New Croydon council director to get £123K salary

By Tara O’Connor, Local Democracy Reporter

A new boss is set to be appointed to “transform” Croydon council and help it out of its financial mess – and they’ll be paid £123,000 a year.

The salary package for a new “director of transformation” is expected to be agreed by the authority’s appointments committee at a meeting on Friday, May 26.

The panel is also set to select a candidate to take on the new job.

The director is expected to work closely with mayor Jason Perry and chief executive Katherine Kerswell.

A council report said the new director will “lead the design, development and delivery of all the whole organisation transformation programme”.

Croydon’s cabinet member for finance said the wage is not particularly high for this kind of role and said it will save the council money in the long run.

Councillor Jason Cummings said: “Transforming this council over the next couple of years is a key component for rebuilding sustainable local government in Croydon.

“It is absolutely essential that we have a transformation specialist leading that project which is why we are trying to find one of the best and brightest. In the long run getting this right saves the council money and reduces the need for cuts.”

The council has outsourced the search for the new employee to the local government recruiter, Starfish. The council has not revealed how much this service cost.

A ‘candidate briefing pack’ from Starfish said: “As you will already know, Croydon has faced significant challenges over the past two years, in terms of the council’s financial crisis, and some well-publicised service and governance failures. We need an outstanding individual to join us to help lead the transformation of the whole council.

“We are looking for someone who has the right skills and experience, but most importantly who also shares our values, and our commitment to Croydon and its people, and to making this council the best organisation it can be.

“Turning the council round will be hard but fulfilling work; you will face challenges and Croydon will test every part of your experience and knowledge to date, but if you are the person we are looking for, this is exactly the opportunity you will relish.”

In February this year a damning 140-page report laid bare the mismanagement and “bullying” culture that led to the council issuing its first bankruptcy notice in 2020.

Financial mismanagement and a small number of cabinet members making decisions without proper scrutiny helped lead the authority to the brink of financial disaster, while eye-watering loans to failed developer Brick by Brick also contributed.

Meanwhile residents have footed the bill, with an unprecedented 15 per cent rise in council tax being approved for this financial year.

Pictured top: Croydon Council offices in Fell Road (Picture: Tara O’Connor)