16 April (Part 3) - Bexley Council’s end of term Love-In
After the early morning tease about yesterday’s ritual back slapping festival
it is probably justifiable to stand chronology on its head and begin with a
summary of the final 135 minutes of interminable self-praise. So as briefly as possible…
David Leaf said 230 years’ worth of experience had elected
for not being
re-elected. 48 years from Nigel Betts down to four years each from Felix di Netimah and Patrick Adams.
The names of Labour Councillors had apparently slipped his mind. He
said that despite the bickering everyone respected each other even the
“politically misguided and naive cousins sitting opposite”.
He will miss the relentless heckling of the “engaging” Wendy Perfect. Similarly
he will miss the twelve years of Mabel Ogundayo, champion for Thamesmead and Black History Month.
He thought that Esther Amaning was to retire but then discovered she was his
Labour opponent in Blendon and Penhill ward. He was therefore unable to wish her well.
Cheryl Bacon and Richard Diment were praised for their diligence and good advice,
Richard being “absolutely outstanding. A great politician.” Roads, bins and fly tipping all being improved on his watch.
Andy Dourmoush was similarly praised for his Chairmanship. Sue Gower who did
such a good job in Housing where she delivered underspends, and a successful Mayor.
John Davey has been a Councillor for 20 years and a strong defender of the
environment at Planning meetings. Occasionally forthright; “John stepping down
should allow savings in the Corporate Complaints team.”
Peter Reader was an excellent Chairman of both the Audit and Planning
Committees. Both he and his ward colleague Philip Read were first elected in
1968. “A strong advocate of free speech” and a success in his role as Cabinet
Member for Children’s Services. (From Inadequate to two Outstandings.) “A great champion of Erith.”
Teresa O’Neill was thanked for her outstanding public service in Bexley and
across London. She was the the longest serving Leader in Bexley and led Bexley
through the financial crash of 2008, Covid and the Ukraine War. “She is owed a debt of immense gratitude.”
Labour Leader Stefano Borella seconded the idea that all Members got on with
each other but also referred to “throwing hand grenades at each other”. He
praised everybody’s favourite, Sue Gower, and said she was one of Bexleyְ’s best Mayors. “You did a great job.”
While remembering Cheryl Bacon, Stefano referred to the
notorious meeting of 19th June 2013 when
Cheryl was advised to move it to a private room to the exclusion of the public.
“A night I won’t forget” said Stefano. It resulted in the police sending a file
to the CPS for Misconduct in Public Office. It would be embarrassing to list the names of
Councillors who provided witness statements against Councillor Bacon to
the police which helped prove the case. (I still think that Cheryl was
relatively innocent, having been wrongly advised and the lying statement issued
over her name was likely to have been a forgery by Bexley’s legal team that she
knew nothing about. Whatever possessed Stefano to bring that up 12 years later?)
Seeing Teresa O’Neill on his television was “a bit of a nightmare. She is in my
living room now!” He wished Councillors Diment and Dourmoush well.
“The fabulous and wonderful Mabel Ogundayo” was the subject of a little good
natured bedroom banter who “held Philip Read’s feet to the fire” when she was
first elected. (I remember it well and his responses were less than kind.)
Wendy Perfect was gently chided for preferring to be in bed by eight than attend meetings.
Esther Amaning had championed mental health and Stefano hoped she would defeat the
Leader in Blendon and Penhill.
Anna Day who acts as Stefano’s chauffeuse had been a great help as his ward
colleague and he forgave her for not taking his preferred routes.
With just two speakers done and a quarter of the
duration of the festival of
self-praise elapsed it is time to wrap up the first part of this report.
Fortunately the remainder of the speakers were much less verbose.
Note:
Commitments elsewhere are such that this report is unlikely to be extended
before Sunday.