All Blog Posts (35)

When Cabe, now part of the Design Council, first published their latest Design Review for Brentford Waterside, Hounslow on 14 February 2013 local residents were hopeful that this once respected body would urge Ballymore and their architects to radically reconsider the density and architectural aesthetic of their scheme.  Instead residents,…

As many of you will know, the regeneration of Brentford High Street, has been a cause close to my heart for many years.  As a local councillor I convened the start-up of Brentford High Street Steering Group (BHSSG) in 2006 with cross-party support and I remain chair. In 2007 I spent a year facilitating the community participation that led to the …

As I reflected in a blog post last Thursday the idea that left me least convinced in the Prime Minister's speech to the BITC summit was the assertion that: "Put a young person into college for a month’s learning, unpaid – and it’s hailed as a good thing.  Put a young…

In September 2010 I reflected on the merits of the Government launching an Open Business Responsibility Deal.  Today at the BITC Summit in London - with our new Minister for Corporate Responsibility Norman Lamb looking on - I was delighted to see the idea developed into two distinct…

For the first time since the General Election, and stepping back from the front line of community politics in West London where I was an active Liberal Democrat for a decade (a parliamentary candidate in 2005 and 2010), I feel compelled to speak out.

The Liberal Democrats have often allowed ourselves to be presented as mindlessly pro-European - we are not. We are pro-reform and the creation of a far more efficient, less bureaucratic EU. However neither are the Liberal Democrats…

As The Cooperation Incubator's work in partnership with Business in the Community continues to gather momentum you can read my article in today's Guardian Sustainable Business blog on the challenges competition law presents public benefit collaboration by businesses:…

Last Thursday evening (25 November) 330 residents, business people and investors gathered at the Holiday Inn Brentford, West London, for our annual Christmas Lights fundraising dinner. This was the fourth such gathering – the Big Society has long established foundations in Brentford, a town whose roots can be traced back to 781AD. Yet whilst we enjoyed a wonderful evening, rather than unbounded optimism at a new Government that recognises the vital importance and role of civic society, talk…

People are our biggest asset - a very common statement. The need to cost our people assets in more concrete ways is acknowledged by many industry experts, especially as the knowledge economy continues to grow coming out of the recession. People are now recognised as the key to competitive advantage and as a result they need to be logged as both business…

Last Tuesday evening I attended the Chiswick local area committee for the first time as an observer. As a Group Leader it is useful to maintain and develop an understanding of how local democracy is working across the borough.…