Council and democracy

Mike Davis to retire after a decade at the top

Mike Davis, who has been Croydon Council's director of housing since 1998, will be retiring in late summer after a 36-year career in local government.

Widely recognised as an outstanding housing director for Croydon and highly regarded within London housing circles, Mike has led a housing service that is one of the very best in capital.

His achievements include delivery of the decent homes programme across Croydon's council housing stock, putting the borough on track to achieve 100% coverage by 2010.  He has ensured that housing needs are consistently met in a high-demand borough and reduced the numbers of homeless families living in temporary accommodation by 50% - making Croydon London’s top performer. Croydon is also a centre of excellence for its youth homelessness prevention work.

Mike has overseen the restart of Croydon's council house building programme and been responsible for high levels of satisfaction from tenants for the quality of the services they receive.   The council won Beacon status in 2006/07 for its groundbreaking methods of improving housing services by involving tenants. More recently under Mike, the council was awarded trailblazer status by the government to offer education training and employment advice alongside housing services.

Educated in the borough, Mike returned to Croydon in 1994 as assistant director of housing.  He took on the top post when his predecessor, Dorian Leatham, left to become chief executive of Hillingdon.  Previously he had progressed up the housing management ladder, undertaking posts at Camden, Haringey and Ealing Councils.  He had started his housing career at Kensington & Chelsea.

Mike, 59, is being succeeded at executive level in Croydon by Hannah Miller, the council's director of adult services, who will now take on the wider responsibilities of a department that is being enlarged as part of council-wide restructuring, announced in the spring. 

Said deputy leader of the council and cabinet member for housing, Councillor Dudley Mead:  "Mike Davis has been an outstanding director for this authority and the borough. He is a senior officer who is completely trusted by members to deliver their priorities. We will miss his calmness under pressure and professional approach. We wish him all the best on his retirement and in his plans for the future."

Said Mike:  "I will be very sorry to leave Croydon. I have enjoyed my job here immensely and working with members, residents and my colleagues, we have secured many improvements for our customers over the past decade. I wish the council every success in the future and I am confident that my team will flourish in the new adult services and housing department."

Said chief executive Jon Rouse:   "In my short time at Croydon, Mike has become one of my most trusted colleagues. I will miss his experience and wisdom."