Issue - meetings

Verbal update

The Committee undertook a verbal question and answer session for noting with the Cabinet Member for Finance and Strategic Regeneration on his portfolio. The following arose as part of the discussion during the Q&A session.

a.    The Committee sought the Cabinet Member’s insight into the High Streets agenda. In response, the Cabinet Member advised that the administration was working with the local traders in Wood Green and Turnpike Lane to ensure that businesses were engaged with and there was a joined up approach to parking, for example, in order to encourage vibrant high streets. The Cabinet Member advised that this issue was within Cllr Bull’s portfolio.

b.    In response to a follow up question around the two hour parking window in Muswell Hill and how the administration could offset the need to encourage business in the Borough with the declaration of a climate emergency and  its active travel plans. The Cabinet Member acknowledged these concerns and commented that it was a complicated issue and suggested that elderly or infirm residents needed to be able to access shops and services. The Cabinet Member agreed that further encouragement of hybrid or electric vehicles was needed along with improving cycling provision in the Borough.

c.    The Committee sought assurances about what was being done as part of the Community Buildings review. In response, officers advised that this was part of Cllr Blake’s agenda but that a report to Cabinet was being developed which would set out the administration’s proposals in relation to this issue. In regards to the likely financial implications of this report, the Cabinet Member assured the Committee that the report would address the issue of circular funding as well as the likely budget implications. The Chair commented that Cllr Blake was due to attend the next OSC and suggested that these questions could be put to him then.

d.    The Committee enquired as to whether a review had been undertaken into the impact of removing the £10k ward budgets, particularly in terms of supporting community groups. The Clerk agreed to put this question in writing to Cllr Blake. (Action: Clerk).

e.    The Committee sought assurance around what level of engagement with businesses in Hornsey and other parts of the borough outside of Wood Green and Turnpike Lane had been undertaken in respect of the High Streets agenda. Cllr Adje agreed that he would come back to the Committee with details of how the west of the Borough was represented  through the Haringey Business Alliance. It was noted that there was a Tottenham representative on this group. (Action: Cllr Adje).

f.     In response to a request for the Cabinet Members thoughts on Wards Corner, the Cabinet Member outlined that this was a complicated issue that had been going on for 20 years. The Cabinet Member advised that the site was owned by TfL and that there were a number of concerns around the building and Health and Safety at the site. Due to these concerns, the Management Company and TfL  ...  view the full minutes text for item 8