ARE YOU LIVING IN THE LAND OF OZ?

It seems that over a short period of time, in fact less than a year the council has gone from being responsible and diligent where money is concerned to being totally off the wall.

Why have they now painted a Yellow Brick Road in the Ripple Road? do we assume that this Yellow Brick road will continue down to the Heathway so that all travellers on the road can see the fantastic PLASTIC flowers in the hanging baskets.

You really couldn't make this up!!!!!!!!!!

WALTER MITTY/LIAR and now a BULLY

We hear that concern is growing amongst council workers about the behaviour of Walter. It appears that even though Walter will not leave his home, he is glued to his laptop and the vitriol that pours into his emails to officers and occasionally to members is growing. We understand that in the past it has been very rare for an officer to make a complaint against a member, but, now so concerned are officers with the abuse and content of his emails that they are working together to put in a very robust complaint about him. We are told that all evidence is being collected, by a senior officer. Mind you this is not the first time we hear..........his previous contact with council officers in another part of the country was pretty much the same.........we understand that he didn't hang around too long. By the way on a personal note, perhaps his best friend needs to have a quite word about body odour.....

GREEDY BASTARDS

There we were thinking that finally the councillors in B & D were sensitive to the hardships being faced by residents and more importantly the workforce, they were going to cut the members pay budget and remove the allowance for Deputy Chairs. OK its not a lot of money, but is was a start. We should have known better. No Turkey is going to vote for Christmas. Sneaky Twomey brought a motion to the Assembly to keep the allowance for Deputy Chairs, he actually stated that the job of Deputy is more than chairing a meeting when the Chair is not there. Get real Twomey............that is all they do, its money for nothing. Still what can we expect?

WHAT A BLOODY CHEEK

A number of our readers have contacted us this week to point us in the direction of an article in a number of national newspapers last weekend. It appears that a local government award ceremony had been held in London, a real posh do by all accounts B & D council booked a table which cost quite a bit of money so that officers could go on this jolly, it was stated that the money to pay for the table, food and booze came out of the Children's services budget ???????? By mid week when the local paper reported on this someone on the council had changed their response and stated that the money came from the chief executives budget. Firstly we could ask the question why it was necessary for officers to go on this jolly for a job they get very well paid to do anyway. Secondly why does the chief executive have a budget, just how much is in this budget? These questions are quite legitimate for council tax payers to ask, after all it is their money. But, if you think that's bad just wait until May, this is when the council holds one of its bigger jollys. This is when the Mayor for the year is sworn in, all 51 councillors will be invited along with their partners, plus the families of the incoming and outgoing Mayor, and of course don't forget officers and the usual hangers on. There will be food and booze for all paid once again from your council tax. Don't you think that the councillors need or should be a bit more sensitive to the fact that they are imposing cuts on their residents? and more importantly they are making staff redundant. Of course we know that insensitivity is a watchword for the Barking mafia so we don't expect any change there.

OH DO STOP WHINING RODWELL

Once again in this weeks local press Rodwell is moaning because the 'council' are not dishing out money for Street Parties to celebrate the Royal Wedding, "he doesn't understand why" Rodwell says. Well lets just explain it for him shall we???? Just look at the cuts the council are having to make, look at the council staff that are being made redundant, doesn't that tell you why Rodwell? The council has already agreed to allocate a small amount of funding for St Georges Day which has been done for the last couple of years and has been accepted. Why should council tenants rent money and residents council tax money be there for you and your friends to dip their hands into for a 'jolly'? Over the years there is evidence to back up that Rodwell dipped his hands in and personally benefited from council funding. So a suggestion Rodwell there are 4 wage packets going into your household, if you want a jolly on the 29th pay it yourself.