Councillor claims there are benefits to Domestic abuse

I am some what ashamed to report this but...

I am not sure how much of the details have been reported to this website but from what I have read it is very deplorable.

Cllr Columba Blango of Southwark, a Libdem and local colleague of Simon Hughes has really put his foot in it.

It's like Smacking. Some people see the benefits of smacking. Some don't see it

WTAF?!

With smacking, yeah I can see the benefit of it at times. After all, as a kid I was smacked if was particularly naughty and I learnt but I also see the abuse side of it too but that is a different debate.

Slapping your spouse or partner?

The only benefit I'd get from slapping my wife is a divorce.

I understand his second statement;

Some perpertrators may not be able to prevent themselves.

Everyone has a snapping point and it is easy to see red and lash out. Anger is a strange thing and no one can say how one will act in the heat of the moment except how we would like to think we would act. The thing is that it's a one off and not something that happens all the time and subjugate your partner to abuse and terror.

To suggest there are BENEFITS to domestic violence is absolutely crazy and total rubbish. I need not have to tell you about the horrors of Domestic abuse and the amount terror, pain anguish and even deaths that are caused by domestic violence. These comments were thoughtless and unfeeling to those who suffer the abuse.

I agree with Cllr Rowenna Davis (Lab) comments that Cllr Blango was out of line and completely wrong however I do note the slight opportunism of dropping Simon Hughes into the same pile of crap. Obviously Simon had nothing to do with it being an MP and the meeting was at a Southwark Council meeting.

Personally, and I'm not telling anyone what to do here but, I think there needs to be an investigation internally and Cllr Blango needs to be given the chance to appologise and/or give his version of events. It is arguably a Constitutional matter for Bringing the party into disrepute but that is up to an investigation to assertain and to decide on.

Southwark Council - More poor planning?

It appeared in yesterday's "Evening Standard" that the Council, as part of its regeneration is building two residential tower blocks near to the world famous Club, "The Ministry of Sound", sited in Elephant and castle which is celebrating its twentieth anniversary this year.

The Club's owners are concerned that the proximity of these new residential areas will affect their opening times and ability to conduct its ability to carry out business. Their lawyers have already contacted the Labour run council to inform them that should such development go ahead then they will be responsible for paying up lost earnings and damages caused by complaints about noise which Clive Zietman a partner at Stewarts law LLP could be as high as;

"Financial loss... and any resulting loss to its global brand... this liability would amount to many tens of millions of pounds."

Chief executive of Ministry of Sound said; "we find ourselves fighting a battle against a development that is wrong for this area, not addressing the needs of residents. This has been mishandled from the outset. Officers are letting down elected members with bad advice that threatens the future of our business."
We've had the same in Medway, officers have misled the cabinet by replacing one of the School organisation principles with something else and telling Cabinet that the new aim was one of the original principles. This led to a whole crisis over the closure of St. John's school and is still causing problems for the Conservative administration in Medway now. (For more infonrmation please see Mark Reckless' blog from November 2009  http://bit.ly/qMmMGC )
The Southwark planning committee met yesterday to consider whether the 22 storey building, which have 38 flats on Newington Causeway and again in a month to discuss the 41 storey block with 255 flats opposite the club should be go ahead. Hopefully the Cabinet and indeed the planning officers will be able to see sense on this issue.

I agree that regeneration is a good move and new housing is also good, it opens up the market for more people to get on the housing ladder or provide Council homes for people who need assistance. However I think that surely the Council should be planning sensibly, after all this isn't a club that has just moved into the area, it has been there for twenty years! Surely someone must have noticed and realised that there could be planning issues.

Fiona Colley the cabinet member for regeneration acknowledged how important the club was to the local business community and as an employer but said;

"We hope a balance can be struck which allows them to continue alongside the equally important regeneration programme for Newington Causeway."

Southwark Council want to spend 120k on A roof terrace!

(Thanks to @juptin for passing this one to me)

In the past I have been quite critical over the matter of the wasted expenditure, and it is something that I think we should keep an eye upon as Councils (and even the Government) spend our tax money in trust on services that will benefit the area/country.

I am proud to say that the LibDem faction of Southwark council caught and blocked this bid by the Southwark Labour council to spend £120k on building a roof terrace at the Council HQ at Tooley Street for VIP functions!

According to Lib Dem Councillor Anood Al-Samerai's website this facility wouldn't be open to anyone but the Labour Mayor, Labour colleagues and VIPs from buisness soirees.

This expenditure from a council that is closing Older Resident Daycares and Council employees are facing redundancy!

"I am delighted that Liberal Democrat Councillors in Bermondsey stood up for the residents of our borough and refused this outrageous Labour Plan."

Councillor Anood Al-Samerai said at the Bermondsey Community Council Planning meeting on the 8th September.

"This shows why it is so important that elected local councillors make planning decisions at local community councils rather than the centralised decision making that Labour wants.
Lib Dems continue to campaign agains t Labour waste and Hypocrisy."

Indeed we should against any governing power, including our own.
(http://anoodalsamerai.mycouncillor.org.uk/ward/2011/09/08/Labour-Southwark-plan-for---120k-roof-terrace-blocked)