Yesterday’s Full Council meeting was a little like old times. The Opposition
Members getting agitated and the Conservative Group mouthing sometimes audible
ungentlemanly language. It was a baptism of fire for the new Mayor Councillor
Geraldene Lucia-Hennis and in my opinion she handled it
pretty well. At one time she even ruled against Council Leader Teresa O’Neill who was attempting to
deflect democracy with some obscure point of order.
The argument was about Bexley ducking their responsibility for transporting
Special Educational Needs children to school. The new rules had been applied
unfairly and numerous cases had been taken to the Local Government Ombudsman who sided with parents.
Worse was that Bexley Council had put out a SEN report two weeks ago
which sang their own praises and Cabinet Member comments went out of their way to portray parents in a bad
light. The report failed to mention that of all the complaints received by the
LGO, more than half came from Bexley and three quarters of them were upheld.
Not a word about the adverse Local Government Ombudsman verdicts.
A blow by blow account should appear here after what will be a busy weekend. Meanwhile the Labour Group has helpfully issued a Press Release. It includes links to the LGO’s verdict on Bexley’s Council cruelty.