7 December - Where is the money coming from? Why is Bexley so much worse off than its neighbours?
Bexley Council has been keen to make the point that it is not another Croydon in-waiting and perhaps
Croydon issuing a second bankruptcy declaration boosts Bexley's position
somewhat, but it is in a far worse state than its immediate neighbours.
Our Council loves to blame the government grant formula for a less than generous
payout but those similar neighbours have kept clear of trouble.
Enlarge the green image on the left and you will see Bromley Council publishing
the figures for the benefit of their residents.
Bromley receives the lowest per capita grant in London and Bexley is three
notches higher up the scale. Few would think that Bromley is a less pleasant place to live and their
Council Tax is lower. Fourth lowest tax in Outer London
while Bexley is 13th. Forgive me if I begin to think that Bexley is run by a bunch of incompetents.
Bexley Council’s Leader has said several times that if only Bexley had a grant
as generous as Greenwich’s the local Council Tax levy would all but disappear
but below is what Greenwich Council’s auditor Grant Thornton had to say about how the Councils are managed. (For
additional information download
Greenwich’s meeting Agenda pack for 25th November 2020.)
Bexley is either bottom or second to bottom Council in London for having already
spent its reserves. And things have got worse since the graph was prepared.
Bexley second worst Reserves situation in London.
But it gets worse! See below.
Worst in London. Graphs prepared by Grant Thornton.
One must wonder if Bexley’s Councillors are aware of the harsh reality. Maybe they were assured by the Finance Director’s
fine words in
January, two months before these graphs were prepared. Scrutiny? What scrutiny?
I am no accountant but have Financial Directors been spending the reserves to
keep the spending in check in earlier years? I think even I could balance a
budget that way especially if rewarded with the pay rise recently dished out by the Chief Executive.
Bexley Council says over and over again it has saved more than £100 million in
the past ten years which always makes me think how damned inefficient they must have been
ten years ago but perhaps it is yet another of their dubious claims.
Now their magic accounting reduces a loss of £8 million to £2·5m. Abracadabra; a balanced budget and annual bonuses earned.
Council message to Bexley residents.
Looks like Bexley Council has been recklessly raiding the piggy bank while telling residents porkies.