http://www.times-series.co.uk/blogs/joinedupthinking/ Times Series /blogs/joinedupthinking/ en-gb Mon, 06 Jul 2009 09:38:27 +0100 Mon, 06 Jul 2009 09:38:27 +0100 http://www.times-series.co.uk/blogs/joinedupthinking/rssterms/ M6 nvincent@newsquest.co.uk (Nigel Vincent) webmaster@digitalmedia.newsquest.co.uk (Tim Joy) http://www.times-series.co.uk/resources/images/534527/?type=rsslogo http://www.times-series.co.uk/blogs/joinedupthinking/ http://www.times-series.co.uk/blogs/joinedupthinking/4449774.Warning_this_may_upset_you/?ref=rss Anyone wanting to know what is wrong with Politics needs only to have been at Barnet House on Thursday. I attended as a member of the spanking new committee named Business Management Overview and Scrutiny Sub Committee. Nothing else was new. The membership of the committee had changed slightly. Sat, 20 Jun 2009 12:21:00 +0100 594eeaa1f0a8e7b776ef6e8b331e8ab3 http://www.times-series.co.uk/blogs/joinedupthinking/4440627.A_Tale_of_Two_Cities_/?ref=rss On Sunday morning together with my Lib Dem Ward Councillors we carried out our regular visits to meet our residents. This time we were on the Westcroft Estate in Cricklewood. The Westcroft Estate is owned by Camden Council but as it is in Barnet the residents pay their Council tax to Barnet and therefore also elect Councillors to Barnet. Tue, 16 Jun 2009 12:14:05 +0100 a24819679aaa9735c26c08c606896021 http://www.times-series.co.uk/blogs/joinedupthinking/4435265.Breathe_Easy/?ref=rss As usual on election days I did a spot of telling at the local polling station in Childs Hill. Telling is the job of collecting polling numbers from the voters .The number of people voting slowed to trickle during my stint. Unusually many of the voters stopped for a chat. Perhaps because this time the other two main parties did not have tellers on duty. Fri, 12 Jun 2009 11:55:57 +0100 97685b282da466608054be92252eb619 http://www.times-series.co.uk/blogs/joinedupthinking/4414508.The_Phantom_Door/?ref=rss The numbers of planning applications being determined by the Finchley and Golders Green Planning sub committee are fewer and fewer. Whether this is down to the recession or whether it is because of the tighter rules on what can now come to committee is unclear. Tue, 02 Jun 2009 15:04:25 +0100 19cd1184d5f818bbbe0d9c6f7344a2f0 http://www.times-series.co.uk/blogs/joinedupthinking/4391902.Respected_Comedian/?ref=rss The Annual Council Meeting on Tuesday was more surreal than ever. We were back at the Town Hall Hendon following refurbishment; except that the works still had not been completed. Someone told me that the Town Hall resembled a building site on the previous Friday. Staff had worked all hours to make the Town Hall presentable for the Mayor making. Well done to the staff, but I for one would have been just as happy to have continued at Barnet House. Goodness knows what the cost to the Taxpayer is for all the overtime. Sat, 23 May 2009 11:48:49 +0100 e32a2357bcea0d07c5b2b7811d7b9a2d http://www.times-series.co.uk/blogs/joinedupthinking/4361446.We_d_rather_live_in_Brent_/?ref=rss A lull in Council meetings provides an opportunity to catch up with the more important aspects of a Councillor’s work. But, just to mention the Planning Meeting last week. The Planning and Environment Committee is the main planning committee and usually deal with large applications which cross Ward Boundaries or development where the Council itself has an interest. This Committee seems to go along with Officer Recommendations much more than some of the planning sub committees. Tue, 12 May 2009 10:56:17 +0100 b602f9b285f268f3115abed40d3f23d4 http://www.times-series.co.uk/blogs/joinedupthinking/4346513.At_The_Races/?ref=rss On Bank Holiday Sunday, I spent a pleasant afternoon at Salisbury Racecourse. Live Horseracing is a fascinating experience. Apart from the obvious it is a great opportunity for people watching. Horseracing crowds are a varied cornucopia of rural England. Certainly a world way from the ethnic mix of North Finchley; I did notice though that the stable staff are much more diverse. Wed, 06 May 2009 13:12:45 +0100 54803e1ec22f91a0b785dc360d64abba http://www.times-series.co.uk/blogs/joinedupthinking/4320234.New_Arrangements_Same_Old_Story/?ref=rss Back to work after the Easter break. The Special Committee (Constitutional Review) met on Tuesday to discuss a paper titled “Overview and Scrutiny; New Arrangements “ You may ask why the Constitution Review Committee is called “Special”. I’ll tell you. I don’t know! On second thoughts may be it is because the Committee is made up of the Leaders of the three main parties with The Deputy Leader of the Conservative group thrown in for good measure plus a few more of the good and the great. And, like all Barnet Council Committees the Conservative’s have a majority so the result of any vote is normally a foregone conclusion. Sat, 25 Apr 2009 13:25:13 +0100 e05ebbf77cd1df4f4030ff83d85f8424 http://www.times-series.co.uk/blogs/joinedupthinking/4284462.The_Mayor_gets_The_Needle/?ref=rss Tuesdays Full Council meeting (the last incidentally at its temporary home in Barnet House) produced the usual menu of confusion, the bizarre and general rancour. Sat, 11 Apr 2009 12:48:25 +0100 d264c88410655cf2165cb4980a2ebf41 http://www.times-series.co.uk/blogs/joinedupthinking/4268281.Wisdom_of_Solomon/?ref=rss It was an eventful Finchley and Golders Green Planning Sub Committee last Wednesday evening. The public gallery was standing room only; the main interest being a planning application for an orthodox Jewish School in Golders Green Road. Sun, 05 Apr 2009 16:07:42 +0100 25f87c7bde8311fccf40c53791979fa9