Agenda and draft minutes

The Chair referred to the notice of filming at meetings and this information was noted.

To receive any apologies for absence.

There were no apologies for absence.

There were no new items of urgent business.

There were no declarations of interest.

There were no deputations/petitions/questions.

The Cabinet Member for Cabinet Member for Council House building, Placemaking, and Local Economy wanted it noted that paragraph 1.1 of the report contained an error and should instead read: ‘this proposal seeks the approval from the Cabinet Member for Cabinet Member for Council House building, Placemaking, and Local Economy for Haringey Council to accept £807,302 UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF) revenue funding from Central London Forward for the period spanning April 1, 2024, to March 31, 2025. No additional funding is required for this grant. The allocated funds will directly support Opportunity Haringey, our Inclusive Economy Framework Theme 3 – Good Work and Skills and be delivered by a collaboration of Haringey Learns and Haringey Works’.

It was noted that the Cabinet Member Introduction of the report should be revised and that the revised Cabinet Member Introduction should be as follows:

2.1. The People and Skills element of UKSPF came into force once European Social Fund monies ceased, and this element was released in October 2023 for the period up to March 2025. This funding has gone to the GLA for distribution. The GLA are using the funding in two ways firstly they are commissioning a range of People and Skills programmes, and the remaining balance of funds have been devolved to sub-regional partnerships. Haringey is part of the Central London Forward (CLF) partnership and the borough allocation to Haringey is spend, £807,302 for the 24/25 financial year.

2.2. Haringey’s approved plan for use of SPF funding outlines our intention to deliver employment support to residents furthest from the labour market through our Haringey Works and Haringey Learns services, and to work closely with locality and customer facing services across the Council to target residents facing the greatest barriers to accessing employment support. This aligns to our ambitions set out in Opportunity Haringey our Inclusive Economy Framework which aims to achieve an inclusive, more resilient economy, that is better able to withstand economic shocks and where our businesses can grow and thrive; with an economy that provides rewarding, well paid (at least London Living Wage) work. These ambitions directly align with the aims of the People and Skills UKSPF activities.

2.3. Haringey Works and Haringey Learns are central to delivering the aspirations of Theme 3 of Opportunity Haringey – ‘Good Work and Skills’ through a targeted and community based approach

The Cabinet Member for Council House building, Placemaking, and Local Economy RESOLVED:

To approve acceptance of a grant from CLF for £807,302 for the

delivery of the UKSPF People and Skills programme. The current agreement is

for a grant of £807,302, however dependent on whether there are underspends

by other authorities Cabinet are requested to approve acceptance of up to a

grant of £900,000. This will create an Employment Support programme

providing additional capacity for Haringey Works and Haringey Learns to deliver

employment and skills support for Haringey Residents. This is in accordance

with Contract Standing Order 17.1 Where the Council receives a grant from an  ...  view the full minutes text for item 13.

The Cabinet Member for Cabinet Member for Council House building, Placemaking, and Local Economy introduced the report highlighting its support for small and medium-sized enterprises. The demand for Opportunity Workspace Haringey funding was noted, emphasising the importance of engaging with partners to increase the supply, making this funding valuable.

The Cabinet Member for Council House Building, Placemaking and Local Economy RESOLVED to:

(a) Provides delegated authority to the Director of Placemaking and Housing

to undertake further due diligence, negotiate and agree the terms, and

approve the final funding agreements for the recommended workspace

projects for the Opportunity Haringey Workspace Fund.

(b) Subject to satisfactory completion of the above, allocate up to £3.9m of

Opportunity Haringey Workspace Fund resources, as set out in section 6,

to the following projects with funding gaps, the details of which are set out

in the exempt part B report:

(i) Wood Green affordable creative workspace;

(ii) Tottenham affordable music studios workspace; and,

(iii) Tottenham affordable community co-working workspace.

Reasons for decision

1. The Opportunity Haringey Workspace Fund was set-up to enable additional

workspace to come forward in the borough, which is a key priority of

Opportunity Haringey – the Council’s inclusive economic framework. The

sources of funding are set out in section 6. It is an ambitious fund that aims to

have a catalytic effect through supporting new and expanding workspace

projects that have a funding gap. It was established as a result of:

(a) recognition that workspace is a highly effective way to support economic

growth, inclusive economy and regeneration for Haringey’s creative

economy and thriving SME sector, noting workspaces are in high demand

amongst SMEs and two thirds of the workspace in Haringey are focussed

on the creative economy;

(b) the Council having sufficient capital funding within the approved capital

programme, relevant external grants and Council match funding to

external grants, for spend on workspace projects;

(c) the aim to deliver additional workspace meeting funder requirements

within tight timelines; and,

(d) awareness of multiple compelling workspace projects in the borough with

funding gaps.

2. There was an open call for funding proposals starting from 19th December 2023 for a six-week period. Application briefing sessions were provided to interested parties. Following receipt of applications, eligibility requirement checks took place ahead of a multi-disciplinary funding panel convening to assess the applications in detail. The panel included officers from Economic Development, Regeneration, Property and Finance. The panel assessed and scored eligible applications in light of the following priorities: strategic priority alignment and clear funding gap, track record, deliverability, impact, and value for money.

3. The funding panel recommends Opportunity Haringey Workspace Fund

resources are allocated to the following projects:

(a)  Wood Green affordable creative workspace - Creation of affordable creative workspace in Wood Green. This project will enable much needed additional workspace in the borough and has potential to stimulate others in the market to bring forward workspace in Wood Green. It would support the cultural character of Wood Green, support local job  ...  view the full minutes text for item 14.

There were no new items of urgent business.

Item 6 & 7 was subject to a motion to exclude the press and public be from the meeting as it contained exempt information as defined in Section 100a of the Local Government Act  1972 (as amended by Section 12A of the Local Government Act 1985); para 3, namely information relating to the financial or business affairs of any particular person (including the authority holding that information).

Exempt information pertaining to Item 7.

The Cabinet Member considered the exempt information.

There were no new items of exempt urgent business.