David Leaf’s first Cabinet meeting was a banger. We were four minutes into
the webcast before the audio kicked in when someone rapped on the microphone and
it was seven minutes before any intelligible speech came through; but not for
long. It lasted 45 seconds, the “minor technical issues” had not been resolved.
The meeting had been on air for 13 minutes before someone found a portable
microphone and we were told that the Children’s Services budget was overspent
again. Exacerbated by the fact that our generous caring government has removed
the children’s personal transport grant and the Bexley Council taxpayer must pay
in future.
Three million of loan debt has been paid off this year.
The meeting began with a bang.
Cabinet Member Cafer Munur declared himself a cinema buff and spoke about
the
StoryTeller setbacks. It was allocated a further £78,000 from a contingency
fund to purchase the equipment already in place - so nothing is going to be
refurbished after all - to make transition to the new operator easier. They will in time have to pay it back.
Despite the former operator going belly up he said that the Council had done a
great deal of “vigorous” due diligence beforehand. He claimed that The
StoryTeller had improved footfall in Sidcup by 33% when comparing its first year
with the year before, Frankly I don’t believe that a tiny cinema could ever have
that sort of effect. Maybe it was the banking hub or cheap beer in Wetherspoons.
Cafer said that the number of empty shops had halved. Did he not consider that
that night be the reason rather than The Nightmare on Elm Road?
The StoryTeller failed because of the writers’ strike in Hollywood and a dearth of blockbuster films.
Councillor Diment who (re)announced he would be standing down next May, said that recycling is a big success and thanked his staff for
improvements in every department. Next Friday a reuse shop will open at the
Foots Cray recycling centre which seems to be some sort of attempt to rob charity shops of donations.
Councillor Borella (Labour Leader) said that residents say the StoryTeller
library is too small - my only avid book reader friend says the same - and the cinema
doesn’t look like a cinema. To blame Hollywood for its demise is “astounding”
and of course Stefano is right. Stating the obvious, “the due diligence could have been better.”
Council Leader David Leaf said that Councillor Borella has no knowledge of the
film industry and Councillor Munur got very upset about the suggestion that
StoryTeller due diligence could have been better. “An insult to the officers who
carry out this work.” and “there are very few movies out there which are making
a song and dance.” (Where’s Fred Astair and Ginger Rogers when you need them?)
Then to undermine his own argument he said that the StoryTeller was not a
blockbuster cinema, it specialised in niche special screenings. Japanese animations etc.
The cinema will reopen in December.
The Prime Minister has not yet responded
to the new Leader’s letter
informing him of Daniel Francis’ misinformation on potholes and Councillor
Diment reminded the Labour Leader that the money he said should have been spent
on individual potholes could not because it was designated for Capital
Projects. i.e. larger areas, added to which, Sadiq Khan has given less money for
road repairs during his entire term of office than Boris Johnson gave in any single year.
The Leader concluded by thanking his Labour counterpart for "his silly political commentary."
Maybe we will elect grown ups next May.