Author Archives: Nick

Worth Reading 109: Mouths of the wicked and deceitful

24 Hours In Any City In The World – “The perfect, meticulously-searched guide to Any City In The World for people who, for some bizarre reason, have only allocated 24 hours to explore it.” 4 Things We Should Remember When Arguing About Politics – Useful perspective from Cracked. As Millenials Shun Cars, Boston Rethinks Its [...]

Interview with the Gazette

Earlier this week, I was interviewed by the Colchester Gazette in my new role as group leader. Unfortunately, they didn’t put the article online, but as I own a copy of the paper, a pair of scissors and a scanner, here it is: You can click on the image to see it in a readable [...]

Castle Ward planning applications, up to 17th May

130725: Advertisement consent for signage, St Runwald Street. 130921: Proposed rear extension, St Augustine Mews. 130980: Proposed single storey extension, Wells Road. You can make a statement in favour or against any of these applications on the Council website, or if you want to discuss it further with one of your councillors then please contact [...]

Worth Reading 108: All the names

The memory of my daughter Amy Houston has been dishonoured – The Human Rights Act isn’t why her killer wasn’t deported, it’s the fault of the Home Office not using the powers they have. Don’t make fun of renowned Dan Brown – Humorous columnist Michael Deacon has used the digits on the end of his [...]

Castle Ward planning applications, up to 10th May

130535: Proposed new extension, St Helena School, Sheepen Road. 130888: Change of use, A3 to A2 and B1 for taxi/minicab administration centre, St John’s Avenue. You can make a statement in favour or against any of these applications on the Council website, or if you want to discuss it further with one of your councillors [...]

Worth Reading 107: Qualifying benchmarks

Do we want fewer councillors, or should we make better use of those we have? – Andrew Coulson of the Institute for Local Government Studies asks a few questions about just what local government in the UK is for. Argonauts of the incredibly specific: anthropological field notes on the Liberal Democrat animal – Some interestingly [...]

Leadership

As the Gazette is reporting it, it must be official – I’m the new leader of the Liberal Democrat group on Colchester Borough Council. First, the thanks – thanks to the group for backing me and selecting me as their leader, and thanks to my predecessor as group leader, Councillor Paul Smith, for the work [...]

Castle Ward planning applications, up to 3rd May

130652: Listed building application for signage, East Hill. 130772: Change of use from retail (A1) to restaurant (A3), Short Wyre Street. 130799: Listed building application for advertisement consent, Queent Street. Please note that I am a member of the Council’s Planning Committee for this municipal year. This means that I’m required to act in a [...]

Essex County Council election results for Colchester

These are the results for Colchester in the Essex County Council elections. Full results can be found on the Essex County Council website. Abbey: Lib Dem (Margaret Fisher) 1273, UKIP 786, Labour 519, Green 467, Conservative 395. LD hold Constable: Conservative (Anne Brown) 2075, UKIP 1471, Labour 504, Green 387, Lib Dem (Carolyn Catney) 303. [...]

Worth Reading 106: Housing agreements

There is no alternative – Henry Farrell on the post-democratic age. Review: Doctor Who: Journey to the Centre of the TARDIS – A fascinating philosophical viewpoint on the dynamics of the latest episode from Ro Smith. An Unearthly Child – And a scientific viewpoint on the first one from Iain Coleman on his new blog. [...]