Over a decade ago I wrote a blogpost asking why Cambridge was systematically excluding young people from decisions that affect them That was in September 2013. It’s now January 2025. It has been a very long journey. Image – The Trials of Democracy is back Cambridge City Council is due to sign off/approve a newContinue reading “Cambridge City Council’s Youth Strategy”
Category Archives: Uncategorized
What are your institutions’ policies on growing social capital?
A public question coming to a Combined Authority near me? Probably – if only because Prof Diana Coyle of the Bennett Institute has been writing a lot about it, Andy Haldane of the RSA (formerly of the Bank of England) has been talking a lot about it, and because Rob Fry of the North ofContinue reading “What are your institutions’ policies on growing social capital?”
Is there a role for professional paid public advocates in local government?
Ideally it would be the function of local councillors but given the huge variance in calibre and levels of specialist knowledge now needed, should the new model of unitary councils bring in such new roles? Image – from Menagerie Theatre’s Trials of Democracy project – spot them outside Cambridge Guildhall this Sat 25 Jan I’mContinue reading “Is there a role for professional paid public advocates in local government?”
Sci-tech developers propose bland blocks despite being asked not to
The people and firms behind the proposed redevelopment of The Paddocks employment site in my part of Cambridge have submitted their planning application to the city council I’ve moaned about this application before – noting that when I went to the face-to-face consultation, none of the representatives of the firm providing the funding were actuallyContinue reading “Sci-tech developers propose bland blocks despite being asked not to”
Cambridgeshire County Council refreshes its plan as CPCA debates buses and trains
More meeting papers and things coming up for you to get your heads around! I’ve started throwing lots of things onto my L-I page here as an alternative to the imploding Birdsite which I only pop back to every now and then until the big institutions freeze their sites there. What a shame. I wonderContinue reading “Cambridgeshire County Council refreshes its plan as CPCA debates buses and trains”
On declining social capital through the lens of a growing Cambridge
The RSA (or more precisely, The Royal Society for the Encouragement of Arts, Manufactures and Commerce) launched its new season of things with the statement: “How do relationships affect our health, wealth and happiness? Discover the power of connection through our exciting event series” In his annual lecture (which you can watch here), Andy Haldane,Continue reading “On declining social capital through the lens of a growing Cambridge”
*Everyone is busy making plans for Greater Cambridge – but they appear not to be talking to each other*
Cllr Sebastian Kindersley (Lib-Dems, Gamlingay), the Chair of Cambridgeshire County Council submitted a written statement to the County Council’s Highways and Transport Committee, with a host of criticisms of how East-West Rail between Bedford and Cambridge is proceeding. For those of you not familiar with the consultation that ends on 24 Jan 2025, see thisContinue reading “*Everyone is busy making plans for Greater Cambridge – but they appear not to be talking to each other*”
As Centre for Cities praises Cambridge Station’s redevelopment, we should remember the full story
Some of you may have seen the glowing headlines about Cambridge Station’s redevelopment in the headlines today. But behind the headlines is a controversial story that still stirs up strong emotions in some residential communities – and those stories are part of our city’s history just as much as they provide lessons learnt for theContinue reading “As Centre for Cities praises Cambridge Station’s redevelopment, we should remember the full story”
The implosion of social
From the personal to the public policy perspective, on how conversational and interactive social media covering both local news and interesting topics seems to have been replaced by zombified AI-driven doom-scrolling Musician Ellie Dixon whose music career I’ve been following for over a decade since one of her first performances at The Junction in CambridgeContinue reading “The implosion of social”
Did you remember to have your say on East West Rail in Cambridge?
If you missed it, There’s another chance on Tuesday afternoon (21st Jan 2025) from 2-7pm I went along to the busy consultation event in Cambridge at the Clayton Hotel, both to get clarity on a few things, but also to alleviate the boredom that comes with spewing out lots of blogposts but getting little feedbackContinue reading “Did you remember to have your say on East West Rail in Cambridge?”
The Cambridge Town Owl 