It
was never really in doubt, the new Leader taking over from Baroness O’Neill as
Leader of Bexley Council is David Leaf. The Baroness bowed out at last night’s
Full Council meeting. Easily the most consistently impressive
performer at Council meeting David appears to possess the aura necessary to
represent the borough among London Councils and hold his own among fellow
Leaders. Against some of course that will not be too difficult. More important
is that he is a proper Conservative. Nothing Limp Dumb about him as is too often
the case nationally.
The only downside I can see is that future Cabinet meetings may go on for ever.
His Deputy is to be Melvin Seymour (Crayford ward) and among Councillors likely to
stand for election next May there was not a lot of choice. To put the best gloss
on it, he seems to be well respected among his colleagues and a decent enough,
feet firmly planted on the ground, sort of bloke. Former Crayford resident John Kerlen
may well disagree strongly with that comment and readers with long memories will
remember why. The documents in my possession are more than a little damning -
but it was all a long time ago when Bexley Council was expected to be less than
honest and rarely disappointed us.