Croydon Council faces questions over unminuted Gaskell appointment

Croydon Council appointed Stephen Gaskell as interim assistant chief executive in July 2026. The appointment, which has not been publicly announced by the council, is not recorded in the minutes of the council's appointments committee meetings held between January 1 and September 30, 2026. This lack of record follows previous warnings from government-appointed commissioners regarding the council's management structure.

Concerns over continuity and transparency

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In March 2026, the first report from commissioners overseeing Croydon Council for the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government, highlighted concerns about the authority's operations. The report stated that the council's reliance on interim managers and a high turnover of staff were undermining continuity in efforts to address financial problems. The commissioners warned that these factors put efforts to end repeated deficit budgets at risk due to a lack of focus and agreed delivery plans.

Stephen Gaskell's appointment as interim assistant chief executive is the latest in a series of changes at the top of Croydon Council this year. His predecessor, Jenny Rowlands, reportedly left the role after less than eight weeks. Elaine Jackson, who had stepped up as interim chief executive, has also departed, with Mike Jackson taking over the top job in August 2026. Conrad Hall was confirmed as the council's finance director, with his salary reportedly including an additional £30,000 per year for an occupational scarcity allowance.

Unrecorded decision

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Records from the council's appointments committee meetings, which are publicly available on the council's website, show 11 meetings took place between January 1 and the end of September 2026. Despite these meetings, including six held in March and April, there is no mention of the decision to appoint an interim assistant chief executive. The minutes do record other appointments, such as Mike Jackson's interim role and the recruitment process for a permanent chief executive.

Gaskell previously worked for 12 years at Southwark Council, where he held the position of assistant chief executive. His tenure there included coordinating the council's response to the covid pandemic. He has also held interim contracts with the Greater London Authority and conducted a review for SOLACE, an organisation for council chief executives.