Liberal Democrats accidentally sell off crucial property
A council property earmarked for conversion into a much needed respite care centre has been accidentally sold off at auction. As reported in South London Press editorial “Parents of children with severe special needs believed the large empty building with a lovely, leafy garden was to be turned into a centre where the kids could go for short stays. So when they learnt that the council had put the building on the list of properties to be sold off at auction they were very angry… on the morning of the auction the lovely Edwardian building was taken off the for sale list.” Or so we thought… At the 11th hour Councillor Roger Giess, Executive Member for Social Services and Health, had agreed to remove it from the list, but failed to ensure that a relevant officer was informed. To the astonishment of local children and parents campaigners the property on Garrards Road, Streatham was then duly sold off at auction. Labour Councillors promptly tabled a resolution at a council meeting expressing local community anger at this “incredible example of administrative incompetence.” Councillor Giess is paid £15,000 a year to carry out his Executive responsibilities. Councillor Steve Reed, leader of Lambeth Labour Group, commented: “This is the kind of amateurish mistake we are coming to expect from the Liberal Democrats in Lambeth. People in Streatham are rightly outraged.” “Councillor Giess must now act urgently
to put right his mistake. He must propose a list of alternative properties
for a respite care centre in the locality of Garrads Road so that this
desperately needed service can be provided without delay .”
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