Watching webcasts never quite replaces seeing the real thing in action. I
used to know, or at least have an opinion on, all the senior staff and last
night, having decided to attend in person, I realised I could only put names to
two of the faces advising the Cabinet.
It is the same with the new Cabinet, whilst I recognise them all there are two
recently promoted who I do not know well at all, probably because they
never really drew attention to themselves as Councillors.
For that reason and to possibly learn more about BexleyCo which featured large
on the Agenda, I dragged myself to the meeting on a packed out bus. I was hoping that the Reform
people who had taken such a close interest in BexleyCo before the election would
maintain their interest afterwards but I can only assume they had settled for the webcast.
Labour had four of their nine Councillors in attendance, Conservatives two out
of their 21 non-Cabinet Councillors and Reform UK none. I know that their Leader
works a night shift and will have to ration his attendances, but zero is no way
to be seen as any sort of opposition.
Councillors
Stefano Borella and Nicola Taylor (Labour) found the time for a brief but
friendly conversation before
the meeting got underway proving that just because there are political
differences no one need adopt the sort of attitudes
of some of their activists and candidates.
The meeting was chaired by Council Leader David Leaf resplendent in England
football tie and he asked Deputy Finance Director Nickie Morris to speak first. She reported a
£208,000 overspend at the end of the last financial year. The offenders were, as usual,
Adult Social Care and SEN transport. Housing, parking and environmental services had underspent.
£4 million of long term borrowing was repaid and and £25 million “for cash
management purposes only” was borrowed. The Council Leader said that the
performance demonstrates how “Bexley has a good financial grip and is in a strong position”.
Since April there has been an overspend of £601,000 and once again SEN transport was
the major issue but
the cost of the transformation strategy, £641,000,
is having an unexpected impact; but it is
anticipated that things will get better. “Hopefully”. £4 million of the £25
million short term loan has been repaid.
The Director of Finance and Corporate Services confirmed that his plans included
the maximum possible Council Tax increases. With 57% of Bexley’s services
outsourced, contract inflation represents a risk.
There were no comments from Councillors so the meeting moved on to discussing
“Future Bexley”; the transformation strategy.