29 January (Part 1) - Course waterlogged
For
the second time in as many days
I got a drenching.
This time it was the fault of Bexley council and their contractor F.M. Conway. Abbey Road
(B213) is now so narrow that unless there is nothing coming in the opposite direction drivers
must put one wheel in the gutter and the present day gutter is where the wheel
rut used to be before councillor Craske in his Public Realm role authorised its
unnecessary and expensive narrowing. Now it is impassable on foot in wet weather
without risking a good splashing. The bus stop where I was waiting for a 229 to
last night’s Cabinet meeting was, as always, flooded too.
The meeting was the usual well rehearsed waste of time - but
not a lot. It was taken at a canter, an 18 millimetre thick Agenda and reports pack all
waved through in a racing 24 minutes, which is fitting, given that leader Teresa O’Neill
turned up in her jogging suit and councillor Peter Craske (†) was disguised as a spiv
escaped from Lingfield Park - which of course he is. Have you ever Googled
‘Peter Craske bookmaker’? He takes up the whole of the first two pages, probably
more. That’s almost as much as ‘Peter Craske obscene blog’.
Apart from those two reprobates and the full complement of Cabinet members there
were thirteen more councillors looking on. Normally the only councillors
interested enough to turn up and ogle the Cabinet are Alex Sawyer and June
Slaughter and at best one or two more. This time we additionally had Chris Ball
and Sandra Bauer lurking side by side in a dark corner and John Davey, Philip
Read, Peter Reader, John Wilkinson, Ray Sams, Howard Marriner, Sybil Camsey,
James Hunt and John Waters. Almost needless to say, four members of the Bexley
Council Monitoring Group were there to observe the spectacle.
Director of Finance Mike Ellsmore was first away from the starting gate by announcing
the remarkable photo finish that he had overspent the budget in the past year by
£150k., exactly the amount of
his
basic salary package - and promptly shut up.
Colin
Campbell went through the ritual re-announcement of how Bexley’s arrangements for
phasing out Council Tax Relief are the best in London, or the country, or the
universe or something. Surely even the thickest of Cabinet members knows that by
now? He drew attention to a rather scary Funding Gap graph in the Agenda. However he said he
“was not frightened” by it as the council was “hugely successful” and had “saved
£35 million” already and presumably is still living off that 40% tax increase
introduced by Labour which the Conservatives greedily hung on to and
hypocritically increased following their 2006 election wipe out of the opposition.
Nearly all the charges levied by the council apart from parking are to go up from April by
around 3% except some room hire fees which will double after refurbishment.
Getting rid of rats and old sofas will remain the most expensive you will find
among any nearby borough. I’ve not looked further afield, perhaps I should.
Councillor officer Jane Richardson spoke loudly and clearly into her megaphone
about some rearrangements at a Slade Green school which is going to spread
happiness and delight among the area’s children and very possibly the head
teachers who will be able to set their own salaries. Cabinet member for
Education John Fuller said he “echoed what Jane said” after which councillor ‘Biffa’
Bailey justified her generous allowances by adding that she “echoed what John
said”. Very profound Linda. Are you going soft or is it hard going keeping up?
Peter
Ellershaw Director of (his own?) Wellbeing made an announcement that will be
welcomed in eleven of the borough’s streets and in the parking office.
16 roads had taken part in a consultation to allow, or not, pavement parking. Those
residents who voted more than 50% in favour are to have their wish granted and woe betide any
resident who should leave a wheel on a white line. And that was it. Allowances
pocketed. Job done.
Apart from Mrs. Richardson (£81,783 p.a.) the other sub-Director level council
officers present were Sheila Murphy (£104, 253) who looks after children’s
services, subject of much OFSTED criticism, and John Peters (£86,088) both
jockeying for position as least value for money, neither having contributed anything
to the meeting.
Click either graphic to enlarge it.
Note: (†) The Purple Pygmy was present in an observer role only
having resigned his Cabinet post for “personal reasons”. I wonder what they could be.