19 July (Part 2) - Full Council Meeting - The serious bits
It
was stand up, sit down, stand up again as the new mayor failed to make an
appearance on time. Trouble adjusting his chains I expect. I assume we are
supposed to stand up out of respect for the office, surely it cannot be for the
incumbent. If you are in need of mild amusement during the initial
proceedings listen to the chaplain praying for wisdom and good decision
making, what follows must test his own faith to the limit.
Clowning Downing went through the usual rigmarole about no one being allowed
to record his mistakes and if there is a fire we are to exit via the rear door
into the car park. No one ever explains where we are to go if the seat of the
fire is in the rear passageway and the back door is inaccessible. After that the
Clown said everyone was to treat everyone else with courtesy and respect. Some
hope: he doesn’t so why should I?
As already noted, ex-cabinet member Peter Harold Craske did not make an
appearance, did not sign the attendance register, did not send his apologies and
nobody noted his absence when the mayor asked if there were any more absentees. Nobody
that is apart from some members of the public who called out “where’s Craske?”.
Within seconds of the meeting commencing the first Downing inspired
cock-up occurred. It is hard to say exactly what happened
but councillor Stefano Borella (Labour) stood up with a proposal that… and that is as far as things got
because the chain entangled clown on the top table told him to sit down again.
Apparently his sin was not putting up his hand first, so Stefano dutifully went
through a Jack in the Box routine sticking up his paw at the appropriate
moment. Thus the Clown’s massive ego and miniscule intellect was satisfied and
councillor Borella was allowed to suggest another Labour member, Seán
Newman, be allowed to join the library committee, whatever that may be, to allow
a measure of “cross party representation”.
Councillor Munir Malik seconded and then the mayor‘s brain belatedly kicked in
and everything came to a grinding halt. He had muddled two Agenda items and he
wasn’t where he thought he was. We had to start again on some other subject. When
councillor Borella eventually got back to his theme it was inevitably thrown out
unanimously by the Conservatives who don’t like the idea of Labourites being given
the opportunity to rock their cosy little boat.
There was then a deputation by the residents of County Gate (Longlands ward),
the narrow road that is chosen by those using Sat Nav to leave the A2 near
the border with Eltham. The deputation was presented by Mrs. Dakshy (or Mrs. Darkshy
according to the mayor) who was
featured
in last week’s News Shopper. She did a first rate job of exposing the dishonesty of
Bexley council and illustrated why I have so often found it necessary to use the words
‘vindictive’ and ‘spiteful’ to describe their default position.
The details of the complaint were
provided last year.
Councillor Peter Craske blamed Greenwich council for the problems and got himself plastered
all over the News Shopper’s front page for his pains (29 June 2011). This time it was revealed that Craske
had earlier threatened to order all his officers to abandon County Gate if Mrs. Dakshy
or her supporters dared to criticise him. Makes you think that Craske
might be behind my Harassment Letter and the obscene blog if that is how he
reacts to criticism - what a disreputable individual he is.
Because of Craske’s lack of interest Mrs. Dakshy
went to the Labour Party for help, I had wondered how it was that councillor
Malik was involved when the issue first came to light
a year ago. This time she was sponsored by Seán Newman. Mrs. D. went on to reveal that
she had become a member of the Labour Party which provoked a loud outbreak of
desk thumping and jeering by the Conservative morons present. The geriatric
mayor had already forgotten his plea for courtesy and respect so sat there
grinning like the idiot he undoubtedly is.
Councillor Mike Slaughter (Longlands) said that a while ago he canvassed every
house in County Gate, for exactly what purpose he didn’t say, and was
immediately met with a chorus of disbelief. All the residents present insisted
that he had not knocked on their door. Councillor Gillespie (Longlands)
said that since the Labour Party began to sponsor the issue no one had
bothered to complain to ward councillors. Mrs. Dakshy said he had been copied in
to every email. Councillor Newman hoped that Gareth Bacon, the newly responsible
cabinet member and also Longlands ward councillor would prove to be more
effective than Peter Craske. It’s not the highest of aspirations but I am sure
everyone will agree. (Councillor Bacon was not at the meeting and had offered his apologies.)
Councillor Malik said he had recent discussions with a Greenwich councillor and
was told the major problem was Craske. Mrs. Dakshy advanced the view that had
[Conservative] Bromley been involved there would have been no problem but Craske “had a problem
dealing with a different ideology”. For reasons that were not immediately
apparent, councillor Mike Slaughter thought that Mrs. Dakshy was “putting work in
jeopardy”. What work is hard to say. No one contradicted Mrs. Dakshy when she
said that in six years no one had got around to putting up even the simplest of
signs. Eg. ‘Not suitable for heavy vehicles’. What sort of absolutely useless
uncaring council doesn’t try such a simple and cheap solution?
Councillor
Borella asked Mrs. Dakshy if she had a long term goal. She said
County Gate had a wide sweeping entry point leading to the narrow section.
That entrance needed to be narrowed; as it is the police have to be called to
escort reversing lorries back on to the A2.
Mrs. Dakshy had earlier referred to the filibustering of her previous deputation
and she didn’t fare a lot better this time around; a bored mayor said that “15 minutes are
well gone” and halted proceedings mid flow. I glanced at my watch and sure enough we were
three seconds beyond time. Once again no conclusion was reached.
Next on the Agenda was Questions from the Public and the council has come up with a new
restriction. From last night anyone asking a question is made to read it out in full
even though it is printed in the Agenda. Thus a further minute or two is shaved from the meagre 15
minutes allowed to question Bexley’s pathocracy.
The first question was a request to limit filibustering following leader
Teresa
O’Neill’s disgusting exhibition three months ago. “Would the leader be willing to
consider restricting answers to five minutes, yes or no?” Mr. Barnbrook wanted
to know. O’Neill waffled on at some length and Mr. Barnbrook reminded her that
he required only a simple yes or no. Our grinning geriatric went through his
courteous and respectful routine and told Mr. Barnbrook to sit down and shut up
and that if he didn’t he would throw him out of the chamber. O’Neill’s answer
eventually came. The time to be taken answering any question is “down to the responder”.
Question 2 was strategically withdrawn by Mr. John Watson to give Danny Hackett
some chance of asking his question later on. It was John’s question which Teresa
O’Neill filibustered at the last meeting to the detriment of Danny Hackett.
Question 3 looked like a plant to me. Ms. Susan Petty of 49 Collindale Avenue,
Sidcup, DA15 9DN asked councillor ‘Biffa’ Bailey “What benefits does the Cabinet
Member for Economic Development and Regeneration think a Waitrose store will
bring to Sidcup?”
Biffa, who must have heard the audience comment, began her response by stating the question was not a
plant and I might have believed her but for two significant admissions. We had
not in fact heard Ms. Petty ask the question, we had heard someone else drafted in
at the last moment because Ms. Petty had not shown up. Back in April 2011
the
Constitution Committee said that if a questioner did not show up the question
could not be asked. How come the rules had been subverted for this question,
would the same courtesy be shown to Mick Barnbrook for example? I would doubt it
but if that wasn’t enough evidence of a plant Biffa Bailey carried on digging
the hole. She said she knew Ms. Petty well, had been working with her on the
Waitrose issue for some while and explained why she was unable to be present in
person. Not a plant! Who does she think she is kidding?
The question did nevertheless reveal that the Waitrose petition would be
presented to The John Lewis Partnership within the next couple of weeks and Biffa plans to
“fight to the very end”. If anyone from John Lewis is reading this, please do us
all a favour and give Biffa a straight answer. Or to put it in the mayor's
favoured lingo, get her to sit down and shut up.
The fearless Michael Barnbrook had another question up his sleeve. He wanted to
know what sanctions were in place to deal with councillors convicted of a
criminal offence. Leader O’Neill said nothing that made any sense so Mick
pressed his question with an example, maybe not the most appropriate example. I
would have chosen something from real council life like perjury or homophobic hatred,
but Mick, whilst making it very clear he was accusing no one and it was just an
example plucked from the air, went for paedophilia. A certain amount of hysteria
broke out with the geriatric clown warning Mr. Barnbrook once again that he was
liable to be thrown out of the chamber if he continued “to stand there insulting
me. Please be quiet and don’t call me chairman”. Teresa O’Neill also took the insulting line and in the
commotion managed to avoid answering the question.
Finally Danny Hackett, an 18 year old Labour activist, got to ask his question.
“There have been some changes to the Cabinet recently. Why has councillor Peter Craske resigned?” The answer from the leader was inevitable.
“Personal reasons”. Danny also asked why the leader had not refilled his position but instead
spread the work among two existing members. O’Neill’s response was almost as
inevitable as the first. “Because I can”. I think If I were an 18 year old the
words “arrogant fat bastard” would have crossed my mind, but the passage of fifty
years may have mellowed my thoughts on such matters. But perhaps by not a lot.
Councillors Question Time will have to wait for tomorrow, or even the weekend.
Tomorrow has been designated ‘Arguing with the Met. Police Directorate of
Professional Standards Day’.