Podcast appearances and mentions of brent council

In our latest episode of Radical Reformers, I am joined by Kim Wright, Chief Executive of Brent Council. In London, 1 in 23 children are homeless… think about that for a moment…that's one in every classroom. Tackling an issue like this requires a new, more radical way of getting public services to work together. The New Public Management approach of constantly assessing and passing vulnerable people and families from one siloed service to another will not cut it. Kim and I discuss the “Radical Place Leadership” work Mutual Ventures have been doing with Brent, which emphasises the importance of putting the person and family first and creating the permission and space for public servants to really understand the core challenges people are facing. This is riskier that sticking to traditional service silos. It requires public servants to have the ability to “fall forward”, which means accepting that not everything will work but also embracing the importance of properly learning the lessons. To enable this new way of working, Kim is driving a major culture shift in her own organisation and also across partner organisations and in communities. Kim discusses how she is approaching this. Kim is an inspiring leader who knows what needs to happen and has the drive to do it…. oh and she loves Abba!

India accounts for an insignificant share of patents worldwide, an analysis by Nasscom, the country's top tech lobby, shows. In a report titled Unpacking Indians IP landscape, Nasscom yesterday pointed out that China accounted for 46.6 percent of all patents filed in 2021, as applications returned to pre-Covid levels. The US, Japan and South Korea are other major patent filers. India had a dismal 1.8 percent. Also in this brief, UK's competition authorities have blocked Microsoft's $68.9 billion deal to buy Activision Blizzard; and Infosys and Walmart team up on a software solution for retailers. Notes: Britain's top competition regulator on Wednesday moved to block Microsoft's acquisition of video game publisher Activision Blizzard, in a big blow to the US tech giant, CNBC reports. Microsoft said it plans to appeal the decision. The UK Competition and Markets Authority said it opposed the deal as it raises competition concerns in the nascent cloud gaming market. The CMA previously held concerns about competition in games consoles being undermined but ruled out this concern in a preliminary decision in March, according to CNBC. Microsoft could make Activision's games exclusive to its cloud gaming platform, Xbox Game Pass, cutting off distribution to other key industry players, the CMA said in a press release yesterday. Infosys, yesterday, said it was teaming up with Walmart Commerce Technologies to sell and implement a software package solution called Store Assist to make pickups, deliveries and shipping from stores more efficient. Infosys has a Consumer and Retail focused practice that has helped more than 190 retailers worldwide to modernise their operations to be able to take real advantage of data and analytics, according to the press release. Separately, Infosys also said that it is extending its collaboration with Brent Council in the UK to make its digital learning platform, Springboard, available to local small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). Pilani Innovation and Entrepreneurship Development Society, the technology business incubator at Birla Institute of Technology and Science, has teamed up with Microsoft to set up an incubation cell at the institute. PIED and Microsoft have signed an MoU to foster startups and support entrepreneurs, BITS said in a press release. Nasscom, India's biggest technology lobby, yesterday released findings of a study that looked at patents filed in India and points out that India is doing poorly and has much work to do. In FY22, patent filings increased 13.6 percent over the previous fiscal year, Nasscom said in a press release. The share of domestic filings increased to 44.4 percent of all patents filed, compared with 41.6 percent in FY21. Only 20 patents are filed in India per million population, compared with 1,770 in Japan, as of 2021. And the average time an application remains pending is three times longer in India as against Japan. There are 300 applications filed in India for every $100 billion of GDP, versus 5,738 in China. Based on data from WIPO, Nasscom's analysis shows that more than two-thirds of all patents filed worldwide, at 67.6 percent, were in Asia. This compared with 54.6 percent in 2011. China, by far, leads the patent filings in Asia, accounting for 46.6 percent of all patents filed worldwide. The US is next, at 17.4 percent. Japan accounted for 8.5 percent and South Korea for 7 percent. India's share was an insignificant 1.8 percent.

Calvin Robinson is a political commentator and broadcaster who is also a deacon in the Free Church of England (FCE). Previously, Robinson had worked as a secondary school teacher and became a video games journalist. From 2020 to 2022, he was studying for ordained ministry in the Church of England, but was refused ordination, prompting him to join the FCE. He is a regular contributor to The Daily Telegraph, the Daily Mail, Spiked and First Things. As a commentator, Robinson has contributed to talkRADIO and GB News.Robinson was employed in the technology industry before training as a teacher. He taught computer science at the St Mary's and St John's Church of England School in Hendon where he became head of the IT department. In 2017, Robinson was featured in a recruitment advert encouraging people to become teachers. He was a video games journalist and is also owner of the video games site God is a Geek.In May 2016 and 2018, Robinson sought election to Brent Council and Camden Council respectively, where he stood in the wards of Kilburn and Swiss Cottage for the Conservative Party. He was the Brexit Party candidate in Broxtowe in the 2019 election, but dropped out to support the Conservative candidate.Robinson has also held various positions in local news and right-wing political organisations and campaigns, including Defund the BBC, Unite2Leave (a pro-Brexit tactical voting campaign) and Conservative Way Forward. He has contributed to Black Lives Matter UK: An Anthology, a Henry Jackson Society report opposing Black Lives Matter and "hard-left identity politics". Robinson has claimed that his commentary has made him the target of racial abuse.Having studied from 2020 to 2022 for ordination in the Church of England at St Stephen's House, Oxford, he was refused ordination by Jonathan Baker, the Bishop of Fulham, and chose to leave the church for the Global Fellowship of Confessing Anglicans (GAFCON). He was ordained as a deacon on 25 June 2022 in the Free Church of England by Bishop Paul Hunt. The decision to deny ordination to Robinson was controversial and attracted strong criticism by conservative media and by Anglican theologian Angela Tilby.Robinson has also worked for talkRADIO and as a presenter on GB News, with, from late 2022, a regular slot on Sunday afternoons entitled "Calvin's Common Sense Crusade". Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

"We appreciate that these funds bring challenges to local councils and we want to ensure there are fewer competitions in the future and more consolidated opportunities to access government funding." So said former Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government Robert Jenrick to the Local Government Conference in July 2021. As 'No Place Left Behind' report from the Create Streets Foundation has noted, “despite the extreme pressures of the pandemic, the government has increasingly made funding available to kick start levelling up, with a strong focus on community and place.” There are: The Levelling Up Fund (worth £4.8bn);The Towns Fund (£3.6bn);A Shared Prosperity Fund worth £1.5bn per annum;The Future High Streets Fund (£830m);A Community Renewal Fund (worth £220m);A Community Ownership Fund (£150m);High Street Heritage Action Zones (£95m); andA Welcome Back Fund (£56m). The funding itself is clearly welcome, but Mr Jenrick was perhaps responding to criticism that all look set to be allocated competitively at Whitehall's discretion and the National Audit Office did have something to say in 2020 about the discretion being exercised in the distribution of the Towns Fund. What is the difference between success and failure when bidding for these funds? How hard is it in practice to realise a vision for a place, no matter how compelling and coherent, when implementation relies on a disparate and seemingly ever-evolving funding regime? Surely there is a better way, but what? Sam Stafford puts these questions to Ros Flowers, Economic Growth Senior Manager at Brent Council; Andy Rumfitt, Senior Director at Turley (@AndyRumfitt); and Jaimie Ferguson, Director at Open (@jaimieferg). Some accompanying reading. 'No Place Left Behind', the report of the Commission into Prosperity and Community Placemaking established by the Create Streets Foundation https://www.createstreetsfoundation.org.uk/no-place-left-behind/ 'Inquiry raises concerns over how £3.6bn towns fund was distributed' - The Guardian https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2020/nov/11/inquiry-raises-concerns-over-how-36bn-towns-fund-was-distributed 'Want to ‘level up' the UK? Just give places the power and money they need' - The Guardian https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2021/sep/19/level-up-uk-regions-local-authority-funding 'Fundamental shift in funding to local level needed to help level up English towns' - The National Infrastructure Commission https://nic.org.uk/news/fundamental-shift-in-funding-to-local-level-needed-to-help-level-up-english-towns-recommends-commission/ 'How Labour can rebuild the Red Wall across the North' - Labour for the North        https://labourlist.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/Labours-Northern-Soul-%E2%80%94-How-Labour-Can-Rebuild-the-Red-Wall-Across-the-North.pdf 'Unlocking the potential of places' - Future Place https://www.architecture.com/-/media/GatherContent/Test-resources-page/Additional-Documents/2019-Future-Place-report-Unlocking-the-Potential-of-Placespdf.pdf Some accompanying listening. You never give me your money - The Beatles   https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BpndGZ71yww 50 Shades T-Shirts! If you have listened to Episode 45 of the 50 Shades of Planning Podcast you will have heard Clive Betts say that... 'In the Netherlands planning is seen as part of the solution. In the UK, too often, planning is seen as part of the problem'. Sam said in reply that that would look good on a t-shirt and it does. Further details can be found here: http://samuelstafford.blogspot.com/2021/07/50-shades-of-planning-t-shirts.html

Coming up in this week's episode: Cyberattack on US Fuel Pipeline, Cyberattack on Irish Health Service, Whatsapp privacy notice update, Hamburg DPA orders Whatsapp not to share with Facebook, Canadian company fined for not having EU Agent for GDPR, Brent Council councillors have not had mandatory GDPR training, Covid-19 Vaccination Passports proposed by EU, So just what is your personal data worth? Software produced in the US now needs a Software Bill of Materials, Should Market Research companies be data processors or data controllers?

My guest this week is successful recording artist Errol Reid.  Errol achieved worldwide chart hit success as the lead singer of the band China Black, signed to the Polydor label Wild Card, and sang the Rugby World Cup Anthem Swing Low Sweet Chariot with Ladysmith Black Mombaza.  He has worked with some incredible artists during his professional singing career and shares some incredible stories of meeting and even singing with some of his own idols.  Tune in to learn about his journey from Birmingham to London, training as a town planner for Brent Council to help fund his musical endeavours, before making it big, appearing on Top of the Pops with China Blacks no. 2 single “Searching”, which led to success touring the world, duetting with Barry White in Paris and more recently one of his heroes Howard Hewitt from Shalamar.  Errol has a varied back catalogue and range of musical influences and after China Black he has also found massive success working with acts like Swedish House Mafia and Axwell, so you can also hear his incredible range on the Dance Music Scene.  I really enjoyed Errol's zest for music and how he uses his voice throughout the interview to recall songs and stories I am sure you will love hearing about too! Littered with great advice for anyone who is thinking of going into the music business.  Errol references several great songs and artists which you can enjoy by clicking the links below. Ronnie Jordan - So What Omar - There's nothing like this Howard Hewitt- Show Me Aquarius - The Fifth Dimension You can also enjoy watching Errol performing here: China Black - Searching (Live on Top of the Pops) Errol Reid singing Feel the Vibe and Nothing but Love Live! Errol singing with the Legendary Barry White! Errol Reid with Lady Blacksmith Mambazo - Swing Low Sweet Chariot Eddie Thonieck & Kurd Maverick - Lonely (feat.Errol Reid) SO MUCH BRILLIANT MUSIC!!! Happy listening!

This weeks guest Cimarons band member Locksley is a pioneer, who has paved the way in the world of Reggae. Locksley has collectively been a Session musician and backing band for many artists, including: Pat Kelly, Ken Boothe, Jimmy Cliff, Desmond Dekker, Derrick Morgan.Being Trojan Record Company’s ‘House band’; Ken Boothe, Alton Ellis, Stranger Cole, Slim Smith, Toots & the Maytals and Marvels have all benefitted from this band’s high calibre of musicianship. Also part of the first Reggae band to perform live in Spain and Paris, and in 1974, they were the first reggae band to tour Japan (with The Pioneers). Later that year, the band backed Bob Marley and Johnny Nash on their first UK national tour.They have far too many credentials, collaborations and accolades to list right now but as well as being Reggae ambassadors since 1960s; In 2013, the band was given a plaque by Brent Federation of Reggae Music & Brent Council, which is sited at Tavistock Church Hall, in Harlesden, North West London.In this extended interview he shares many stories from his epic journey around the world, his story with Bob Marley and his wisdom on the music industry.This is a story from a pure heart. A brother whos roots, soul and spirit are at one with Reggae music.Connect with Locksley http://www.bass1ent.com/New uploads every Wednesday! Subscribe to be the first to hear!Connect with Daniealwww.danieal.co.ukFacebook - http://www.facebook.com/daniealmusic Instagram - http://www.instagram.com/DaniealMusicLocksley's SelectionsMarcus Garvey - Burning Spear https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oGN3R49-CAEI'm Not A King - Delroy Wilsonhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lzdeXLhX7esRide Your Donkey - The Tenorshttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vqPHyEAZfAQSimmer Down - The Wailin Wailers https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7xo-BCAjMiMTalkin Blues - Cimaronshttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_JTR5jgGFrsYou Don't Care - Slim Smith and The Gayladshttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JSSuffkpWGwDancing Mood - Delroy Wilsonhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hRQg9DCkkxsDisclaimer : I do not own any of the rights to any of the music which is selected by my guest. It is used only as a tool of education, upliftment and empowerment for and of people of the diaspora.

Helen Evans is Chief Executive of Network Homes and is the current Chair of the G15. She joined Network Homes in March 2010, having previously been chief executive of Brent Housing Partnership.She has a background in London's local government, having begun her career at Southwark Council and subsequently becoming assistant director of housing at Brent Council.You can view the Broken Housing Market Video at: https://g15.london/news/new-g15-film-asks-politicians-to-properly-fund-affordable-homes

Community Highlights from Harrow Today. - Lydia has some Happy News- Sarika catches up with Harrow Talking Therapies- Lockdown Arts & Crafts - Wendy has an update on Domestic Violence - Anjeli shares some isolation tips. Updates from Brent Council and Headstone Manor

Is there any substance to Robert Jenrick's criticism of Sadiq Khan's London Plan or is it just the victim of some Punch and Judy-style, blue on red oneupmanship? Sam Stafford discusses this question, and, if devolution and planning white papers are to encourage more mayoral Spatial Development Strategies, the lessons from London for elsewhere, with Alice Lester (Operational Director - Regeneration, Growth & Employment, Brent Council), Rob Krzyszowski (Head of Planning Policy, Transport & Infrastructure, Haringey Council) and Andrew Taylor (Head of Planning, Countryside Properties). Twitter Handles: @samuel_stafford, @AliceatBrent, @robzowski and @AndrewJTaylor3. Some accompanying reading. The Secretary of State and the Mayor's recent correspondence: https://www.london.gov.uk/what-we-do/planning/london-plan/new-london-plan/secretary-states-response Some recommended listening. Alice's appearance on a proper podcast: https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m000fgp5 Some recommended viewing. A classic episode of Bottom: https://youtu.be/wUlgdjZuSZ4

A British citizenship ceremony hosted by Brent Council in London.

Transcript -- A British citizenship ceremony hosted by Brent Council in London.

A British citizenship ceremony hosted by Brent Council in London.

Transcript -- A British citizenship ceremony hosted by Brent Council in London.