Issue - meetings

A debate on the events which occurred in August then ensued, following which Councillor Strickland, Cabinet Member for Economic Development and Social Inclusion, addressed the meeting on the points raised and how issues would be taken forward.

Councillor Strickland paid tribute to those residents and business people affected by the riots, whose calm dignity and determination to move forwards in the face of unimaginable heartache had been remarkable.

He also paid tribute to and thanked the Police, emergency services and council staff whose tireless work in very difficult circumstances was of credit to public service.

Councillor Strickland referred to the future and advised that the Council needed to focus its efforts on ensuring that the Tottenham which emerged from this difficult period was improved physically, was stronger economically, was better connected through its transport links and had residents better equipped to prosper in the labour market.

Councillor Strickland commented on the need to work closely with the Police in building on and strengthening existing links with the Community, by forging better lines of communication and clear messages. 

In order to deliver the improvements which Haringey desired, Councillor Strickland set out three broad priorities namely:-  Getting Tottenham back in business, improving confidence and delivering regeneration.

Getting Tottenham Back in Business

The first priority would be getting Tottenham back in business, which was the foundation stone for what will follow.

The council had provided significant face-to-face support to businesses

·        110 were helped through the Community Assistance Centre

·        Staff had met 250 businesses going door-to-door in Tottenham and Wood Green, giving advice and gathering evidence about the impact.

With trade down, Tottenham’s independent traders in particular were facing a real squeeze on their finances.

• Through the High Street Support Fund, so far the Council had given £60k to 45 businesses

• Providing business rate relief to affected businesses, initially for 3 months, and extending this to 6 for many businesses.

Building Confidence

The second priority was building confidence, both among the public and external investors.

In order to help boost public confidence and get shoppers back to the High Road, the Council would be launching with Tottenham Traders Partnership, an I Love Tottenham campaign on Saturday 8 October 2011.

The campaign would see lamp post banners going up as well as bags, badges and posters, new hanging baskets and a newly deep cleaned High Road. It was envisaged to be a fun campaign, designed to get people talking about Tottenham.

The Council recognised that the Christmas trading period would be a crunch point and the GLA had been asked for funds for a Christmas festival and new Christmas lights had been ordered.

Shortly there would be the first of a series of investors breakfasts, designed to build confidence among big businesses, housing developers and others.

Councillor Strickland hoped that all members would play their part in selling the borough and Tottenham in particular.

Delivering a regenerated Tottenham

Councillor Strickland commented on the third priority, and that when he had met councillors from other authorities  ...  view the full minutes text for item 34