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Posted at 12:16pm Saturday 21st November 2009
The Cat's Out of The Bag
Whilst all the attention was on the marathon Brent Cross planning meeting this week, it was events at the Business Management Overview and Scrutiny Committee that could have a much more profound impact.
Posted at 1:06pm Saturday 14th November 2009
"Patsies?"
Two planning meetings attended this week. On Tuesday the Finchley and Golders Green Planning Sub Committee met for its regular monthly get together. On Thursday the main Planning Committee sat in Judgement.
Posted at 6:35pm Thursday 5th November 2009
Its The Company you Keep
Less than six months to the local elections in May next year. So I wondered what the atmosphere would be like at Tuesday’s full Council meeting. It was all rather odd .It was as if War had not been quite declared but all sides were waiting for the other to fire the first shot.
Posted at 12:27pm Saturday 31st October 2009
connecting with the citizen
The hastily rearranged Finchley and Golders Green Residents’ Forum turned out to be, by all accounts, a rowdy affair. I had another engagement so could not attend. I have seen a number of emails flying back and forth which give the impression that residents were very unhappy with Barnet Council.
Posted at 11:52pm Sunday 18th October 2009
Testosterone Fuelled
An issue that will not go away was raised again when I held a regular ward surgery at the Railway Terraces. Some months ago Barnet Council painted double yellow lines. No one told the residents who awoke one morning to find Council Contractors hard at work.
Posted at 6:03pm Thursday 15th October 2009
Anything You Can Do I Can Do Better
I went a walk about (not in The Australian Bush) but along Cricklewood Broadway, last week end. It was organised by a resident group called North West Two. This group operate from the Brent Side of the Edgware Road. They are well organised and their campaigns to make Cricklewood a better place to live is paying off.
Posted at 5:37pm Saturday 26th September 2009
Brent Cross Delayed
Wednesday’s planning committee turned out to be an anti climax. The main item and probably most controversial planning application in recent years was suddenly off the agenda. The Brent Cross regeneration plans had certainly attracted lots of opposition. I had ploughed through three hundred pages of text only to learn very late in the day that the Planners wanted more time to consider late representations.
Posted at 12:29pm Thursday 17th September 2009
The Marshall Doctrine
In my last blog I bemoaned the lack of interest shown in the Town Hall by local residents. Well I am well and truly eating my words.
Posted at 5:57pm Saturday 12th September 2009
Mickey Mouse Council?
Tuesday’s full Council meeting had very few people in the public gallery. At least this Mayor does not kick off proceedings by warning the “public “they will be thrown out if they make a noise. Perhaps the attitude of the previous incumbent has turned the public off.
Posted at 10:06am Monday 7th September 2009
Withering onthe Vine?
The agenda for one of next week’s Council Committee meetings has a bit on “priority improvement objectives” Whatever that means. But, one of the “objectives” is “converse with local people to increase their participation in democratic management.”
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