The London Borough of Croydon was unable to secure an injunction against a local news website that published classified documents, but received assurances that nothing will be published in the future.
Inside Croydon We have published an excerpt from a report by local government troubleshooter Richard Penn. This relates to the Council’s 2020 bankruptcy events.
Editor Stephen Downes said High Court Judge Nicklin refused an injunction to remove the material on the grounds that it was like “trying to put the genie back in the bottle.”
He said the council could charge him for the costs, and set up a Go Fund Me page named “Kerswellballs”, a reference to Katherine Carswell, the council’s chief executive officer. We have reached out to Mr. Downes for comment.
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A Croydon Council spokesperson said:
“Because the report contained confidential legal advice on ongoing matters, the Council took legal action to protect the confidentiality of this advice.
“We have taken the necessary steps to avoid a recurrence and have also notified our software provider who is addressing the issue.”
Croydon said it’s possible that Downes would belittle doing so because he promised in court not to release any further information from classified documents.
Documents filed this month with Croydon’s Appointments and Disciplinary Commission said the council wants to make Penn’s report as public as possible, but that there is a “Maxwellianization process” through which those criticized can respond first. It is said that it is still in progress.
And another report by private research firm Kroll said earlier this month Brick by Brick, a housing company once owned by the council, won a contract to renovate local venue Fairfield Hall. We plan to report on the circumstances surrounding this.
“Kroll’s investigation finds evidence of the certainty and integrity of decision-making regarding the Fairfield Hall project, cost overruns and late deliveries, reasons for governance failures, and potential misconduct by individuals involved. It aims to clarify whether or not,” the report said. Said.
According to the commission’s report, the council attempted to retrieve copies of the leaked pen reports from those believed to be in possession of them, but “has not received any copies.”
Croydon issued a Section 114 Notice in 2020. In that case, he said, the legal requirement to balance the budget would not be met.
