By Gavin Mackintosh-
Croydon Council has appointed a new finance director who formerly worked with a man formerly associated with dodgy deals, and was previously described in a report as having ”a bullying problem”.
Richard Enni was announced as the new finance director at a cabinet meeting last night, despite his known former link with Nathan Everly- a former finance director who presided over the failed West Sussex childrens services, described in a damning report as having a ”bullying problem”.
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An insider at the council who brought this story to the attention of this publication, anonymously said: ” this council is filled with many crooks. This new appointment is one sign. You guys should keep a close eye of the future under this new appointment”.
Most serious of the damning allegations was the fact he went of with nearly 50,000 payment meant for relocation costs, despite never relocating. Many observers believe he should have been jailed for what had all the signs of fraud.
Enni has been brought in as a replacement for Chris Buss, the former consultant hired to look into Brick by Brick and other council properties.
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Buss himself had come in to the post to replace Lisa Taylor, who resigned earlier this year.
The new finance director has worked closely with Nathan Elvery, a man who has in the past been associated with dodgy deals, and a bullying culture.
In fact, Ennis was given an interim post by Elvery at West Sussex in July this year, after previously briefly worked at Sutton Council’s housing partnership.
Critics are both shocked and disappointed with the appointment, because of Eni’s ties to individuals whose reputation have been tarnished due to their previous engagements.
Elvery, was a former council finance director, deputy CEO and as Croydon’s chief executive from 2013 to 2016. He was twice investigated when at Croydon, for dodgy deals in council procurement, before his move to West Sussex led to his suspension after just 3 months in the job.
Elvery’s suspension followed the release of a seriously critical report by children’s services commissioner John Coughlan, who described systemic failings at West Sussex’s children’s services and “a bullying culture that starts at the top of the organization and infects the rest of the corporate centre at least” in West Sussex.
The questionable former in 2016 on a £190,000 a year salary, he left West Sussex with a £265,000 financial settlement. Three of his colleagues also resigned from their posts at the council, not wanting to be tarred with the same dirty brush as Elvery.
Two of them had worked with the local authority exec when he was running Croydon Council. They are human resources director, Heather Daley, and programme director Ravi Dhindsa.
After being at the centre of controversy from the beginning of his new role, because of the £47,500 “golden hello” – an amount equivalent to 25% of his annual pay- that came with it, Everley lost credibility with many critics as a genuine professional. The pay had been dubiously dressed up as relocation expenses to make it tax-free.
In a major stench of dishonour, Elvery never relocated from his family home in Epsom, causing his new employers not only embarrassment over the scandal, but also exposing them as either incompetent for not confirming he had relocated. It also raised suspicions that they might have been in a dodgy plan
The smart looking well paid boss does not have a name that reflects well on the CV of another. 
Bad reputation: Nathan Elvery
The decision to have Enni as council director is quite disturbing , because of his link to Elverley. Since his time working for Elvery, Ennis has held a couple of interim roles (including “programme director – place shaping”) at Warwickshire CCand also previously worked at Lambeth Council as the finance executive director.
Council chiefs have a bad reputation for placing their best chums in high positions in other councils, as they utilize their strong networks, usually on the back of past positions they have held, and the contacts they have and have developed.
The Eye Of Media.Com will keep a close eye on his performance in this new role, and the operations of Croydon Council, dubbed the worst council in the Uk, after residents were left in appalling conditions for years, despite continuous complaints made.
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