Brixton news, rumour and general chat - January 2015

[Rushy]

Just a reminder: the site is not under my sole control and has not been so for a very, very long time indeed. urban75 is staunchly independent and has no affiliation with any political party nor does it take any money from the council. Everyone is free to post their opinions on Brixton matters, unedited.Exactly how might someone commenting on a planning application that has been reproduced unedited and in full here lead to such an "action"? Could you give some examples of 'actionable' comments about planning applications already being posted here?

Give the responsive to this until-now unseen planning application, I'd say that that the site has proved itself to be a real asset for informing people about contentious planning applications. I'd like to see more of it.

It is great that to see people acting on the back off the Buzz article. I don't see this as justification for an affiliation between Buzz /U75 and Lambeth. In fact, it perhaps shows that an affiliation is not necessary.

If you want Lambeth to work more closely with the site, it will need to be on terms which you both agree. Your (editor, author, founder and, in effect, managing director) anti establishment views and their establishment nature will make this very difficult. I doubt they are going to come to you, so why don't you formally arrange a meeting and see where it takes you?

 

[Tricky Skills]

It shouldn't be about 'Lambeth working more closely with the site.' The planning data should be by default made available for anyone to use and publicise in ways that they seem fit. Working closely with Lambeth Council suggests some form of relationship. We have seen how this compromises other local media, especially when money has been changed hands.

 

[editor]

Your (editor, author, founder and, in effect, managing director) anti establishment views and their establishment nature will make this very difficult?

Managing director?!!! LOL! Sorry, but I really can't take you seriously when you start making up nonsense like that.

And my views aren't "anti establishment", they're just my honest opinions formed in response to individual issues - so on some things I may agree with the council, and on other issues I won't. The beauty of being independent and not taking any money from the council gives me that freedom.

 

[editor]

Absolutely, and well done.

Is it the case that this application, and others, was available online but was not seen?

Or are they posted online very late in the planning process?

I doubt if we'll ever know the answer to that, but it does seem clear that it's not unusual for planning applications that are of real interest to go unseen. The Lambeth planning site is hardly the easiest thing to peruse. I'm going to drop them a line and see if they'd be interested in posting them here, perhaps in a dedicated closed forum (with companion threads started for the ones that people want to talk about).

I haven't found one, but there should be a map where you can see the location of all planning applications and set up alerts for those areas, based on your areas of interest. memespring did set up a data stream for planning applications, but this stopped working.

 

[ricbake]

In the Planning Portal you can certainly set up email alerts for anything included in specific searches, but it is a difficult site to search at the best of times

 

[editor]

I can't make this but if anyone is going it would be great to see a report:
Brixton public meeting: A Tale of Two Cities discusses the housing crisis, 26th Jan

 

[teuchter]

Just a reminder: the site is not under my sole control and has not been so for a very, very long time indeed. urban75 is staunchly independent and has no affiliation with any political party nor does it take any money from the council. Everyone is free to post their opinions on Brixton matters, unedited.

Are they bollocks. Everyone is free to post their opinions on what you deem to be "appropriate". You are free to post your opinions on whatever you like, and you have the power to shut down any discussion of your opinions when you don't like it, and you use it. Frequently.

 

[Rushy]

Managing director?!!! LOL! Sorry, but I really can't take you seriously when you start making up nonsense like that.

And my views aren't "anti establishment", they're just my honest opinions formed in response to individual issues - so on some things I may agree with the council, and on other issues I won't. The beauty of being independent and not taking any money from the council gives me that freedom.

Suspecting how you would feel about such a common establishment term, I said "in effect". You have previously called it things such as head honcho and numero uno (which are quite common in media start ups but a bit vague amongst the wider community). Whatever you call it, you are the one ultimately responsible for choosing the direction of and managing the site (hence "in effect" managing director). Closer ties with Lambeth would be such a choice.

 

[editor]

Are they bollocks. Everyone is free to post their opinions on what you deem to be "appropriate". You are free to post your opinions on whatever you like, and you have the power to shut down any discussion of your opinions when you don't like it, and you use it. Frequently.

That is, of course, a pack of silly lies.

But feel free to back it up by furnishing the forum with some examples of any Brixton-related posts of yours that have been edited, deleted or "shut down" please? Or any discussions by anyone else in this forum that have been closed down by me because "I don't like it". URLs please. Thanks.

Oh, and post it in the feedback forum please. I don't want this thread trashed with your beef.

 

[editor]

You have previously called it things such as head honcho and numero uno (which are quite common in media start ups but a bit vague amongst the wider community).

When did I use those words?

 

[Rushy]

It shouldn't be about 'Lambeth working more closely with the site.' The planning data should be by default made available for anyone to use and publicise in ways that they seem fit. Working closely with Lambeth Council suggests some form of relationship. We have seen how this compromises other local media, especially when money has been changed hands.

The system is not at all perfect but I have never come across an application which is not available to view online within a couple of days of validation. They are all published in SLP (I think still?) and Lambeth Weekender. Lists are published at the library. You can also set up alerts but the functionality send a little limited.

I agree you don't need close ties but some some of relationship beyond reading the public notifications along with everyone else is what seems to be being proposed. If you understandably want to maintain independence I don't see how that would be at all workable. I think I am with you on this.

 

[editor]

The system is not at all perfect but I have never come across an application which is not available to view online within a couple of days of validation. They are all published in SLP (I think still?) and Lambeth Weekender. Lists are published at the library. You can also set up alerts but the functionality send a little limited.

I agree you don't need close ties but some some of relationship beyond reading the public notifications along with everyone else is what seems to be being proposed. If you understandably want to maintain independence I don't see how that would be at all workable. I think I am with you on this.

I could think of an easy way: a new sub forum is set up here for Lambeth to post up major planning applications*. It would have to be read-only otherwise people may assume that commenting on it here will count as an objection.

If a subsequent discussion breaks out in the main Brixton forum, I could add a link to it from the application post.

End result: more people hear about the planning proposals and more discussions take place. Co-op-tastic!

*I understand that this could be open to interpretation

 

[ViolentPanda]

Doesn't give much notice then. I've done my duty now, so there is at least 1 public comment!

Not much notice at all!

 

[SpamMisery]

That is, of course, a pack of silly lies.

But feel free to back it up by furnishing the forum with some examples of any Brixton-related posts of yours that have been edited, deleted or "shut down" please? Or any discussions by anyone else in this forum that have been closed down by me because "I don't like it". URLs please. Thanks.

Oh, and post it in the feedback forum please. I don't want this thread trashed with your beef.

This topic is an example. I haven't posted up my views because I know it will result in a torrent of abuse culminating in you accusing me of being disruptive. All of which edges me ever closer to another ban. My views, for the record, aren't particularly inflammatory - I just deem it not worth the hassle of engaging

 

[editor]

This topic is an example. I haven't posted up my views because I know it will result in a torrent of abuse culminating in you accusing me of being disruptive. All of which edges me ever closer to another ban. My views, for the record, aren't particularly inflammatory - I just deem it not worth the hassle of engaging

Please take this matter to the feedback forum where it will get the full attention of the mods.

 

[snowy_again]

This site is firewalled for 'inappropriate content' if you try to access it from a school (and even some of my ex-employee's servers).

 

[editor]

This site is firewalled for 'inappropriate content' if you try to access it from a school (and even some of my ex-employee's servers).

It's a major pain. I thought that the forum was usually OK though. Either way, it's clearly reaching parts of Brixton that the current system is failing to reach, so I think posting up applications here could provide a real service (even more so if the bigger storied are flagged up on B Buzz).

 

[Rushy]

When did I use those words?

We've been here before. Along with the main man, the big cheese, in your own U75 profile. It doesn't really matter when or what you call it. The point is - you are in charge and you have similar responsibilities to a managing director. Looking at ways to develop and build the site is part of that.

I could think of an easy way: a new sub forum is set up here for Lambeth to post up major planning applications*. It would have to be read-only otherwise people may assume that commenting on it here will count as an objection.

If a subsequent discussion breaks out in the main Brixton forum, I could add a link to it from the application post.

End result: more people hear about the planning proposals and more discussions take place. Co-op-tastic!

*I understand that this could be open to interpretation

Not a bad idea - if you arrange it. The info is all out there. But I don't see the council agreeing to get involved. You see the fact that these are in different sub forums as a genuine separation. I don't. I doubt they do. It's still all U75 and U75 is, I'm afraid, seen as fairly toxic in such circles. That's not to say they don't like it or respect it. Just that they want to keep it at arms length.

But hey - maybe I'm wrong. Go and ask them. See what they say.

 

[Rushy]

This site is firewalled for 'inappropriate content' if you try to access it from a school (and even some of my ex-employee's servers).

It's even firewalled on my work PC (by me). 15mins max per day, along with facebook, guardian and twitter!

 

[editor]

We've been here before. Along with the main man, the big cheese, in your own U75 profile. It doesn't really matter when or what you call it. The point is - you are in charge and you have similar responsibilities to a managing director. Looking at ways to develop and build the site is part of that.

That was written approx 15 years ago. I won't say it again because it seems you're not listening, but the site is effectively run by a committee of mods, informed and guided by the users' needs and feedback. I can not do whatever I like, and many times my ideas have been turned down flat by the mods, so I really don't think that reality matches any job descriptions of managing directors and, of course, they get paid. And it's a silly argument anyway. Non profit sites like these don't have "managing directors."

Not a bad idea - if you arrange it. The info is all out there. But I don't see the council agreeing to get involved. You see the fact that these are in different sub forums as a genuine separation. I don't. I doubt they do. It's still all U75 and U75 is, I'm afraid, seen as fairly toxic in such circles. That's not to say they don't like it or respect it. Just that they want to keep it at arms length.

Yes, I can see that. But maybe it won't look so good in their co-op PR when the effectiveness of this particular case is highlighted. 0-104 comments overnight!

 

[ViolentPanda]

This is an online space where people can bring concerns about local issues and it has inspired 55 people over 18 hours to lodge their concerns about something that will dramatically affect our immediate surroundings.

The Council is now Cooperative which basically means they no longer have the resources to be capable of covering all the bases. They need help. If we let fears and concerns about personal and individual politics stop us doing things, the current pace of development will engulf us all

Though it's not only the pace that needs worrying about. As evidenced by the LED screen application, it's also the quality.

 

[Rushy]

That was written approx 15 years ago. I won't say it again because it seems you're not listening, but the site is effectively run by a committee of mods, informed and guided by the users' needs and feedback. I can not do whatever I like, and many times my ideas have been turned down flat by the mods, so I really don't think that reality matches any job descriptions of managing directors and, of course, they get paid. And it's a silly argument anyway. Non profit sites like these don't have "managing directors."
Yes, I can see that. But maybe it won't look so good in their co-op PR when the effectiveness of this particular case is highlighted. 0-104 comments overnight!

So go and talk to them.
You won't get away with bullying them into it. You will need to cooperate to get what you want. And they will want to deal with someone who has control, can make decisions and will /can take responsibility for making sure that whatever is agreed to will be adhered to.

 

[editor]

You won't get away with bullying them into it.

Now I've gone from managing director to potential bully. What a day it's been!

 

[Winot]

Now I've gone from managing director to potential bully. What a day it's been!

Power tends to corrupt. Absolute power corrupts absolutely.

 

[ViolentPanda]

It shouldn't be about 'Lambeth working more closely with the site.' The planning data should be by default made available for anyone to use and publicise in ways that they seem fit. Working closely with Lambeth Council suggests some form of relationship. We have seen how this compromises other local media, especially when money has been changed hands.

Provision of that data for the purposes of local consultation is a statutory obligation on the local authority, regardless of who wants and utilises the data. If a website such as Urban wants to strip-mine and publicise that data, that's no business of the local authority, and there's no obligation on the end-user/end provider of the data to enter into a "relationship" with the local authority.

 

[editor]

On a lighter note, here's some pics from Friday's Offline night at the Albert.

http://www.urban75.org/offline/brixton-dj-23-jan-2015.html

 

[ViolentPanda]

Are they bollocks. Everyone is free to post their opinions on what you deem to be "appropriate". You are free to post your opinions on whatever you like, and you have the power to shut down any discussion of your opinions when you don't like it, and you use it. Frequently.

If that were actually the case, wouldn't he have banned your whining arse long ago?

 

[Rushy]

Now I've gone from managing director to potential bully. What a day it's been!

I didn't say potential.

 

[leanderman]

All that needs to happen is for the Lambeth planning portal to be bang up to date and a little easier to use. Plus the more visible local notices, as suggested by Rushy.

 

[brixtonblade]

It never ceases to amaze me how quickly and completely these discussions get waylaid into bullshit