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News and Comment January 2013

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18 January (Part 1) - Any excuse will do

Gareth BaconI occasionally get asked for advice on how to combat Bexley council and their funny ways. Few people make the distinction between me who does little more than report other people’s tales of woe and more dedicated experts like the Bexley Council Monitoring Group or perhaps Notomob (See contact menu above) for parking issues or even the Citizens’ Advice Bureau. However occasionally the question is fairly easy to answer.

Something like three months ago a telephone caller told me he had written to a councillor seven times without reply and asked what he could do about it. I suggested that a complaint might be in order quoting the new rules that are based on The Seven Principles of Public Life one of which is Accountability. Openness might be a factor too. The rules were established at a meeting six months ago. I then forgot all about the phone call.

Earlier this week the same caller told me his complaint is going through the system but he still wanted the councillor to answer his question so he had written again. This time he got a reply which was only a little short of ‘as you have complained about me you can whistle for your answer’. That was the sentiment; very marginally more polite. I saw the letter but didn’t have an opportunity to scan it. Which trougher got all uppity that he might be asked to do something for his £22·5k. a year payoff from Bexley council? The picture may offer a clue.

 

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