6 August (Part 1) - Pickles on top
It’s been a
long time coming and Eric Pickles has been called a wind bag a few times along
the way, but today is the day when his impatience with recalcitrant councils
across the land - well England anyway - is translated into law. Councils now
absolutely must allow every sort of recording and social media activity apart
from a live commentary at all public meetings.
No self important lying Cheryl Bacon character may ever again call the police at
the sight of electronic gadgetry.
In Bexley
Nicholas Dowling helped achieve something close to what the law now
allows more than six months ago but presumably we will no longer hear chairmen
claiming that photography and recording is at their absolute discretion. However
anyone intending to Tweet from Bexley’s new chamber may have difficulty. Firstly
the mobile phone coverage is very poor though some say the western end of the
chamber does give some limited coverage.
Secondly the wi-fi is not for public use and even if it was Twitter would be a
problem because that destination, along with Bexley is Bonkers. are on Bexley’s
banned list. The Democratic Deficit (™ Any Labour councillor) lives on.