Greenwich (Parliament Politics Magazine) – Debbie Warren, CEO of Greenwich Council, has been appointed as one of four commissioners to address the longstanding governance failures in Croydon Council.
She has collaborated with three different council leaders since taking over as chief executive, including Danny Thorpe during the coronavirus outbreak.
Warren, one of four commissioners at Croydon, will report to Angela Rayner, the deputy prime minister. She will work up to 150 days a year in a part-time capacity at Croydon, earning £1,100 a day. The commissioners’ expense will be paid by Croydon Council taxpayers.
“The London Borough of Croydon’s financial challenges require a measured approach to achieving value for money for residents, and I trust you to use your judgment and expertise to oversee and deliver a robust plan of improvement,”
Warren was told in a letter from the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government confirming her appointment on Thursday.
Being the returning officer in council elections and the “power behind the throne” during council sessions, sitting next to the mayor, have been Warren’s most noticeable public roles.
In order to find out how Warren’s employment in Croydon may affect her role at The Woolwich Centre, Greenwich Council has been approached.
During the 15 years of central government austerity, during which Croydon suffered under both the Labour and Conservative governments, both of which accrued significant debt, Warren is well regarded in town hall for having maintained vital services.
Croydon made a disastrous push into real estate development under its former Labour council leader Tony Newman, which ultimately led to the municipality’s virtual collapse in 2020.
Following the crisis, council taxes have increased by 27% since 2023, when Jason Perry, a Conservative candidate for mayor, took office. The government granted Perry’s request for a £136 million bailout earlier this year.
The four commissioners will now effectively carry out Perry’s duties. The revelation was described as “another day of shame” by Inside Croydon, the local news website that has kept the most up-to-date on the borough’s issues.
Warren will report to Ged Curran, the main commissioner and a former Merton Council CEO. The team will also include former Bexley CEO Jackie Belton and former Stoke-on-Trent City Council Conservative leader Abi Brown.
How will the appointment of government commissioners help Croydon’s finances recover?
Government commissioners, including experienced leadership from another stable council (like Greenwich), are put in charge to take decisive control over finances, reducing the risk of mismanagement or delay.
Commissioners have full powers to override local decision-making if necessary. They can enforce tough decisions that local elected officials may be unable or unwilling to take, such as deeper spending cuts or restructuring services to fit the budget.
Commissioners are mandated to stop overspending and set down a sustainable, multi-year plan that reduces Croydon’s budget gap while protecting vital services. This includes reviewing every aspect of council spending and income.
Immediate controls will be introduced—such as halting non-essential expenditures, scrutinizing contracts, and introducing best-practice budgeting methods and monitoring—ensuring money is spent only where it delivers the most value.