10 October (Part 3) - In 15 years, nothing has changed
Mr. Shvorob's request for the reason why his Full Council question “Can you
please comment on the allegations of an inappropriately close relationship
between Conservative members of the council, including a current Cabinet Member,
and Mr. Kulvinder Singh, a controversial local developer looking to build
housing on Metropolitan Open Land in Crayford?”
was rejected for being
defamatory has been answered; he implies by the Mayor, without actually
providing the evidence.
Apparently the Council’s Constitution was amended six months ago and now forbids
any criticism “that makes or relates to allegations against, or comprises
comments about, the conduct of individual Members or officers”. These are Mr.
Shvorob’s words; as is so often the case the Council’s link to their own
Constitution PDF is currently unavailable.
If this is true it means Bexley Council’s attitude towards criticism has not changed one jot since 2011.
I have the police’s own confirmation that criticism was forbidden by the then
Council Leader Teresa O’Neill and they reacted because she personally said that
Bexley Council would not tolerate criticism.
Nothing changes.
Note: The letter was signed by a police officer who was subsequently found not to exist.