Category Archives: local politics

Goodbye to PETRA

Posted on September 18, 2015 by

After seventeen years of developing and nurturing PETRA – our Tenant Management Organisation I set up all those years ago with Jan (my wife) and four others who jumped ship about seven years ago, I feel it is now time … Continue reading →

Posted in Autobiography, housing, local politics, tenants rights | Tagged , , , , , | 3 Comments

Does David Cameron Understand British Democracy?

Posted on February 28, 2015 by

The British electoral system is an incoherent mess. There are, currently, six distinctive ‘systems’ operational in local and national elections*. Additionally the Scottish Referendum reduced the minimum voting age to 16. British democracy has many quirks, not least of which … Continue reading →

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£50 Adventure: part 2

Posted on December 5, 2014 by

The following year, despite receiving £25,171 in grants from the Government as well as £9,698 from the council, our section 16 agent fleeced us of £20,433 in administration fees. Our newly formed committee of 15 residents thought this was daylight robbery. The … Continue reading →

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The £50.00 Adventure.

Posted on November 22, 2014 by

Eleven years ago, Jan (my wife) and I, along with two other couples started a TMO (Tenant Management Organisation) we call PETRA (Parkhill Tenants and Resident Association). I wrote to the Council and explained that we intended to form a … Continue reading →

Posted in Autobiography, housing, local politics | Tagged , , , , , | 1 Comment

Town Hall Mouse

Posted on August 19, 2014 by

“Well I declare”, said the Mayor with a stare – “There’s a mouse, just a sitting right there on my chair”. The Deputy Mayor looked over and said, “My goodness you’re right and its made it his bed”. The Mace … Continue reading →

Posted in housing, Humour, local politics, Politics | Tagged , , , | 1 Comment

Buckingham Palace, Romford*

Posted on August 1, 2014 by

Obviously Buckingham Palace isn’t in Romford but let us suppose that, magically, it is transposed into suburban London. Apart from placing Romford on the internationl tourist route and bringing unheralded wealth to Romford market, what else would happen? Would there … Continue reading →

Posted in Economics, local politics, Politics | Tagged , , , , , | 4 Comments

Committed Comrades

Posted on June 14, 2014 by

Through the early to mid 1980s Margaret Thatcher waged a vindictive and unrelenting war against the Labour movement in general and specifically the Metropolitan County Councils. Her nemesis was Ken Livingstone the ultimate “left” Leader of the G.L.C. at County Hall … Continue reading →

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