Zia
Yusuf is the Chairman of Reform UK and claims to have discovered that Councils are corrupt.
Just where did he get that idea from?
I wouldn’t say that Bexley is the most corrupt Council ever although I could
point you to quite a lot of shocking example if you ask me nicely, but Bexley may perhaps
be able to lay claim to being the most secretive.
A Council with a lot to hide is never going to be keen on answering questions.
Typical of their attitude was
Brian Smith not answering my question about how
much money we may be gifting The StoryTeller and dodging it by sending their PR puff piece with not a
financial figure in sight.
Brian Smith is Head of Economic Development in Bexley and works for
Mrs. Richardson
who appears to be jumping ship before the StoryTeller blows.
Contrast his non-response with that from Southwark Council. Mr. Keith Kondakor
asked a similar question to mine about their Really Local Group cinema.
They happily told him (PDF) that they paid £168k. to RLG to cover their
design costs and £28k. for the council’s own legal fees. The Southwark cinema closed
and Southwark Council had the good sense not to bale it out.
Mr. K. commented on the This London’s coverage of the story and has been in
touch with me privately. He knows and I know that if Bexley Council is denying
they have given huge sums to keep film running through the gate in Sidcup, then
they are liars. Bexley Council is highly skilled at hiring people happy to lie to cover their tracks.