Croydon council’s cabinet member for finance resigns for “personal reasons” amid cash crisis
By Tara O’Connor, Local Democracy Reporter
Croydon’s cabinet member for finance has resigned from the role amid a financial crisis.
Councillor Simon Hall made the shock announcement in a Tweet late on Friday night.
He was the cabinet member for finance and resources for six years and said that he has made the decision to step down for “personal reasons”.
The father-of-three Tweeted: “I have today resigned as cabinet member for finance and resources for personal reasons.
“I am incredibly proud of what I have achieved in that role in the last six-and a-half years and will continue to serve my ward, as it has been my privilege to do for over 15 years.”
He remains a Labour councillor for New Addington North.
The resignation comes just two weeks after he survived a vote of no confidence alongside council leader councillor Tony Newman.
Croydon council is facing a £50.3 million overspend and therefore needs to make immediate savings.
So far the council has identified £27.9m of urgent savings, but needs £22.4m to fill the budget gap which it hopes will be plugged by formally asking the government for a ‘Capitalisation Direction’.
Cllr Newman praised his colleague in a Tweet that read: “Simon, thank you for making such a significant contribution, that has changed the lives of so many people in our borough for the better and forever.”
But leader of the Conservative opposition, Councillor Jason Perry, reiterated calls for Cllr Newman to also resign.
He Tweeted: “Cllr Hall has finally done the decent thing and resigned, having brought Croydon to the brink of bankruptcy. Failing Cllr Newman must go.”
Pictured top: Croydon Town Hall
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