Tag Archives: Robert Jenrick

No Council Tax hike without seeing the assurance panel reports

CROYDON COMMENTARY: Michael Gove is not only permitting the borough’s Tory Mayor to hike Council Tax without a referendum, he is doing so while withholding reports from his own panel of inspectors. Which suggests the government has something to hide … Continue reading

Posted in Council Tax, Croydon Council, Improvement Board, Katherine Kerswell, Mayor Jason Perry, Report in the Public Interest, The Penn Report, Tony McArdle | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

‘Spectacularly useless’ Croydon is ridiculed on Question Time

The parlous state of Croydon Council’s finances, and the chronic incompetence of the people in charge of them, made it on to national television last week. Thursday night’s Question Time on BBC1 broke away from its obsessions with Brexit and … Continue reading

Posted in Council Tax, Croydon Council, Katherine Kerswell, Mayor Jason Perry | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | 5 Comments

No room at the inn? Home Office policies created migrant crisis

As we approach Christmas, ANDREW FISHER suggests that it’s worth recalling something of its true meaning Shortly after the birth of Jesus, an angel appeared to Joseph and urged him to seek refuge: “Get up! Take the Child and His … Continue reading

Posted in Andrew Fisher, Business, Charity, Chris Philp MP, Community associations, Croydon South, Housing, London-wide issues, Mayor Jason Perry, Mike Bonello, Purley Way | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 5 Comments

After nearly a year, Gove is sitting on two ‘improvement’ reports

CROYDON IN CRISIS: Millions of pounds of public money are at stake, a matter not to be sniffed at, but government minister is staying schtum over state of cash-strapped council’s finances. EXCLUSIVE by STEVEN DOWNES Michael Gove, re-installed as Secretary … Continue reading

Posted in Brick by Brick, Croydon Council, Housing, Improvement Board, Katherine Kerswell, Mayor Jason Perry, Report in the Public Interest, Section 114 notice, Tony McArdle | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Croydon MP finds himself at centre of new political storm

Out of the Truss frying pan into the Braverman fire, Tory MP Chris Philp is just clinging on to the wreckage of his ‘Rt Hon’ ministerial career. By WALTER CRONXITE, political editor The wait had better be worth it. It … Continue reading

Posted in Chris Philp MP, Croydon South | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

Truss’s new housing minister has his eyes on the Green Belt

Our housing correspondent, BARRATT HOLMES, on how changes at the Department for Levelling Up could signal a change in attitude to areas protected from development After years of Tory councillors, their friends running residents’ associations in the south of the … Continue reading

Posted in Business, Community associations, Croydon Council, Environment, Housing, London-wide issues, Mayor Jason Perry, Planning | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 12 Comments

Tory government delays finance reports to help Mayor Perry

CROYDON IN CRISIS: It’s almost nine months since Whitehall released the last quarterly report from its Improvement Panel on the state of the cash-strapped council’s finances, prompting accusations of political favours for the Conservatives. EXCLUSIVE by STEVEN DOWNES It’s not … Continue reading

Posted in Croydon Council, Improvement Board, Jason Cummings, Katherine Kerswell, Mayor Jason Perry, Report in the Public Interest, Section 114 notice, Tony McArdle | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Tenants’ despair and politicians’ disdain: Britain’s slum crisis

STEVEN DOWNES on the television documentary being broadcast on Sunday night which seems certain to shock the nation and pour shame on Croydon Council all over again You might think you couldn’t be shocked any more. But you’d be wrong. … Continue reading

Posted in Croydon Council, Hamida Ali, Housing, Lambeth Council, London-wide issues, Merton, Regina Road Residents' Support Group, South Norwood, Southwark Council | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Jenrick ministry defends choice of all-white improvement panel

The government has been forced to defend its decision to appoint an all-white “improvement and assurance panel” to oversee Croydon Council’s efforts to recover from its financial collapse last year. In January, Robert Jenrick’s Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local … Continue reading

Posted in Croydon Council, Hamida Ali, Improvement Board, Section 114 notice, Tony McArdle | Tagged , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

£700,000: Croydon counting the costs of council failures

CROYDON IN CRISIS: The Town Hall has been hit with ‘penalty fines’ of its own since its financial collapse 12 months ago. EXCLUSIVE by STEVEN DOWNES £697,300 And rising… That’s how much Croydon Council says it has paid so far, … Continue reading

Posted in Brick by Brick, Croydon Council, Hamida Ali, Improvement Board, Report in the Public Interest, Robert Canning, Section 114 notice, Tony McArdle, Tony Newman | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Government orders councils to close covid emergency hotels

Local authorities across England, including Croydon Council, have been ordered by the government that they must close the hotels they used to house the homeless during the covid-19 pandemic, as a condition of the latest round of rough-sleeper funding. Inside … Continue reading

Posted in Charity, Croydon Nightwatch, Housing | Tagged , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Government inspector’s concerns over BxB sweetheart deal

CROYDON IN CRISIS: Jenrick’s improvement board raises serious questions over whether the quick sale of the council’s failed development company could end up costing tax-payers many millions of pounds, while its latest report criticises borough officials’ ‘lack of self-awareness’. By … Continue reading

Posted in Adult Social Care, Brick by Brick, Chris Buss, Croydon Council, Hamida Ali, Improvement Board, Jo Negrini, Katherine Kerswell, Tony McArdle | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 6 Comments

Ali’s latest gaffe attracts ridicule over landlord licensing

CROYDON IN CRISIS: Council leader reacts with dismay at loss of £20m in licence fees, as Labour councillors question lack of support from their new chief executive. By STEVEN DOWNES Hamida Ali, the council leader, opened herself up again to … Continue reading

Posted in Hamida Ali, Housing, Katherine Kerswell, Landlord licensing, Tony Newman | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

Jenrick rejects Croydon’s landlord licence scheme application

CROYDON IN CRISIS: The government has binned an application to extend the borough’s landlord licensing scheme, saying that the council failed to provide any housing strategy. EXCLUSIVE By STEVEN DOWNES Robert Jenrick, the Secretary of State for Housing, has rejected … Continue reading

Posted in Alison Butler, Alison Knight, Business, Chris Buss, Croydon Council, Landlord licensing, Paul Scott, Tony Newman | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 11 Comments

‘Appalled’ Jenrick seeks ‘urgent answers’ over Croydon flats

Croydon Council has been roundly criticised for its failures to act over the chronic and dangerous water leaks and long-term damp in its block of flats in South Norwood. The appalling conditions – described as “the worst I have ever … Continue reading

Posted in Chris Philp MP, Clive Fraser, Croydon Council, Croydon North, Hamida Ali, Housing, Jane Avis, Mayor of London, Patsy Cummings, Sadiq Khan, South Norwood, Steve Reed MP | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 6 Comments

‘There is no alternative’: £25m council bail-out given green light

CROYDON IN CRISIS: Council reports rewritten, lack of commercial experience in key positions and a ‘very controlling’ former leader and his inner circle. The rapid review of Croydon Council paints a picture that will be very familiar to readers of … Continue reading

Posted in Brick by Brick, Croydon Council, Hamida Ali, Improvement Board, Jo Negrini, Katherine Kerswell, Section 114 notice, Tony Newman | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

‘This must end now’: Jenrick issues final warning to Croydon

CROYDON IN CRISIS: The council has been issued a final warning today, with the threat of commissioners being sent in to take over the running of the borough Robert Jenrick, the Local Government Secretary, has today announced measures to address … Continue reading

Posted in Croydon Council, Improvement Board, Katherine Kerswell, Report in the Public Interest, Section 114 notice, Tony McArdle | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

Croydon In Crisis: Government to take charge of council

EXCLUSIVE: Tory minister expected to appoint an ‘improvement board’ to oversee the running of the borough. By STEVEN DOWNES The hopes of senior Croydon politicians to retain some control as they try to manage the council out of its financial … Continue reading

Posted in Croydon Council, Hamida Ali, Katherine Kerswell, Section 114 notice | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | 14 Comments

Jenrick issues ‘strongly-worded’ warning over property deals

CROYDON IN CRISIS: Government minister targets bankrupt borough when he tells LGA conference ‘Councils shouldn’t make investments for which they are not well-equipped’. By WALTER CRONXITE It seems increasingly likely that Whitehall will insist on Croydon flogging off many of … Continue reading

Posted in Brick by Brick, Business, Colonnades, Croydon Council, Croydon Park Hotel, Section 114 notice | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

Council hands Jenrick a begging letter asking for £150m

CROYDON IN CRISIS: The council’s old-new leader faces an agonising wait – and probably another Section 114 notice by December 23 – as Whitehall ponders over a multi-million-pound loan. By KEN LEE, our Town Hall reporter Croydon’s Labour-run Council confirmed … Continue reading

Posted in Croydon Council, Hamida Ali, Section 114 notice | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

Clues to Whitehall plan in leaked report from Nottingham

CROYDON IN CRISIS: Might there be clues into what Whitehall has planned for this borough from a ‘rapid review’ conducted on another cash-strapped local authority? By our Town Hall reporter, KEN LEE A “rapid review” by government inspectors into a … Continue reading

Posted in Croydon Council, Katherine Kerswell, Report in the Public Interest, Section 114 notice | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

The billionaire ex-porn baron, the antisemitic trope and the MP

The publication of the report on antisemitism in the Labour Party saw Jeremy Corbyn suspended for his response. But it has also led to calls for further punishments – including for Croydon North’s Steve Reed, as KEN TOWL, very carefully, … Continue reading

Posted in Croydon North, Steve Reed MP | Tagged , , , , , , | 6 Comments

Wood comes knocking with brief to investigate Brick by Brick

CROYDON IN CRISIS: Can it really just be coincidence that the troubleshooter appointed to conduct an urgent review of the council also has extensive experience working at one of Jo Negrini’s former boroughs? WALTER CRONXITE reports It seems almost certain … Continue reading

Posted in Brick by Brick, Colonnades, Croydon Council, Croydon Park Hotel, Jo Negrini, Katherine Kerswell, Property, Report in the Public Interest, Tony Newman | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Jenrick orders urgent inquiry into ‘unacceptable’ council

CROYDON IN CRISIS: Government minister steps in to deal with the ‘dysfunctional governance’ at the council, ‘who have been entirely irresponsible with their spending and investments’. By STEVEN DOWNES The politics have started, with the Tory government now coming after … Continue reading

Posted in Alison Butler, Croydon Council, Hamida Ali, Jo Negrini, Katherine Kerswell, Paul Scott, Report in the Public Interest, Stuart Collins, Tony Newman | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Anti-London Tories install Gilligan as they plot a takeover

Political editor WALTER CRONXITE reports on the existential crisis facing not only the Mayor, but the whole London regional tier of government The news that the Tory government is to impose a 2.6 per cent fare hike on the capital’s … Continue reading

Posted in Boris Johnson, Commuting, Cycling, Housing, London Assembly, London-wide issues, Mayor of London, Planning, Purley Way, Sadiq Khan, Shaun Bailey, TfL, Tramlink, Transport, Waddon | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment