Clear skies over CR0 this morning -- 13°C by midday, no rain, light westerly breeze. A decent start to the week, even if the political dust is still settling from one of the most dramatic local elections this borough has ever seen.

What's on in Croydon today and this week:

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🎭 Surprised! Festival -- Free two-day Asian arts and culture festival in Croydon town centre (North End and Whitgift Square), Sat 16 -- Sun 17 May, 12pm-6pm Sat, 12pm-5pm Sun. Free entry, family-friendly.
🎱 Box Bingo at BOXPARK -- Bingo with a Croydon twist, Friday 15 May, 6pm-9pm.
🏨 Kenley Hotel public meeting -- Tuesday 12 May, Kenley Memorial Hall. KENDRA ACV update session, 7:30pm.

🗹️ IN TODAY'S ISSUE
🗾️ Perry re-elected -- but governing just got harder
🔴 Reform UK wins Croydon seats for the first time ever
🌿 Greens surge to 8 seats -- biggest result in the party's Croydon history
🍺 Kenley Hotel: the community fighting to save their local
📅 Monday Focus: what the hung council means for you
🎭 Surprised! Festival coming to Croydon town centre (16-17 May)
🎱 Box Bingo at BOXPARK (15 May)
🗾️ This week's poll: what's your #1 priority for the new council?

🗹️ MORNING PULSE
Perry's back -- but governing just got harder
Jason Perry has been re-elected as Croydon's Executive Mayor, beating Labour's Rowenna Davis by 1,113 votes (35,871 to 34,758). But the council he now leads is a five-party patchwork with no overall control: 30 Labour, 28 Conservative, 8 Green, 2 Lib Dem, 2 Reform UK.
Reform UK breaks through in New Addington South
For the first time ever, Reform UK has won seats on Croydon Council -- Scott Holman and Adam Kellett took New Addington South, a significant moment for the borough's political landscape.
Greens surge to 8 seats -- biggest ever Croydon result
The Green Party more than quadrupled their previous council presence, winning 8 seats including gains in Addiscombe East, Broad Green, Crystal Palace & Upper Norwood, and Selhurst.

Kenley Hotel: community fights to save a Victorian local
The Kenley Hotel -- a 19th-century pub on Godstone Road, closed since last July -- is up for sale, and local residents group KENDRA is campaigning to have it listed as an Asset of Community Value (ACV). A public meeting is being held Tuesday 12 May, 7:30pm at Kenley Memorial Hall.

💧 HEARTBEAT
The pub that a community refused to lose
The Kenley Hotel story is more than a planning notice -- it's a test of whether Croydon's communities can shape what happens to their historic spaces. KENDRA's campaign mirrors successful efforts elsewhere in London, where ACV status has helped communities block unwanted conversions and buy time for community-led alternatives. If you want to help, the meeting on Tuesday 12 May is the place to be.

📅 MONDAY FOCUS -- What the new council means for you
With no party holding a majority, here's what Croydon residents can expect in the weeks ahead:
Coalition talks -- Labour (30 seats) and the Greens (8 seats) could form a working majority of 38, enough to govern.
Budget battles -- Croydon's £1.4bn debt and government commissioner oversight means every spending decision will be scrutinised.
Perry's mandate -- The directly elected Mayor holds significant executive power regardless of council composition.
Reform's arrival -- Two Reform councillors in New Addington South will be a new voice in the chamber.

⚡ PULSE POINTS
🎭 Surprised! Festival -- Free two-day Asian arts and culture festival in Croydon town centre (North End and Whitgift Square), Sat 16 -- Sun 17 May, 12pm-6pm Sat, 12pm-5pm Sun. Free entry, family-friendly.
🎱 Box Bingo at BOXPARK -- Bingo with a Croydon twist, Friday 15 May, 6pm-9pm.
🏨 Kenley Hotel public meeting -- Tuesday 12 May, Kenley Memorial Hall. KENDRA ACV update session, 7:30pm.

🧠 PERSONALITY BLOCK
Only in Croydon...
Croydon just ran the largest local election count in London -- 286,933 votes cast, 41% turnout, five parties winning seats. It's messy, it's complicated, and it's exactly what democracy looks like.
Did You Know?
The Kenley Hotel on Godstone Road dates back to the 19th century -- it's been a community anchor for well over 100 years. Now it needs the community to return the favour.
This week's poll:
Now the election's done -- what's your #1 priority for the new council?
🏗️ Town centre regeneration
💰 Sorting the finances
🌿 Green spaces and environment
😌 Transport and buses