Croydon review finds officers ‘did not assert their powers’
Croydon LBC’s statutory officers were inexperienced and “did not assert their powers” against an “inner circle” of the former leader and cabinet members, the government’s rapid review into the council has found.
Published this afternoon, the review warns there is “no credible alternative” to the £150m capitalisation direction the council is seeking to bring its books back into balance this year and next, although it acknowledges the scale of recent governance failures at the south London borough mean this would not be without risk.
In response to the review, communities secretary Robert Jenrick has appointed an improvement and assurance panel, to be chaired by Tony McCardle, the Northamptonshire CC commissioner. LGC has been told this board will make a recommendation by the end of the week on whether the government should grant the direction which would allow the council to borrow for revenue purposes