Well that's it, another year effectively over, one step forward (recording of
council meetings) and one step back (yet another Conservative councillor exposed as a liar).
Many thanks to those who sent Christmas greetings, something I rather neglected
this year. I rather liked the comment from the secretary of the Sidcup Community
Group who said “Just imagine what Bexley council would be like if nobody was watching”.
Another Paul L. sent me a long ‘poem’ set to the well known Gilbert & Sullivan
tune from The Pirates of Penzance and entitled
Bandits of Bexley, which put the
boot pretty firmly into Bexley council’s backside which I am still in two minds about
publishing, and someone who has made something of a study of Bexley’s child care services
sent me a ‘Christmas Card’ bearing the associated picture. No it’s not the Belsen Concentration Camp in 1945, it’s
Bexley’s Special Needs School, Woodside.
Lastly something I forgot to do when I first noticed it a week ago. I haven’t
seen as much in recent months of the Bexley care workers who visit a disabled
friend four times a day. These, frequently very young, women are paid a penny
above minimum wage on zero hours contracts and no travel expenses to maintain
councillor Chris Taylor’s proud boast that he pays the contractors less than any
other nearby borough. The thing I forgot to mention is that Teresa Pearce, MP
for Erith and Thamesmead is collecting information about the practice. You may
see what she has to say on her website and there is a survey form for care
workers to leave comments.
And that really is it. Happy Christmas everyone!