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Tag Archives: S114
Backlash against Hunt as Tory-run councils feel the squeeze
Malign neglect of local government after 13 years of savage spending cuts has created an ‘existential threat’ to council services. ‘Things are starting to fall apart at the seams,’ warns a Tory source “Flagship” Conservative-run county councils could suffer financial … Continue reading
Posted in Adult Social Care, Children's Services, Council Tax, Croydon Council, Housing, Improvement Board, London Councils, London-wide issues, Mayor Jason Perry, Section 114 notice
Tagged Chancellor of the Exchequer, Conservative, Council Tax, Croydon, Croydon Council, Jeremy Hunt, Labour, LGA, Local Government Association, London, Mayor Jason Perry, Northamptonshire, S114, S114 notice, Section 114 Notice, Thurrock Council, Tory, Woking Borough Council
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Councils’ collapse should have been halted by Sunak or Gove
Croydon is far from alone as a cash-strapped local authority. And bit by bit, evidence is emerging from the series of financial crashes of councils that implicates not only Michael Gove but also Prime Minister Rishi Sunak. By STEVEN DOWNES … Continue reading
Posted in Council Tax, Croydon Council, Mayor Jason Perry, Section 114 notice
Tagged 15% Council Tax hike, Conservative, Council Tax, Croydon, Croydon Council, Department for Levelling Up, DLUHC, LGC, Local Government Chronicle, Mayor Jason Perry, Michael Gove, Rishi Sunak, S114, S114 notice, Section 114, Section 114 Notice, Slough, Slough Borough Council, Thurrock, Thurrock Council, Tory, Woking, Woking Borough Council
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Tory Perry tries to appoint £123,000 ‘transformation director’
CROYDON IN CRISIS: Spend, spend, spend… the bad old habits of the dark days of the Negreedy era don’t seem to have been eradicated altogether, as CEO Kerswell looks to hire a new director to do her dirty work for … Continue reading
Posted in Council Tax, Croydon Council, Elaine Jackson, Improvement Board, Jo Negrini, Katherine Kerswell, Mayor Jason Perry, Neil Williams, Section 114 notice, Tony McArdle
Tagged 15% Council Tax hike, Conservative, Council Tax, Croydon, Croydon Council, Jo Negrini, Katherine Kerswell, London Borough of Croydon, Mayor Jason Perry, Neil Williams, S114, S114 notice, Section 114 Notice, Tony McArdle, Tory, Transformation director
16 Comments
Croydon put in special measures: ‘Worst of all possible worlds’
CROYDON IN CRISIS: Announcements from Westminster and Whitehall today put the borough under the control of unelected bureaucrats who are answerable only to a Tory Government minister – in a scheme that the Mayor has helped plot for months. By … Continue reading
Posted in Council Tax, Croydon Council, Katherine Kerswell, Mayor Jason Perry, Report in the Public Interest, RIPI II: Fairfield Halls, Section 114 notice, The Penn Report
Tagged 15% Council Tax hike, Brick by Brick, Conservative, Council Tax, Croydon, Croydon Council, Department for Levelling Up, DLUHC, Katherine Kerswell, Labour, Lee Rowley, London Borough of Croydon, Mayor Jason Perry, Michael Gove, Regina Road, S114, Section 114 Notice, Tory
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‘Precautionary measure given the historic issues uncovered’
CROYDON IN CRISIS: At 12.15pm this afternoon, the council’s internal communications department issued the following statement to all staff, under the title, “Message from Executive Mayor Jason Perry and Chief Executive, Katherine Kerswell”. This is that statement in full: Dear … Continue reading
Posted in Council Tax, Croydon Council, Katherine Kerswell, Mayor Jason Perry, Report in the Public Interest, RIPI II: Fairfield Halls, Section 114 notice, The Penn Report
Tagged 15% Council Tax hike, Conservative, Council Tax, Croydon, Croydon Council, Katherine Kerswell, Lee Rowley, London Borough of Croydon, Mayor Jason Perry, Michael Gove, S114, Section 114 Notice, Tory
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Two years too late, Tory Government intervenes over council
CROYDON IN CRISIS: A Parliamentary written statement today effectively admitted defeat over the council’s bail-outs and ordered a Whitehall takeover of the council ahead of a possible £540m debt write-off Lee Rowley, the Tories’ local government minister, announced today an … Continue reading
Posted in Council Tax, Croydon Council, Katherine Kerswell, Mayor Jason Perry, Report in the Public Interest, RIPI II: Fairfield Halls, Section 114 notice, The Penn Report
Tagged 15% Council Tax hike, Conservative, Council Tax, Croydon, Croydon Council, Department for Levelling Up, DLUHC, Katherine Kerswell, Lee Rowley, London Borough of Croydon, Mayor Jason Perry, Michael Gove, S114, Section 114 Notice, Tory
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Perry left pot-less after failed bid for £20m levelling up money
Our Town Hall staff reporter, PEARL LEE, on the latest disappointing set-back for the Conservative Mayor Despite growing social deprivation in the borough and its failing town centre economy, Croydon has failed in its bid for £20million of Levelling Up … Continue reading
Posted in Croydon Council, Mayor Jason Perry, Neil Garratt, Paul Scully MP, Section 114 notice, Sutton Council
Tagged Belmont, Chris Philp MP, Conservative, Croydon, Croydon Council, Department for Levelling Up, Levelling Up, Levelling Up Fund, Lewisham, London Borough of Croydon, London Cancer Hub, Mayor Jason Perry, Michael Gove, Rishi Sunak, S114, Section 114 Notice, Sutton and Cheam, Tory
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Perry is now asking Croydon public how to fix financial mess
CROYDON IN CRISIS: After issuing the first pre-emptive S114 Notice in British history, the borough’s £81,000 per year Mayor is using a budget survey to justify future cuts to services. By WALTER CRONXITE, political editor Bereft of ideas – beyond … Continue reading
Tory blame game over bankruptcy points finger at Westminster
There was something archly cynical, and deliberately misleading, about how Croydon’s Conservatives turned Tuesday’s announcement of the borough’s bankruptcy into an exercise in political point-scoring. None of which will help the borough’s residents, writes ANDREW FISHER Croydon’s Conservative councillors were … Continue reading
Posted in Andrew Fisher, Chris Philp MP, Council Tax, Croydon Council, Croydon South, Jason Cummings, Mayor Jason Perry, Section 114 notice
Tagged Department for Levelling Up, Devon County Council, DLUHC, Hampshire County Council, Jason Cummings, Kent County Council, Mayor Jason Perry, Michael Gove, Northamptonshire, S114, Section 114, Slough Council, Thurrock
8 Comments
‘There is no solution in sight’ warns council’s finance chief
CROYDON IN CRISIS: The council’s finances for 2023-2024 are worse than when Croydon first issued a Section 114 Notice, according to an official report released today. And a dispute over £73m of ‘missing’ housing funds could turn the financial black … Continue reading
Posted in Alison Butler, Council Tax, Croydon Council, Jane West, Katherine Kerswell, Lisa Taylor, Mayor Jason Perry, Section 114 notice, Tony Newman
Tagged Alison Butler, Conservative, Croydon, Croydon Council, Department for Levelling Up, DLUHC, Housing Revenue Account, HRA, Jane West, Lisa Taylor, London Borough of Croydon, Mayor Jason Perry, Michael Gove, S114, Section 114, Tony Newman, Tory
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Tories accuse Labour of ‘shocking mistakes’ over budgets
CROYDON IN CRISIS: Mayor Perry has made a political play with the Conservative government in an effort to re-set the council’s finances. Again. By our political editor, WALTER CRONXITE Croydon’s Conservatives were quick to play the blame game this morning … Continue reading
Posted in Callton Young, Hamida Ali, Improvement Board, Katherine Kerswell, Mayor Jason Perry, Section 114 notice, Tony McArdle
Tagged Conservative, Croydon, Croydon Conservatives, Croydon Council, Improvement Board, Jason Cummings, Labour, London Borough of Croydon, LTNs, Mayor Jason Perry, S114, Section 114, Tony McArdle, Tory
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Mayor makes rapid U-turn as report confirms £19.3m overspend
CROYDON IN CRISIS: A report to be discussed at the Town Hall tonight confirms the deepening financial problems facing the borough’s new Mayor. EXCLUSIVE by WALTER CRONXITE Part-time Mayor Jason Perry has been forced to admit that his Conservative administration … Continue reading
Posted in Croydon Council, Dr Ola Olasode, General Purposes and Audit Committee, Improvement Board, Jane West, Jason Cummings, Mayor Jason Perry, Richard Ennis, Section 114 notice
Tagged Conservative, Croydon, Croydon Council, Croydon Mayor, Jane West, Jason Cummings, Labour, London Borough of Croydon, Mayor Jason Perry, Mayor of Croydon, Rowenna Davis, S114, Scrutiny and Overview Committee, Section 114, Tory
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Council admits: We’re on the brink of bankruptcy. Again
CROYDON IN CRISIS: After a fortnight of unconvincing denials from the Fisher’s Folly propaganda bunker and the local Labour Party, official reports released ahead of budget-setting meetings confirm that Croydon could indeed have to issue a second S114 notice. By … Continue reading
Posted in Alison Butler, Croydon Council, David Padfield, Housing, Improvement Board, Katherine Kerswell, Richard Ennis, Richard Simpson, Section 114 notice, Simon Hall
Tagged Alison Butler, Croydon Affordable Housing, Croydon Council, Grant Thornton, James Goudie QC, Katherine Kerswell, Labour, London Borough of Croydon, Richard Ennis, Richard Simpson, S114, Section 114, Simon Hall
8 Comments
Council faces new storm over ‘missing’ £73m housing money
CROYDON IN CRISIS: Auditors are refusing to sign-off the Town Hall accounts because of missing millions from a complex nexus of housing companies, which could force the council to tip over the edge into bankruptcy for a second time in … Continue reading
Posted in Alison Butler, Brick by Brick, Business, Croydon Council, Hamida Ali, Housing, Jo Negrini, Katherine Kerswell, Report in the Public Interest, Richard Simpson, RIPI II: Fairfield Halls, Section 114 notice, Tony Newman
Tagged Alison Butler, Brick by Brick, Croydon Council, Fairfield Halls, Grant Thornton, Hamida Ali, Jo Negrini, Katherine Kerswell, Labour, Report in the Public Interest, Richard Simpson, RIPI, S114, Section 114, Simon Hall, Tony Newman
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Unions come together to protest against the council’s cuts
By DAVID WHITE The campaign against cuts by Croydon Council has stepped up a gear after members of the three largest unions representing council workers in the borough – Unite, Unison and GMB – yesterday held a demonstration outside the … Continue reading
Town Hall’s untrue claims about cuts to Council Tax Support
CROYDON COMMENTARY: Some of the borough’s poorest and most vulnerable are being expected to pay for the mismanagement and poor decision-taking which led to the council going bankrupt, as this young mother* explains When I heard of the Council Tax … Continue reading
Posted in Council Tax, Croydon Council, Section 114 notice
Tagged Council Tax, Council Tax Support, Croydon, Croydon Council, S114, Section 114
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Multi-million-pound loss on hotel ‘not ideal’ says panel
CROYDON IN CRISIS: Whitehall-appointed inspectors raise serious doubts over the council’s property sales. By STEVEN DOWNES The council’s sale of the Croydon Park Hotel at a loss of as much as £10million has been condemned by government-appointed officials. Such a … Continue reading
Posted in Business, Callton Young, Chris Buss, Croydon Council, Croydon Park Hotel, Improvement Board, Katherine Kerswell, Planning, Section 114 notice, Stuart King, Tony McArdle
Tagged Callton Young, Croydon, Croydon Council, Croydon Park Hotel, Improvement Panel, Labour, Peter Bingle, S114, Section 114, STUART KING, Tony McArdle, Tony Newman
13 Comments
Cash-strapped council still going over-budget, report finds
CROYDON IN CRISIS: Government commissioners say that there’s been ‘an opportunity missed’ because of the slow pace of change under council CEO. By STEVEN DOWNES Katherine Kerswell, the chief executive of the cash-strapped council, has been subjected to overt criticism … Continue reading
Posted in Croydon Council, Hamida Ali, Improvement Board, Katherine Kerswell, Report in the Public Interest, Richard Ennis, Section 114 notice, Tony McArdle
Tagged Department for Levelling Up, DLUHC, Hamida Ali, Improvement Panel, Katherine Kerswell, Report in the Public Interest, S114, Section 114, Tony McArdle
6 Comments
Chance to tell the council how you feel about benefit cuts
A council consultation has begun to get the public’s response to plans to withdraw Council Tax Support from around 20,000 households in the borough, costing some as much as £29 per week in lost benefits. You can just imagine the … Continue reading
Posted in Council Tax, Croydon Council, Section 114 notice, Stuart King
Tagged Council Tax, Council Tax Support, Croydon, Croydon Council, Labour, S114, Section 114, STUART KING
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Ali refuses to support Newman and Hall for public office
CROYDON IN CRISIS: Splits in the local Labour Party are deepening as recriminations mount over Tony Newman’s 15 years of misrule. By STEVEN DOWNES Hamida Ali, the one-time political protégé of discredited council leader Tony Newman, yesterday refused to offer her … Continue reading
Ali and Kerswell are summoned to Parliamentary inquiry
CROYDON IN CRISIS: ‘There is much that the council needs to do to become a properly functioning local authority’ says panel’s report to government, as it recommends more cuts to Croydon’s Adult Social Care and Children’s Services. By STEVEN DOWNES … Continue reading
Posted in Adult Social Care, Children's Services, Chris Buss, Croydon Council, Fairfield Halls, Hamida Ali, Improvement Board, Katherine Kerswell, Section 114 notice, Tony McArdle
Tagged Chris Buss, Clive Betts MP, Croydon, Croydon Council, Hamida Ali, Improvement Panel, Katherine Kerswell, Labour, London Borough of Croydon, MHCLG, Ministry of Housing Communities and Local Government, S114, Section 114, Tony McArdle
7 Comments
Council is sitting on £22.5m in unspent infrastructure levies
While Croydon proposes closing public libraries, is withdrawing vital support from community centres and is making local sports clubs homeless, the bankrupt council is sitting on £22.5million of unused development levies. Community Infrastructure Levy, or CILs, and Section 106 contributions … Continue reading
Newman and Hall resign as councillors claiming a ‘witchhunt’
CROYDON IN CRISIS: Two key figures in the council’s financial collapse claim to be victims of an inaccurate report into their conduct. They might also escape facing any disciplinary action by quitting now. By STEVEN DOWNES Tony Newman, until last … Continue reading
Posted in Croydon Council, Fieldway, Hamida Ali, Katherine Kerswell, New Addington North, Paul Scott, Section 114 notice, Simon Hall, Tony Newman, Woodside
Tagged Croydon, Croydon Council, Hamida Ali, Labour, London Borough of Croydon, New Addington, Paul Scott, S114, Section 114, Simon Hall, Tony Newman, Woodside
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Budget is approved but Labour council haunted by its past
CROYDON IN CRISIS: Back-to-back meetings yesterday pushed through the paperwork to balance the books and increase Council Tax. But Hamida Ali’s administration cannot shake off its part in the borough’s financial calamity. By WALTER CRONXITE, political editor With the £120million … Continue reading
Posted in Alison Butler, Andrew Pelling, Andrew Stranack, Brick by Brick, Chris Buss, Council Tax, Croydon Council, Fairfield Halls, Hamida Ali, Ian Parker, Jason Cummings, Jeet Bains, Lynne Hale, Maddie Henson, Paul Scott, Report in the Public Interest, Sean Fitzsimons, Section 114 notice, Simon Hall, Stuart King, Tony Newman, Vidhi Mohan
Tagged Alison Butler, Andrew Pelling, Brick by Brick, Conservative, Council Tax, Croydon, Croydon Council, Hamida Ali, Jason Cummings, Labour, London Borough of Croydon, Paul Scott, Rapid Review, S114, Section 114, Simon Hall, STUART KING, Tony Newman, Tory
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Questions raised over new £21m rubbish deal with Veolia
The council budget, which is set to be approved at a virtual meeting tonight, offers “the worst of both worlds” as far as the borough’s recycling centres are concerned, according to a Tory councillor. In the middle of the council’s … Continue reading
Posted in Business, Croydon Council, Fly tipping, Helen Redfern, Property, Purley Oaks and Riddlesdown, Refuse collection, Veolia
Tagged Conservative, Croydon, Croydon Council, Factory Lane recycling centre, Helen Redfern, Labour, London Borough of Croydon, Purley Oaks and Riddlesdown, S114, Section 114, Tory, Veolia
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