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.