Category: Croydon Council

Executive Pay at Croydon Council

With budgets tight, and a constant demand for new and improved services, council spending is always under pressure. 

Following successful events held with the TaxPayers’ Alliance we have written to the leaders with responsibility for Croydon of the Labour, Conservative, The Brexit, Polish Pride, Christian Alliance, Unity, Democrats and Veterans, Libertarian, Foundation, UKIP, and Liberal Democratic Parties.  Asking them you to support our campaign to support local taxpayers, and keep control of executive pay at Croydon Council. 

In our campaign supported by local residents we have asked that they agree to our proposal that in future no newly appointed council employee will earn more than the Prime Minister.  Out letter to the parties is available here:

Letter to Political PartiesDownload

The responses in support of our proposal are below, for the others we await their responses and hope they choose to support the taxpayers of Croydon.

The Foundation Party

Chris Mendes

The Christian Parties Alliance

Sid Cordle

The Libertarian Party UK

Mal McDermott

The Brexit Party

Peter Sonnex

Thank-you all for your support for the hardworking families of Croydon.

Support our campaign for sensible Town Hall salaries – TPA in Selsdon

Croydon Council has been a calamity in recent years, but even more shocking we pay a king’s ransom for senior staff that often hinder rather than help the front line. In Selsdon we were asking people to sign an open letter to the leaders of all political parties in Croydon, asking them to agree in future that no newly appointed council employee will earn more than the Prime Minister. 

Further details in our Press Release.

Read our letter at http://croydonconstitutionalists.uk/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/TPA_Letter2Parties_V2.pdf

Many have already signed, email us at [email protected] to add your name to our letter.

People who have already signed are:

  • Peter Staveley.  Davidson Road, Croydon.
  • Nicholas Mane. Chepstow Road, Croydon
  • David Hooper.  Old Lodge Lane, Purley.
  • Philip Sheppard.  Briar Avenue, Norbury.
  • David Hollands. Honister Heights, Purley.
  • Sheryl Hollands. Honister Heights, Purley.
  • Michael Swadling. Chipstead Valley Road, Coulsdon.
  • Daniel Heaton. Eden Road, Croydon.
  • Samantha Hall. Coulsdon.
  • Ian Stuart. Elmfield Way, Selsdon.
  • Miranda Beard. Croham Valley Road, South Croydon.
  • Sandra Kennedy. Croham Park Avenue, South Croydon.
  • Karen Barnes. Birdwood Close, Selsdon.
  • Mike Cubitt. Pilgrims Way, South Croydon.
  • Crispin Williams. Fullers Wood, Croydon.

Press Release – CROYDON CONSTITUTIONALISTS TEAM UP WITH TAXPAYERS’ ALLIANCE TO SHINE A LIGHT ON WASTEFUL COUNCIL SPENDING

TPA Town Hall Rich List reveals massive 6 figure salaries paid to fat cats at Croydon council.

Despite a bumper salary of £212,000 for the Chief Executive we still have an ’Inadequate’ Children’s Services department, a Westfield Shopping centre development going nowhere and ongoing bin collection problems in Croydon.

Croydon Council has been a calamity in recent years, but even more shocking we pay a king’s ransom for senior staff that often hinder rather than help the front line.

That’s not just our view that’s the feedback we’ve had from the two Road Shows the TaxPayers’ Alliance held in Croydon (http://croydonconstitutionalists.uk/the-taxpayers-alliance-town-hall-rich-list-roadshow-croydon/) and Addiscombe (http://croydonconstitutionalists.uk/the-taxpayers-alliance-town-hall-rich-list-roadshow-in-addiscombe-saturday-13th-july/).  So overwhelmed by the feedback the TaxPayers’ Alliance are holding a third stall in the borough.  This time in Selsdon on Saturday 7th September, between 10:30am and 1pm.

“Many locals are outraged that council bosses are receiving six-figure pay packets whilst front line services are in disarray. Council tax rose by four per cent last year and many will wonder where taxpayers’ money has gone. Spending on council fat cats needs to be brought under control immediately.”

Harry Fone the TaxPayers’ Alliance’s Grassroots Campaign Manager. 

In Selsdon we will be asking people to sign an open letter to the leaders of all political parties in Croydon, asking them to agree in future that no newly appointed council employee will earn more than the Prime Minister.  We have made contracts with those already in post, but surely we can all agree, with all its challenges running Croydon shouldn’t pay more than running Britain.

Members of the Croydon Constitutionalists and TaxPayers’ Alliance’s staff will be available for interviews and photo ops on the day.”

If you would like more information about this topic, please contact Michael Swadling or email at [email protected]

Full Press ReleaseDownload
Letter to local political partiesDownload

The TaxPayers’ Alliance Town Hall Rich List Roadshow in Addiscombe – Saturday 13th July.

Croydon Council taxpayers were rightly surprised that 19 staff in the council are paid over £100,000, especially when compared to the service we receive. 

We spread the word at The TaxPayers’ Alliance Town Hall Rich List Roadshow in Addiscombe on Saturday 13th July.  Photos and Video from the day below.

Press Release – TAXPAYERS’ ALLIANCE TOWN HALL RICH LIST ROADSHOW – CROYDON

The TaxPayers’ Alliance (TPA) are focusing on Croydon as part of their Town Hall Rich List Roadshow.

The TaxPayers’ Alliance campaign for lower taxes and against government waste.  Focus on value for money in public finances is something we desperately need in Croydon.

So good was the response to the street stall, we held on the 22nd June we plan to hold two more over the summer.

Croydon taxpayers are rightly surprised that 19 staff in the council are paid over £100,000, especially when compared to the service we receive. 

You might wonder with all these highly paid staff and councillors, if someone might have had the time to provide some scrutiny over the £10,000 of taxpayer money given to an ‘entertainer’ to defecate on stage.  Meanwhile Croydon’s Children’s Services Department is still rated Inadequate by Ofsted.

The TaxPayers’ Alliance Town Hall Rich List Roadshow street stalls will be in Addiscombe on Saturday 13th July and Selsdon on Saturday 7th September, both between 10:30am and 1pm.

If you’re interested in knowing more about tax in Croydon, their national campaigns, or covering the stall, contact the Croydon Constitutionalists or come and see the TaxPayers’ Alliance Roadshow in Addiscombe on the 13th July.

PressRelease-TPA07July_webDownload

Croydon’s Cultural Growth Fund and Community Ward Budgets

Croydon Council is obliged to publish details on all payments made over £500.  The figures make interesting reading.  We’ve reviewed the spending from the Cultural Growth Fund and Councillors Community Ward Budgets for the years 2017, 2018 and Jan-Apr 2019.

You may be interested with some of the findings below.

2018 Highlights

  • The Residents Association in Sanderstead one of the richest parts of the borough received £18K in council funding.
  • We rouse up and paid the Rise Gallery £9,600 from one fund and a further £4,370 from another.
  • Given the level of violent crime in Croydon we’re not sure the £9,500 on a Peace Festival was money well spent.
  • The £5,000 spent at the Oval Tavern was an expensive round.
  • Remarkably no one seems to know what the £51,000 paid to the Remarkable Productions Company Ltd got us.
  • At £5 a pint and £7-8 for lunch it’s not clear how the £160,000 paid to Boxpark benefited the working class council tax payers who helped fund it.

Meanwhile, Croydon Council spends only about £200,000 a year fixing potholes.

So far this year

  • Boxpark has had to struggle by on £40K.
  • We all ‘Love Norbury’, and apparently we love it to the tune of £12,296.80.
  • The ‘CROYDONITES FESTIVAL OF NEW THEATRE’ which puts on a number of political plays (see https://www.croydonites.com/programme-for-2019.html) has received £7.5K of our ‘netural’ taxpayers’ cash.

Cultural Growth Fund – Top 5s

Top 5 payees receiving funding from our council tax.

Vendor Name SumOfAmount 2017
Boxpark   £160,000.00 1
Turf Projects   £38,777.01 2
Kier Highways Ltd   £28,227.73 3
Remarkable Productions Company Ltd   £22,000.00 4
Croydon Town Centre Bid   £18,500.00 5
Vendor Name SumOfAmount 2018
Boxpark   £160,000.00 1
Remarkable Productions Company Ltd   £51,000.00 2
Croydon Pride Ltd   £35,000.00 3
We Made That   £29,996.72 4
Turf Projects   £20,000.00 5
Vendor Name SumOfAmount 2019
Boxpark   £40,000.00 1
Croydon Pride Ltd £30,000.00 2
Cellar Door Promotions Ltd £22,800.00 3
Croydon with Talent Ltd   £20,000.00 4
London & Partners Ventures Ltd £20,000.00 5

Community Ward Budgets – Top 5s

Top 5 payees receiving funding from our council tax.

Vendor Name SumOfAmount 2017
Thornton Heath Community ActionTeam   £20,550.00 1
Redacted £13,871.00 2
People for Portland Road   £12,570.00 3
Topcare Network   £12,000.00 4
Croydon Pride Ltd   £11,250.00 5
Vendor Name SumOfAmount 2018
Sanderstead Residents Association   £18,167.00 1
People for Portland Road   £17,000.00 2
CROYDON BOROUGH NEIGHBOURHOOD WATCH ASSOCIATION   £10,500.00 3
Cacfo Education Centre   £10,190.73 4
Rise Gallery   £9,600.00 5
Vendor Name SumOfAmount 2019
The Chartwell Cancer Trust Ltd   £30,192.00 1
LOVE NORBURY   £12,296.80 2
Purley Youth Project   £7,000.00 3
Stanley People’s Initiative   £6,736.01 4
SOUTH NORWOOD COMMUNITY FESTIVAL GROUP   £5,500.00 5

TaxPayers’ Alliance Street Stalls

So good was the response to the street stall, we plan to hold two more over the summer.  Croydon taxpayers are rightly surprised that 19 staff in the council are paid over £100,000, especially when compared to the service we receive. 

Come and help us spread the word at the following street stalls:

The TaxPayers’ Alliance Town Hall Rich List Roadshow Croydon

On Saturday 22nd June The TaxPayers’ Alliance Town Hall Rich List Roadshow came to Croydon.

We highlighted excessive executive pay at Croydon Town Hall.  This includes:

Great response from people shocked at how much we pay for how little we get.

Photos and Video from the day below.

Press Release – TAXPAYERS’ ALLIANCE ROADSHOW – CROYDON 22ND JUNE

The TaxPayers’ Alliance (TPA) are coming to Croydon on Saturday 22nd June as part of their Town Hall Rich List Roadshow.

The TaxPayers’ Alliance campaign for lower taxes and against government waste. Focus on value for money in public finances is something we desperately need in Croydon.

The average council tax bill has gone up by more than £900 in the last 20 years and spending has gone through the roof. Councils are trying to plug their financial blackholes through tax rises and cuts to public services, rather than scaling back the pay packets of council staff.

  • In 2017-18 The Chief Executive of Croydon Council had a total remuneration package of £185,000.
  • Croydon Council has 19 staff paid over £100,000?
  • We have some of the highest paid councillors in London who last year voted themselves a 2% pay rise for backbenchers and 4.4% for the front bench.
  • To pay for all this Croydon’s Council Tax increased 4.88% this year.

You might wonder with all these highly paid staff and councillors, if someone might have had the time to provide some scrutiny over the £10,000 of taxpayer money given to an ‘entertainer’ to defecate on stage. Meanwhile Croydon’s Children’s Services Department is still rated Inadequate by Ofsted.

The TaxPayers’ Alliance Town Hall Rich List Roadshow street stall will be in Croydon on Saturday 22nd June, between 11am and 2pm.

If you’re interested in knowing more about tax in Croydon, their national campaigns, or covering the stall, contact the Croydon Constitutionalists or come and see the TaxPayers’ Alliance Roadshow in Croydon on the 22nd June.

If you would like more information about this topic, please contact Michael Swadling at [email protected].

PressRelease-TPA22JuneWebDownload

TaxPayers’ Alliance Croydon Street Stall – Saturday 22nd June

Concerned about value for money from your council tax and wonder if Croydon needs 19 staff paid over £100,000?

Wonder if they fully scrutinised the £10,000 paid for someone to defecate on stage?

Wonder if some of the highest paid councillors in London are representing us with their ever rising council tax bills?

If you share these concerns, come and join us with the TaxPayers’ Alliance at our street stall on Saturday 22nd June , 11am – 2pm on the corner of George Street and North End, Croydon. 

TPA Event – https://www.taxpayersalliance.com/2019_town_hall_rich_list_roadshow_croydon