28 January (Part 4) - I’m reviewing the situation
What Councillor Maxine Fothergill
may or may not have done in times gone by is
interesting but it wasn’t where the trail started or was meant to go.
I’m beginning to realise the local investigation may not be going anywhere
and the case against Councillor Fothergill is almost certainly flimsy.
Bexley Council is in massive lock down mode to protect one of their own or maybe themselves.
Using detective skills learned from New Tricks I’ve gone back to review all the evidence such as it is. It
didn’t make particularly good reading.
On 22nd January I was
pretty sure I
knew the old lady’s address. Three people had mentioned Beechcroft Avenue,
but subsequent investigations drew a blank there. Maybe all three reports had
the same source and it could have been a set up.
Perhaps even the names suggested for possible buyers are wrong too.
Mick Barnbrook retains some hope that his FOIs will prove to be the Council’s undoing, but
with respect to Mick, anything that could prove to be the Council’s undoing will be
vigorously suppressed or maybe shredded. FOIs are worth a try because blanket
refusals help the case that says there is a cover up going on, but to rely on
FOI responses would be mistake, in any case it all takes too long.
Actually I am a bit wrong on the FOI issue too. His question about the appointment of an
Independent Person to the Code of Conduct Committee has been answered. Rebecca
Sandhu was appointed in the middle of 2013 for two years expiring in May 2015.
The FOI asked when that was extended.
Bexley Council has referred Mr. Barnbrook to a supplement to last May’s Full Council
Agenda. In 2013 the Council advertised for an Independent Person. They rejected
applications from Mick Barnbrook and Elwyn Bryant and Rebecca got the job for two years.
Her reappointment was announced in a May 2015 supplement to the Agenda. No advert, no
debate, just her name. The supplement simply lists the Committee members including Rebecca Sandhu. The Council appointed her without an advert, not a word of debate, not a hint of
democracy. They just do what they like. Plus ça change.