The SECRET DIARY of a LAMBETH LABOUR COUNCILLOR (age uncertain)
Cabinet meeting Monday July 11th
There was a meeting of our esteemed cabinet tonight chaired by our glorious leader Cllr Lib Peck.
Cabinet extolled the virtues of how they actually listen to the people.
Cllr Jennifer Braithwaite, discussing our decision not to demolish some sheltered housing in Gipsy Hill which we announced back in 2013 after all, said: “What this demonstrates is that we are a responsive council.”
Then there was discussion about us demolishing the next of the six council estates – Fenwick. We will start by building 55 new homes on land owned by Transport for London (TfL).
The meeting heard we would then be able to move tenants into the new 55 homes without them having to move off the estate. And phase the demolition and rebuilding without moving anyone off the estate.
Aren’t we wonderful? (We can always change our minds).
The person who was supposed to come and speak on behalf of the tenants didn’t turn up. Then all three Labour councilors who represent that ward addressed the committee and told how there had been an 84 per cent response to our consultation as well as making other points.
Then some woman in the audience stood up and said that what the Labour councilors had said wasn’t true. How outrageous! She said she had not realised they had to register to speak.
Then that Tory opposition leader Cllr Tim Briggs, who elected not to speak, said the woman could speak in his stead. What a nerve!. Wait till Wednesday night’s council meeting. We’ve got some questions for him. Hah!
So Cllr Lib Peck said he couldn’t do that. But then she changed her mind. Can’t think why.
So we had to listen to this woman prattle on. But we decided to demolish the estate anyway. So there.
COUNCIL MEETING
Wednesday July 13th. Unlucky for some.
Our newly-elected Gipsy Hill ward Cllr Luke Murphy was there. He won a 36-vote magnificent victory. (Well Arbroath FC once beat Bon Accord 36-0 and that was a magnificent victory.)
He had put down a written question on welcoming refugees fleeing conflict in Syria and other parts of the Middle East.
Nice to see he’s got his finger on the local pulse and isn’t asking questions about Central Hill estate. Or Upper Norwood library. The very idea!
Conservative opposition leader Cllr Tim Briggs referred to “North Korean style plans to build a few hundred more homes for council rent.” And we had to listen to another diatribe from that woman from Friends of Lambeth Libraries.
Responding to her, Cllr Jack Hopkins who’s our wonderful cabinet minister for regeneration, business and culture, said we could not re-open the Carnegie or the Minet libraries because the money has now been taken out of the budget. Gotcha!
How do I know where the money’s coming from for the security guards and the heating and the lighting 24/7? I’ve no idea.