19 May (Part 2) - It’s Party time
The
May Council meeting is unlike any other, it is mainly ceremonial and this report will deal only with that aspect of it. Family
and friends of the new and old Mayors turn up dressed for the occasion along with
several former Councillors some of whom definitely don’t bother.
There is a party atmosphere with
a buffet and free drinks served up by friendly staff to those with
political connections; but not for the likes of you and me who pay for it.
Nevertheless it is a pleasant enough evening and the self-congratulations were
reasonably well judged. Outgoing Mayor Sybil Camsey was almost entertaining.
More entertaining is to listen to off duty Councillors. One who has almost
never spoken to me before addressed me by first name while passing by. Better not
say who it was in case the Leader takes umbrage, she did once before in similar circumstances.
Another Tory said his colleagues were “just a bunch of shits”. A bit harsh, I assume he meant the
leadership. Maybe I should ask him to take over BiB.
The gossip about the disappearing Joe Pollard was that he had fled to Thailand
in a hurry - or Singapore according to another - both implying the suddenness of
the departure was reason for speculation. The Head of Electoral Services told me
that holding the by-election a week after the EU Referendum was a legal
requirement. By law Referendums cannot be held on the same day as any other
election, so the speculation about controlling EU turn out is ill founded.
Probably speculation should be avoided about legal boss, Akin Alabi, too.
Normally he sits alongside the Mayor offering advice and guidance on procedural
matters but last night he was relegated to a dark corner. Advice was coming from his deputy Lynn Tyler. Maybe
not being on the solicitors’ list has not gone down
well, but then it drew a blank on Mrs. Tyler too.
Definitely
on the top table was new Chief Executive Gill Steward. Have you read
Mrs. Steward’s career history
yet?. Let’s hope she manages to resist the crooked ways of Bexley Council. Her predecessor is still under consideration by the
Crown Prosecution Service for a Misconduct charge.
For the coming civic year the Mayor is Councillor Eileen Pallen, the Labour contender being severely beaten by the
massed Tories as was entirely predictable. Not so predictable was that the three
UKIP Councillors voted Tory too and when asked why afterwards said that it was because Councillor Pallen is “nice”.
I’m in no position to argue with that although recent history shows that even ‘nice’ Councillors prove
to be incompetent tyrants as Mayors. Just look at the last one, Councillor Sybil Camsey.
Mayor Pallen has chosen Councillor Val Clark as her Deputy. Fortunately the
Deputy Mayor does nothing at meetings so probably there will be no more
Widow Twankey moments. Shame.
An informal moment during a recess.
Whilst Councillor Eileen Pallen’s selection as Mayor has been known to me for
some time, I had failed to pick up the fact that Councillor Rob Leitch was to be the
new Deputy Leader. It was clearly included in the Agenda but it’s been a busy
week and I didn’t get around to looking.
It’s an interesting choice by his fellow Tory Councillors. Rob cannot be
flavour of the month with Leader O’Neill; think Old Farm Park. Perhaps they are trying to send a not so subtle message.
Whilst congratulations must be due to Rob Leitch on his meteoric rise
to high office in just two years since his first election as Councillor I am
nevertheless disappointed in him. Two Councillors told me that the Deputy Leader
can choose his portfolio so he could have taken Environment and Leisure and
saved a few parks from closure about which he campaigned so hard and spoke so
eloquently only a matter of weeks ago. Instead he has taken Education, thus
displacing John Fuller, the only Cabinet Member who never wasted his time
scoring political points, doesn’t insult members of the public and has never
been caught out lying or - excuse me - bullshitting.
Maybe
Councillor Leitch was not as sincere about Old Farm Park as I had
believed, it is foolish to trust any of Bexley’s ruling party. Didn’t Councillor
Leitch vote for park sales at several budget meetings a year ago? Yes he did.
But suppose he has been given the Deputy Leadership as a challenge to the Great
Dictator. What could she do about it? Maybe SWMBO could do an about turn on the
matter of an elected Mayor. Seven years ago
Bexley Council rejected the idea of an elected Mayor following one of their
sham consultations. They gave it no publicity and only 99 people responded,
probably all Councillors and their cronies. A newspaper poll subsequently showed 85%
of the public in favour. They know not what they do!
If Teresa O’Neill went down the elected Mayor route and the public fell for it
and elected her she really could be the undisputed Fat Controller. The stuff of
nightmares. I shouldn’t give her ideas.
Note: As has been noted recently - thanks Danny - BiB has
not been on peak form recently and is suffering from lack of available time.
There are other things in life that have to be done! However if all goes according to
plan the recording of the meeting will be reviewed at the weekend to see if
there is anything from the formal business that is worth a quick report. A few
Labour suggestions may have been put down. Not that that is news of course.