The Penn report 2023

The Penn report is an independent investigation looking into the reasons for the council's financial collapse, published on 24 February 2023.

The report is an independent investigation commissioned through the Local Government Association (LGA) in November 2020, after Croydon Council’s auditors issued their first Report in the Public Interest.

It is referred to as the Penn report because the investigation was conducted by Richard Penn, a senior LGA associate, former chief executive and expert on investigations into senior management performance. Download his CV (PDF, 1.74 MB).

The investigation looked at the reasons for the council’s financial collapse, the actions of Croydon’s senior managers and councillors and suggests recommendations for the council to consider about what formal action, if any, should be taken.

The council received the Penn report in February 2021 but needed to follow the proper procedures before publishing it, including allowing other legal and formal processes to complete and giving those mentioned in the report, the opportunity to respond.

Following a unanimous decision by the council’s cross-party Appointments and Disciplinary Committee on Thursday 23 February 2022, the council is now able to publish the report.

Download the Penn report (PDF, 93.32 KB).