Dear Mr. Alabi,
With reference to my complaint against Councillor Cheryl Bacon for unlawfully
taking a public meeting into closed session on 19th June 2013.
I was present at the Public Realm, Community Safety, Economic and Regeneration
Overview and Scrutiny Committee Meeting on Tuesday 22nd October 2013.
When the chairperson, Councillor Cheryl Bacon, asked if everyone agreed to the
minutes of the meeting of 19th June 2013, Councillor Seán Newman queried as
to why only a scant reference had been made in the minutes, relating to the
disruption in the public gallery when she, as chairman, announced that audio
recording was not allowed.
Councillor Bacon refused to answer the question, asking Councillor Newman
instead, if he wished to make an amendment.
Councillor Newman said he couldn't do that as he had not been at the previous meeting.
Councillor Borella, who was at the meeting last night as an onlooker, also
queried the minutes, stating that he had been present at the meeting on 19th
June 2013, when she, as chairman, had taken the meeting into closed session,
without taking a vote from the members and that she had excluded all the public
from the resumed meeting in another room.
This is a very serious allegation by one Bexley Councillor against another
councillor and doesn't reflect the statement that Councillor Borella is
alleged to have made to Lynn Tyler, the officer who investigated my original
complaint against Councillor Bacon and subsequently cleared her of any wrongdoing.
I am therefore requesting that Councillor Borella be interviewed as part of the
review of my complaint against Councillor Bacon and a true reflection of his
recollection of the incident on 19th June 2013 be recorded.
You should be aware that four members of the public have made complaints against
councillor Bacon, relating to her her conduct at the meeting on 19th June 2013.
Lynn Tyler also allegedly interviewed Councillor Borella and the Clerk of the
meeting on 19th June 2013, You should also be aware that the doorman
who called the police on 19th June 2013, when spoken to by me in the presence of
another witness, was unaware that he had made a statement to Lynn Tyler and when
shown a copy of a summary of what he had allegedly said to her, refused
to confirm whether it was a true recollection of his comments to her.
None of the six individuals support Councillor Bacon's allegation that a number
of members of the public were causing a disturbance in the public gallery and
that is why she moved the meeting, rather than the truth, which was that only
one member of the public had been responsible for any disruption.
I think I have already placed it on public record that if my complaint is not
investigated on the basis of the evidence you have before you, rather than the
investigation carried out by Lynn Tyler, the original investigating officer, I
will have no hesitation in making an allegation to the Specialist and Economic
Crime Unit at New Scotland Yard of Misconduct in Public Office and Perverting
the Course of Justice, against all those individuals involved in the
investigation and Councillor Bacon for her conduct.
Please acknowledge receipt of this email.
Yours sincerely,
Michael Barnbrook
23rd October 2013