“Inside the Council”: How National Party Politics Hampers Local Progress
In my ideal world elected councillors across the borough would be able to discuss, debate and decide a way forward without having to take notice of what ‘party’ their fellow councillor belonged to. Why does it matter? Surely each councillor has been elected by their residents to represent to the best of their ability? To then ignore, or dismiss, those councillors who are not of the ruling party because of some sort of misguided, tribal priority seems undemocratic. Back in the
Borough Local Plan: Time for a Rethink?
Last week, the Royal Borough published the latest updates on the Borough Local Plan (BLP) and it wasn’t pleasant reading. The Inspector found significant problems with the quality of work done in two major areas: Flood Risk Assessment and Housing Land Availability. She also noted other questions were likely around housing numbers, housing supply, employment provision and water supply. The Inspector recommended a pause in the process, given the need for further public consu
'Tis the Season to Come Together: The Joy of Community at Christmas
I confess that I’ve never been a huge fan of Christmas. Now, of course there’s plenty to enjoy about this time of year: cosy nights in front of the fire; long walks through the countryside to a nice little pub; and time with family and friends. But there’s always that sense of the over-commercialisation of things, that uneasy feeling we’ve allowed ourselves to lose sight of what really matters. Is it really all just about spending and making money? Actually, and thankfully, t
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