14 March - Tories preen themselves while Felix ruffles their feathers
Following Councillor Bishop was Cabinet Member for Adults’ Services with a
rather good joke. Having mislaid his glasses and unable to read his script he reminded us that his name is
Seymour. Once retrieved he continued with a number of good points about progress with his portfolio
but there was little that hadn’t already been covered by others. In summary, it is a very difficult job
and a lot of effort is being piled into it.
He chose to highlight Wadebill {? Not clearly audible), a hub for Learning Difficulties and Downs Syndrome adults in
Belvedere. “It will always get a Requires Improvement from the Care Quality
Commission" because the residents are difficult and extremely vulnerable, some
with no family members, “so we are looking at decanting those residents and
providing off-street houses for these people”. Some have formed their own family hubs and these will be preserved.
Improved travelling arrangements will allow domiciliary care workers to spend more time with patients.
Councillor Daniel Francis contrasted the extra 21% funding for Social Care with
the overspend currently running at 30%. Querying the use of the word investment he
asked what new was being provided. The 2024/25 Budget is balanced only because of the
use of an “£8·5 million sticking plaster”. £4·9 million was used to balance the
2018 budget, £1·9 million in 2019, £2·4 million overspend on housing in 2018/19.
£1·6 million a year later.” Omitting the atypical Covid years he added “£3·4
million in 2022/23. This year £9·3 million; a total in excess of £32 million and
on top of that almost 25% of savings not achieved.” One of the reasons offered
was “No political support for the savings” so one must wonder why the Conservatives voted for it.
“Nine Council properties are lying empty but paying Business Rates when they
should have been rented out. One has been empty since 2014, two from 2016 and
two since 2017. £700,000 of taxpayers’ money was spent on Business Rates. Bexley
Council has been sending out emails claiming that it never forgets that it
spends taxpayers’ money but clearly they do forget.” (Half of Business Rates gets lost to central Government.)
Councillor Frances said that the Finance Director had written that “This is not
the time to be reducing the General Fund Reserve and I would not advocate
using the reserves unless the situation was critical”. How long before we reach
critical the Councillor asked. “A storm is headed our way. This budget is unsustainable.”
Councillor Borella likened the evening’s debate to Alice in Wonderland
emerging from a hole to find everything fantastic. “It is not reality.” He looked
forward to a Labour Government sorting out the mess and a Labour Council in 2026.
He switched his attention briefly to the well worn path of overnight car
parking charges and potholes but quickly reverted to form by asserting that the
Conservatives know that their Government is not supporting them, they know the
issues and how the Goverment has let them down. He said so more than once and without audible dissent from the benches opposite.
Councillor Caroline Newton stood to take what she called “a second bite at the cherry”.
She mentioned SEND improvements and bringing SEN education back inside the
borough. A catalogue of improvements and achievements by voluntary groups
followed. Inspire and the Deaf Centre for example. “Free meals are provided and
the funding does not come from the publicity seeking Mayor of London. His
re-election would be a nightmare.”
Councillor Richard Diment, Cabinet Member for Price Increases said that parking
revenues continue to suffer from the impact of Covid and his aim is to cover all
the costs from revenue. It was achieved in 2023/24 and should be in the coming
year too. It must not be a drain on other resources where money needs to be
spent, like care services. “The prices have not been increased since [the 30%
hike] in April 2021 and in those three years inflation has been 18%.” The review
of charges had resulted in “a fairly modest increase overall of 6%.” Greenwich
has put “some charges up to £7 and hour for some vehicles”. (As has Bexley in some places for all vehicles.)
“For most charges there would be a simple increase of ten pence and I would be
surprised if most people actually knew to the nearest ten pence what they are
paying when they go into a car park. I do not think that ten pence will make a difference.”
The significant decreases occur where we have decided to be competitive with
Southeastern trains. “I would argue that the [new] overnight charges are fairly
modest.” (£1·30 on Ringo, £1·50 for cash.) “I do not believe that will make a
difference on whether people go out or not”. The Bexleyheath overnight charges will rise
to £2·50 as will those in Abbey Wood.
The Council cannot afford to offer any free periods for short term shopping.
Councillor Baljeet Gill (Labour, Northumberland Heath) said that traders in his
ward were already not happy that Bexley Council doesn’t listen to them and now they will be angry.
Independent Councillor Felix di Netimah (Crayford) “chided” the Labour
Councillors for their view that Liz Truss’s budget was “a shambles” because both
Italy and Spain have successfully cut taxes as she wanted to do, and “their
economies have boomed compared to Britain’s. Income tax cuts always lead to
growth. The evidence is there”. (Do we have a lone Conservative voice in the Council Chamber?)
The Mayor had to quell loud dissent but it was not clear which side it came from
- or both. Felix was “sad” to have to vote against the Budget. The Conservatives
have put it forward from a position of hubris (exaggerated pride and
self-confidence). They brag about a balanced budget as if it is a huge
achievement but it is a legal requirement. “We are not doing anything different
from other authorities.” He was jeered for reminding Bexley Council that he had
worked for the Local Government Ombudsman and knew exactly how poorly Bexley
performed. It had to pay significant compensation to parents yet the Council
Leader continues to blame the failures reported by OFSTED on the Council’s
partners. (He is not
looking for a reconciliation any time soon is he?)
This Budget does not look at essential Departmental efficiencies “and I cannot support it”.
Kurtis Christoforides was the last Councillor to speak and majored on the Social
Services overspends which have an impact on universal services and visible activities.
He was concerned that the parking fees would have a detrimental impact on
residents and traders alike and welcomed the Cabinet Member’s promise to keep them under review.
The Leader summed up by wishing she could find £500,000 down the back of a sofa
just before an election as the Mayor of London has been able to do “but
fortunately for residents we run a tighter ship. Despite finding all that money
he continues to hit those who can least afford it. That money which came out of
thin air could have been used to keep down his precept instead of increasing it.
He could have stopped ULEZ. It’s disgraceful that he takes money from those who
can least afford it but that is Labour in control”.
(I’m not sure the arithmetic stacks up. Half a million is not going to replace
a
million in fines in just three months in Bexley alone as had been stated earlier.
“We have achieved a lot for this borough and we intend to continue Making Bexley
Even Better and that is what this Budget does tonight.” Teresa truly is in Wonderland.
All the Labour Members voted against the Budget, all the Conservatives for and the Independent was as good as his word.