Jo Negrini, Mayor Jason Perry, Planning, Property | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 11 Comments

‘Digital first’ council fails to achieve basic level of competence

By STEVEN DOWNES, Editor, Inside Croydon Poet Brian Bilston was on stage at the Ashcroft Theatre last night*. In between frequent references to Clare Grogan, his cat and the seemingly unstoppable onward march of AI, Bilston read from his poem … Continue reading →

Posted in 'Future Croydon', Art, Ashcroft Theatre, Croydon Council, Fairfield Halls, Jo Negrini, Katherine Kerswell, Mayor Jason Perry, Neil Williams, Opama Khan, Poetry, Theatre | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 5 Comments

Whistleblower’s lonely eight-year battle over council spending

CROYDON IN CRISIS: In 2018, Daniel Cox blew the whistle when he discovered that a contractor was charging the council almost double what he was being paid for his work. Cox was dismissed, and the council has spent the past … Continue reading →

Posted in Children's Services, Croydon Council, Jacqueline Harris-Baker, Jo Negrini, Mayor Jason Perry, SEND, Stephen Lawrence-Orumwense | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 9 Comments

Perry’s plan: More borrowing. More debt. And £58m more cuts

CROYDON IN CRISIS: Reports sneaked out ahead of next Wednesday’s council cabinet meeting talk of ‘difficult decisions’, after residents have already suffered six years of the consequences of ‘difficult decisions’. By STEVEN DOWNES Less than six months since he pushed … Continue reading →

Posted in 'Future Croydon', Adult Social Care, Children's Services, Claire Bonham, Commissioners, Conrad Hall, Council Tax, Croydon Council, Elaine Jackson, Jo Negrini, Katherine Kerswell, Mayor Jason Perry, Paul Ainscough, SEND, Stabilisation Plan, Stuart King | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 8 Comments

Reed is first Cabinet casualty under new PM Andy Burnham

WALTER CRONXITE, Political Editor, on the end of a local MP’s ministerial career, as power shifts in Downing Street Steve Reed, the MP for Streatham (and Croydon North when he could be bothered) was the first to resign from the … Continue reading →

Posted in Steve Reed MP, Streatham and Croydon North | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 19 Comments

£275,000: Loadsamoney Perry breaks the bank for new CEO

CROYDON IN CRISIS: As the council faces having to replace its interim CEO with an interim interim CEO, the Mayor splashes the cash to try to find someone for what he calls ‘London’s most important leadership role’ Recruitment ads for … Continue reading →

Posted in Brick by Brick, Commissioners, Conrad Hall, Council Tax, Croydon Council, Dean Shoesmith, Elaine Jackson, Ged Curran, Jenny Rowlands, Jo Negrini, Katherine Kerswell, Mayor Jason Perry, Nathan Elvery, Section 114 notice | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 7 Comments

Do you recognise your council as described in the CEO job ad?

CROYDON IN CRISIS In the recruitment ad, are the Commissioners seeking a competent and experienced civic administrator with more than the charisma of a dead fish for the role of council chief executive? Or are they looking for a knight … Continue reading →

Posted in Brick by Brick, Commissioners, Conrad Hall, Council Tax, Croydon Council, Dean Shoesmith, Elaine Jackson, Ged Curran, Jenny Rowlands, Jo Negrini, Katherine Kerswell, Mayor Jason Perry, Nathan Elvery, Section 114 notice | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 7 Comments

Jackson fires starting pistol in the race for council’s top job

CROYDON IN CRISIS: The omnishambles council is looking for its third chief exec in the space of nine months, with the challenge for the borough’s failed Mayor of finding anyone willing to work with him. By STEVEN DOWNES Elaine Jackson, … Continue reading →

Posted in Commissioners, Croydon Council, Elaine Jackson, Ged Curran, Katherine Kerswell, Mayor Jason Perry, Section 114 notice, Stabilisation Plan | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Croydon’s GIGO ‘economy’ stops people paying Council Tax

Our cash-strapped council has squandered millions on its failed Croydon Digital department, and then wasted millions more on outside consultants who pressed on with the ‘Digital First’ policy. Yet we now have a council website which makes it more difficult … Continue reading →

Posted in Council Tax, Croydon Council, Jo Negrini, Katherine Kerswell | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 8 Comments

This is where ‘Don’t rock the boat’ has become official mantra

CROYDON COMMENTARY: With local elections fast approaching, the national press has been taking a closer look at Croydon. Business owner NITIN MEHTA posted a comment in response to an article in Murdoch-owned The Times, and here expands on his points … Continue reading →

Posted in "Hammersfield", Broad Green, Business, Crime, Croydon 8/8, Croydon Council, Croydon West, Jo Negrini, Katherine Kerswell, Knife crime, Mayor Jason Perry, North End Quarter, Whitgift Centre | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 21 Comments

Council’s £68m write-off as Brick by Brick goes into liquidation

The housing company that borrowed £200m but never made a penny profit is finally to be closed down after a six-year winding-up process. By STEVEN DOWNES Brick by Brick, the council-owned housing company that bankrupted the borough, has gone into … Continue reading →

Posted in Brick by Brick, Business, Colm Lacey, Coulsdon, Croydon Council, Housing, Jo Negrini, Mayor Jason Perry | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | 10 Comments

Face-less and word-less: fringe candidates who want your vote

Just who are these people wanting you to entrust them with your precious vote on May 7? As KEN TOWL discovered, some appear very reluctant to let you know who they are, or what they really stand for  There’s this … Continue reading →

Posted in 2026 council elections, Adam Kellett, Donald Speakman, Jose Joseph, London-wide issues, New Addington North, New Addington South, Selsdon and Addington Village, Selsdon Vale and Forestdale, Shirley North, Shirley South | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Budget-buster Perry hires another six-figure salaried ‘interim’

KEN LEE, our Town Hall reporter, on the latest £150,000 per year staff signing by Croydon’s bankrupt council Jason Perry, Croydon’s £84,000 per year executive Mayor who has closed four public libraries to save money and axed lollipop road safety … Continue reading →

Posted in 2026 council elections, 2026 Croydon Mayor election, Commissioners, Council Tax, Croydon Council, Elaine Jackson, Jenny Rowlands, Jo Negrini, Katherine Kerswell, Mayor Jason Perry, Section 114 notice | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 13 Comments

Let’s all send a clear message to Mayor Perry this Christmas

It’s the time of year when a little bit of kindness can go a long way. With Croydon’s second mayoral election now little more than four months away, households across Croydon have the opportunity to offer a poignant symbol to … Continue reading →

Posted in 2026 council elections, 2026 Croydon Mayor election, Commissioners, Council Tax, Croydon Council, Improvement Board, Jo Negrini, Katherine Kerswell, Mayor Jason Perry | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 10 Comments

Podcast review: Taylor Swift to Ruby Wax to… Jason Perry

From Taylor Swift to Stanley Tucci. From Olivia Colman to… Mayor Jason Perry. Oh well… you can’t have everything. But all of them, and more, get a mention in our latest episode of the Croydon Insider, our wide-ranging, irregular and … Continue reading →

Posted in Croydon Insider, Inside Croydon, Under The Flyover | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Commissioners switch email in effort to protect whistleblowers

CROYDON IN CRISIS: After complaints that staff could not trust that their messages to the government-appointed Commissioners would be secure from their council bosses, a MHCLG official has set up an independent channel. EXCLUSIVE by STEVEN DOWNES Three months after … Continue reading →

Posted in Abi Brown, Commissioners, Croydon Council, Debbie Warren, Elaine Jackson, Ged Curran, Improvement Board, Jackie Belton, Jo Negrini, Katherine Kerswell, Nathan Elvery, Section 114 notice | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 8 Comments

The Kerswell Affair: Croydon is worse off after CEO’s five years

CROYDON IN CRISIS: The £204,000 per year council chief exec who gave orders to block staff from reading Inside Croydon has been attracting adverse headlines for 30 years. By STEVEN DOWNES Katherine Kerswell’s 30-year career in local government will probably … Continue reading →

Posted in Commissioners, Croydon Council, Elaine Jackson, Ged Curran, Jo Negrini, Katherine Kerswell, Mayor Jason Perry, Section 114 notice, Tony Newman | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 12 Comments

Kerswell quits! But what happens next at crisis-hit council?

Mayor Jason Perry’s political rivals call for his resignation after a week when auditors have warned over ‘unsustainable’ finances and his CEO has left Croydon with a generous £50,000 pay-off. By STEVEN DOWNES Katherine Kerswell may not be replaced as … Continue reading →

Posted in Commissioners, Croydon Council, Elaine Jackson, Ged Curran, Jane West, Jo Negrini, Katherine Kerswell, Mayor Jason Perry, Paul Ainscough, Richard Howard, Section 114 notice | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 7 Comments

Auditors issue Perry with warning over ‘unsustainable’ finances

The council’s emergency borrowing since 2019 will top £1billion within three years, according to a highly critical report from auditors Grant Thornton, as they show Croydon’s Mayor the local authority equivalent of a yellow card. By our Town Hall reporter, … Continue reading →

Posted in 'Future Croydon', Commissioners, Council Tax, Croydon Council, Improvement Board, Jane West, Katherine Kerswell, Mayor Jason Perry, Report in the Public Interest, Section 114 notice, Tony McArdle | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 6 Comments

When’s a pay-off not a pay-off? When it’s 50 grand in Croydon

CROYDON IN CRISIS: At public expense (again), Mayor Perry deploys the council’s top lawyer to try to shut down reporting of his £50,000 pay-off to departing chief executive Katherine Kerswell. By STEVEN DOWNES “When’s a pay-off not a pay-off?” a … Continue reading →

Posted in Commissioners, Croydon Council, Ged Curran, Improvement Board, Jo Negrini, Katherine Kerswell, Mayor Jason Perry, Section 114 notice, Stephen Lawrence-Orumwense | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 17 Comments

MPs told that Croydon flats are example of how not to build

The appalling conditions in ‘luxury apartments’ in new-build flats at The Fold, opposite Croydon Town Hall, were raised with a House of Commons select committee hearing yesterday Leading housing campaigner Kwajo Tweneboa cited The Fold in central Croydon as an … Continue reading →

Posted in Croydon Council, Fairfield, Housing, Mayor Jason Perry, Mayor of London, Property, Queens Gardens, Steve Reed MP, Taberner House, The Fold | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 9 Comments

The Fraud: how Reed’s Labour spied on Croydon councillors

Three years ago, Al Jazeera broadcast a series of films, called The Labour Files, based on information gleaned from one of the biggest data leaks in history. One episode was devoted to events that took place in Croydon in early … Continue reading →

Posted in 2017 General Election, 2024 General Election, Alison Butler, Clive Fraser, David Evans, Hamida Ali, Inside Croydon, Paul Scott, Steve Reed MP, Streatham and Croydon North, Tony Newman | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 8 Comments

We have been betrayed by broken promises, deceit and scandal

EXCLUSIVE: One of the first journalists to be given access to the book which has been sending shockwaves along Downing Street and making headlines on Fleet Street, Inside Croydon columnist ANDREW FISHER reviews The Fraud Lots of books are written … Continue reading →

Posted in 2017 General Election, 2024 General Election, Andrew Fisher, David Evans, Inside Croydon, Paul Scott, Steve Reed MP, Streatham and Croydon North, Tony Newman | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

Mouldy Fold: no problems with council flats says Town Hall

Croydon Council is to carry out checks on its 90 flats in Malcolm Wicks House, the fourth block built in the Queen’s Quarter where the 35-storey private rental tower The Fold is being evacuated to allow its owners to completely … Continue reading →

Posted in Business, Croydon Council, Fairfield, Housing, Mayor of London, Property, Queens Gardens, Taberner House, The Fold | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments