20 May - “A challenge to democracy in Bexley”
Teresa O’Neill’s proposal to dramatically reduce the opportunities for the
public, and even councillors themselves, to keep tabs on what she and her gang
are up to, provoked comment from more than one councillor. They backed my
conclusion that the intention can only be to place another veil between the
leader’s inner circle and the electorate.
But is it right to simply blame the Great Dictator?
Whilst it is probable that they were told in advance what to come up with, on
paper at least, Teresa’s proposals were “reviewed” by a committee comprised of
Councillor Cheryl Bacon (standing in Cray Meadows), Colin Campbell (not standing),
Peter Craske
(Blackfen & Lamorbey), Graham D’Amiral (Blendon & Penhill), Ross Downing (Cray Meadows), Eileen Pallen
(Barnehurst), Philip Read (Northumberland Heath) , Alex Sawyer (St. Mary’s), Brad
Smith (Christchurch) and Colin Tandy (St. Mary’s).
It was additionally recommended that a “pre-meeting should occur
following issuance of agenda papers” and before scrutiny meetings are held in
public. The rehearsals that have always been suspected.
Training would be given on how to run an “effective overview and scrutiny
committee session for political purposes”. i.e. Never forget that the main
objective is scoring points off the opposition.
The training manual includes an instruction to councillors that they should ask
questions at council meetings that “highlight the good work”.
Apart from Brad Smith, who I do not know because he has never said a word at any
meeting I’ve attended, all the members of Teresa O’Neill’s review committee are
firmly in her yes ma’am camp. It will be interesting to see if there is a single
honest Tory in Bexley when the subject is voted upon at a council meeting.
Note: Blog title © Bexley Conservatives.