This afternoon I joined fellow staff in a philanthropy event, teaching and playing softball with kids from a local estate.
The kids, aged 5-15, were all immaculately behaved (save for a few curses of frustration at the third strike), and happily joined in mixed age and sex teams, to ensure an even (if somewhat unconventional) game rather than being precious about being with their friends.
Priceless moment was when one of the younger girls caught out the youth worker and had to check her glove in disbelief to see if the ball was in it. It was also great to see young girls getting round base by base whilst the boys who preferred the slug it and get caught out approach took being beaten by girls in good spirit.
Overall a great event, local residents commented how good it was to see young people positively engaged and I personally was impressed by the great attitude the older boys displayed, the antithesis of what I believe people have come to expect these days.
We left the softball kit with the youth workers and I'm looking forward to going back to give them a re-match in a few months after they've practised.
Wednesday, 29 August 2007
Thursday, 23 August 2007
Developers 1, Community 0
Whilst the nation was glued to the England v Germany football game tonight I was speaking for residents at a Tower Hamlets planning committee.
It was a unique application on the Island, for a new block of flats (on a heritage site in a low level conservation area) that straddles the Millwall/Blackwall boundary.
Residents from both wards spoke at the meeting raising issues such as the height, design and insufficient parking whilst I concentrated on the heritage and conservation issues which seem to count for nothing in Tower Hamlets.
Excessive height was justified by quoting the height of a block in a surrounding non-conservation area, while the out of place design was dismissed as innovative.
English Heritage had raised serious & valid concerns but disappointingly had left it to THBC to consider them in their decision.
We have a council leader who, at the last council meeting, claimed to be the borough's English Heritage Historic Environment Champion when I offered to fill the vacant role. This claim was subsequently denied by English Heritage who were still trying to fill the role, and alas, there was no evidence whatsover tonight that she had any interest in the site, had considered the heritage issues, presented any proposals to best retain the heritage or had even read the application.
Tower Hamlets needs a committed Historic Environment Champion appointed before there's nothing left to defend.
As for the wellbeing of existing residents, the need for a daylight study was dismissed based on the opinion of a clearly psychic consultant - the opinion pre-dating the planning application by several months! This despite the fact the new building will be a mere 5m away from the nearest existing neighbour, a clear 30% less than the 7m guideline quoted in another application only a few months ago, (which unsurprisingly was also broken).
I was struck yet again when researching the application by the way planning rules seem to be picked to suit. One minute the existing UDP is quoted, next when it suits it's the newer (and still draft) LDF that matters. Either will do, or not, as the case may be, just as long as it justifies the application. Of course, when an objector quotes from either plan the applicant's defence is always the other one!
The saddest revelation came when I asked how many of the 9 members had attended the pre-committee site visit to consider the application in context and only one hand was raised.
And the scoreline? The usual - developer 1, existing community nil as Labour voted it through against abstentions from the Conservatives and Lib Dems, (Respect failed to show up).
It was a unique application on the Island, for a new block of flats (on a heritage site in a low level conservation area) that straddles the Millwall/Blackwall boundary.
Residents from both wards spoke at the meeting raising issues such as the height, design and insufficient parking whilst I concentrated on the heritage and conservation issues which seem to count for nothing in Tower Hamlets.
Excessive height was justified by quoting the height of a block in a surrounding non-conservation area, while the out of place design was dismissed as innovative.
English Heritage had raised serious & valid concerns but disappointingly had left it to THBC to consider them in their decision.
We have a council leader who, at the last council meeting, claimed to be the borough's English Heritage Historic Environment Champion when I offered to fill the vacant role. This claim was subsequently denied by English Heritage who were still trying to fill the role, and alas, there was no evidence whatsover tonight that she had any interest in the site, had considered the heritage issues, presented any proposals to best retain the heritage or had even read the application.
Tower Hamlets needs a committed Historic Environment Champion appointed before there's nothing left to defend.
As for the wellbeing of existing residents, the need for a daylight study was dismissed based on the opinion of a clearly psychic consultant - the opinion pre-dating the planning application by several months! This despite the fact the new building will be a mere 5m away from the nearest existing neighbour, a clear 30% less than the 7m guideline quoted in another application only a few months ago, (which unsurprisingly was also broken).
I was struck yet again when researching the application by the way planning rules seem to be picked to suit. One minute the existing UDP is quoted, next when it suits it's the newer (and still draft) LDF that matters. Either will do, or not, as the case may be, just as long as it justifies the application. Of course, when an objector quotes from either plan the applicant's defence is always the other one!
The saddest revelation came when I asked how many of the 9 members had attended the pre-committee site visit to consider the application in context and only one hand was raised.
And the scoreline? The usual - developer 1, existing community nil as Labour voted it through against abstentions from the Conservatives and Lib Dems, (Respect failed to show up).
Monday, 20 August 2007
Tales of the Unexpected
A few unexpected events whilst out campaigning today....
This afternoon I went to the annual Dulwich College ward lunch. Something seemed odd when the internet map indicated the area with an arrow but the street itself wasn't marked on the map. We drove round in circles for a while until we found a secure gated street. Having talked our way in we met our host and fellow members and soon all became clear - we were having lunch in the house next door but one to the Lady's original post no. 10 residence!
Our host told us of her excitement at being invited for champagne cocktails with the Lady and Sir Denis and how their garage had been full of security equipment and we were excited just to hear the tale and see the house.
The second unexpected event was being asked to give a speech. Since being selected I've always attended events with a short topical speech in my pocket just in case and so far not had to use them. Today I was caught offguard and resorted to a napkin to jot down a few ideas. After a nervous start I got into the swing of it and was glad of the experience in dealing with the unexpected.
The day ended with a spot of late afternoon campaigning in rainy Streatham. All went to plan until we retired to discuss the results and generally put the world to rights. The wine went down a treat and the team unexpectedly rolled out of our poor host's house at 10pm!
This afternoon I went to the annual Dulwich College ward lunch. Something seemed odd when the internet map indicated the area with an arrow but the street itself wasn't marked on the map. We drove round in circles for a while until we found a secure gated street. Having talked our way in we met our host and fellow members and soon all became clear - we were having lunch in the house next door but one to the Lady's original post no. 10 residence!
Our host told us of her excitement at being invited for champagne cocktails with the Lady and Sir Denis and how their garage had been full of security equipment and we were excited just to hear the tale and see the house.
The second unexpected event was being asked to give a speech. Since being selected I've always attended events with a short topical speech in my pocket just in case and so far not had to use them. Today I was caught offguard and resorted to a napkin to jot down a few ideas. After a nervous start I got into the swing of it and was glad of the experience in dealing with the unexpected.
The day ended with a spot of late afternoon campaigning in rainy Streatham. All went to plan until we retired to discuss the results and generally put the world to rights. The wine went down a treat and the team unexpectedly rolled out of our poor host's house at 10pm!
Thursday, 16 August 2007
A Taxing Question for Gordon
Non-domiciled steel billionaire Swaraj Paul has pledged to finance the election campaign of Gordon Brown if the prime minister calls a snap election.
Lord Paul told Channel 4 in an interview that 'if there is an election, whatever I can pay I will pay. I am a believer in Gordon Brown'.
Whilst his offer of the readies must be a relief to the cash strapped Brown, will he accept it?
Since the Treasury launched its off-shore disclosure crackdown the no. claiming non domiciled status has increased by 74%.
Alistair Darling is currently undertaking a review of the non domiciled rules under which non doms don't pay UK tax on foreign income. Whilst it makes a change to see Brown's regime target a group other than the sitting ducks - the UK middle income population he despises, the whole issue is highly controversial, splitting opinion of employers, the public and tax professionals alike.
Figures for 2004/5 reveal non-domiciled residents paid £3bn in tax on their £10bn UK income. This effective 30% tax rate despite paying no tax on foreign income indicates the value that non-doms create for the economy.
Combined with the City's fear that a change in regime would lead to a brain drain these figures must be a headache for a Government keen to be seen by the general voting public to be taxing the non doms rather than them, yet needing to retain UK global competitiveness.
Lord Paul told Channel 4 in an interview that 'if there is an election, whatever I can pay I will pay. I am a believer in Gordon Brown'.
Whilst his offer of the readies must be a relief to the cash strapped Brown, will he accept it?
Since the Treasury launched its off-shore disclosure crackdown the no. claiming non domiciled status has increased by 74%.
Alistair Darling is currently undertaking a review of the non domiciled rules under which non doms don't pay UK tax on foreign income. Whilst it makes a change to see Brown's regime target a group other than the sitting ducks - the UK middle income population he despises, the whole issue is highly controversial, splitting opinion of employers, the public and tax professionals alike.
Figures for 2004/5 reveal non-domiciled residents paid £3bn in tax on their £10bn UK income. This effective 30% tax rate despite paying no tax on foreign income indicates the value that non-doms create for the economy.
Combined with the City's fear that a change in regime would lead to a brain drain these figures must be a headache for a Government keen to be seen by the general voting public to be taxing the non doms rather than them, yet needing to retain UK global competitiveness.
Wednesday, 15 August 2007
Christmas comes, and lasts all year!!
We've hardly had a summer, it's still the school holidays but it's snowing in the Selfridges basement!
After a late afternoon appointment in the West End I popped into Selfridges to avoid a downpour whilst waiting for a friend and took the rare opportunity for a quick mooch around. Keen to see the new season's stock but not buy anything I headed away from the shoe department, to the basement, and straight into the Christmas Shop! Yes, I kid you not, the whole Christmas shebang. The only thing lacking was the piped carols.
We all know the retailers calendar - each "event" merges into the next, Christmas, Valentines Day, Mother & Fathers Day etc and we all know that Easter officially starts when the cream eggs arrive, (usually in January)! but this gradual retailers creep is taking way each "event's" magic and turning them into shopping "seasons" in their own right.
Looks like Selfridges is the perfect venue for the legendary Wizzard - soon it really will be Christmas every day!
After a late afternoon appointment in the West End I popped into Selfridges to avoid a downpour whilst waiting for a friend and took the rare opportunity for a quick mooch around. Keen to see the new season's stock but not buy anything I headed away from the shoe department, to the basement, and straight into the Christmas Shop! Yes, I kid you not, the whole Christmas shebang. The only thing lacking was the piped carols.
We all know the retailers calendar - each "event" merges into the next, Christmas, Valentines Day, Mother & Fathers Day etc and we all know that Easter officially starts when the cream eggs arrive, (usually in January)! but this gradual retailers creep is taking way each "event's" magic and turning them into shopping "seasons" in their own right.
Looks like Selfridges is the perfect venue for the legendary Wizzard - soon it really will be Christmas every day!
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