20 November (Part 1) - Broadway and Erith Shopping Centres. Who owns what?
There has been quite a lot of interest in
who owns the Broadway and Erith
Shopping Centres so before I listen again to councillor Slaughter’s criticism of
Bexley council’s plan to sell Old Farm Park, you may wish to hear what the
Acting Chief Executive actually said about ownership.
First UKIP councillor Beazley’s question which somehow failed to register with
me while in the council chamber, but the recording is clear enough.
Note that councillor Beazley refers to both Bexleyheath and Erith shopping
centres and strongly suggests that council officers - he had been exchanging notes with Jane
Richardson, Deputy Director of Regeneration and Growth - had confirmed council ownership.
This is Paul Moore’s reply.
Note that Mr. Moore doesn’t mention Erith shopping centre but neither does he or Mrs. Richardson
contradict councillor Beazley.
The fact that Mr. Moore’s answer is barely adequate is par for the course, but
what is consistently disappointing about all Bexley council meetings is that
when someone willfully or otherwise provides an inadequate answer, no one ever picks them up
on it. It is as though their butterfly minds have already moved on to the next subject.
Maybe councillor Beazley felt that both his assertions were vindicated by a written note from a councillor officer but
without that advantage I was left uncertain as to whether or not the Chief Executive was referring to one or both towns.
Postscript. Here’s the real answer…
Source document.
You’d have thought that Linda Bailey, being a cabinet member, would have known that.