Issue - meetings

Briefing from Councillor Kaushika Amin, Cabinet Member for Enterprise and Regeneration

Councillor Egan declared a personal interest in this item by nature of being on the board of Urban Futures.

The committee received a briefing from Councillor Kaushika Amin, Cabinet Member for Regeneration, who addressed committee on key issues in her portfolio.

It was noted that outline permission had been granted for the GLS site, with a detailed application following.  The Council was working in partnership with both principal developer Lea Valley Estates, and with City Islington for the student accommodation element.  It was planned that the project would eventually be a wholly private development.

In terms of the current status of the Hornsey Central Depot project, the Cabinet Member and Officers confirmed to the committee that they were awaiting the receipt of the pre-application consultation strategy, and agreed to provide a timetable to the committee upon its receipt.

In terms of Conservation Area Appraisals, it was accepted that the proposed five months was a tight timetable, but Members were assured by Officers that an amount of work had already been completed, and were happy with the schedule.

Officers confirmed that Building Control had lost three developers within the last year, with these developers able to go elsewhere other than the Council.  This re-iterated the desire for jobs to be priced in a competitive way, as departure of developers upset a joined-up approach to working.

Members made suggestions for improving the Business Support website, including incorporating more contact links, improving the business plan guidance section, and improving the access to the Trading Standards Page.  Officers agreed to look at these suggestions.

Officers stated that recruitment issues continued for the Building Control team, but that the team continued to perform comparatively well.  A backlog in Development Control cases stated to be a blip in the summer relating to small applications, and that progress now back on track.

In terms of the Haringey Guarantee, Officers were pleased to state that 149 individuals had secured employment, with over 1,000 people involved in the scheme.  It was planned that individuals would be tracked for one year after securing employment

Officers also stated their desire to secure a high profile retailer for the Ward’s Corner Development.

RESOLVED:

1.         That the timetable for the Pre-Application Consultation Strategy for Haringey Heartlands be provided to the committee.

2.         That Officers provide information to Members on Business Support, including the provision of a seminar if required.

3.         That Councillor Amin review the Business Support website, incorporating ensuring the provision of further business planning information.

4.         That Officers provide to Members information on issues regarding the Swan Development in Tottenham.

5.         That the briefing be noted.