The unusual site banners are to bring attention to the fact that Labour activists in Bexley are manipulating Facebook Groups with fictional posters. They deny it, threaten police action for ‘harassing’ a fictitious character and then demonstrate their willingness to impersonate by creating a false Administrator account in my name. The banner on display is chosen randomly from a selection of three, with a fourth bearing the familiar Bexley Council is Bonkers logo.
20 October (Part 2) - Opposition slaughtered
Twice
in the last three weeks I’ve been tipped off that councillor Mike Slaughter
backed the extension of opening hours at the Sidcup branch of Morrisons while
being a shareholder in that company. I scanned the Planning Committee minutes
for clues but found nothing definitive and without proof it is only
tittle-tattle and best avoided. But yesterday someone sent me the November 2011
newsletter of the Sidcup Community Group and there it was as bold as brass…
“We will not be able to rely on Bexley’s Planning department that’s for sure. No
surprise that increased opening hours of Morrisons was supported by a councillor
who holds shares in the company.” On the assumption that the SCG is not in the
habit of making things up some research was called for. My mistake it turns out
was checking the Bexleyheath Chronicle last month and not the Sidcup edition.
Editor Bob Griffiths has the story too.
“Councillor [Mike] Slaughter declared he had some shares in the company [Morrisons]…
The Chairman invited comments from the twelve members present and not one had any
questions so it was put to the vote. Who took the lead to approve? Councillor M. Slaughter.”
Council’s generally define what they mean by a “Prejudicial Interest” and make
their policy available on the web. All those I have checked define relevant
share holdings as prejudicial and all but a few councils require that affected members
should remove themselves from any meeting. A very few exempt small share holdings.
Bexley council appears not to publish its policy but the minutes of many of its
meetings record councillors withdrawing as one would expect. Why did councillor
Slaughter think he should be different?