Jenrick tells Croydon ‘this must end now’
Housing secretary Robert Jenrick has told Croydon Council the government will continue to scrutinise its finances and will take action if needed.
A panel led by Tony McArdle has been appointed to help the council turn around its finances.
Jenrick said: “This must end now, and I have appointed an expert panel to help the council urgently address the issues they face and deliver a comprehensive recovery plan.”
Housing secretary Robert Jenrick has told Croydon Council the government will continue to scrutinise its finances and will take action if needed.
A panel led by Tony McArdle has been appointed to help the council turn around its finances.
Jenrick said: “This must end now, and I have appointed an expert panel to help the council urgently address the issues they face and deliver a comprehensive recovery plan.”
The measures come after Croydon declared itself effectively bankrupt with a £65m budget gap and high levels of borrowing, and risky investments made via its development company Brick by Brick.
McArdle, the former chief executive of Lincolnshire County Council, has been called in to “support and challenge” the council’s improvements, providing regular reports to the housing secretary. He also supported Northamptonshire County Council with its financial crisis.
Jenrick slammed the council for “serious failings in governance, financial strategy and commercial investments” over a number of years.
He added: “I will be monitoring progress closely and will not hesitate to take further action if necessary.”
Croydon Council must submit the next version of its improvement plan before the end of this month.
If the council fails to demonstrate significant progress, the department said a more formal statutory intervention will be considered, including the appointment of commissioners.
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