An opportunity for the Committee to question Councillor Kober on her Cabinet portfolio:
- Growth and inward investment
- Commissioning
- Communications
- External Partnerships
- Council Performance
- Corporate policy and strategy
Minutes:
The chair welcomed the Leader of Council, Councillor Kober, and the Chief Executive, Nick Walkley, to the meeting.
Councillor Kober provided a brief outline of her portfolio, and responded to questions from the Committee. NOTED:
- Growth / inward investment – The Autumn Statement had made clear fundamental changes to Council finance coming down the line. From 2020 funding through grants would be abolished and Councils would retain 100% of Business Rates, and therefore the need to grow the Business Rate base is fundamental. The Corporate Plan commits to deliver £1billion of investment to the Borough, with targets to secure £424m of infrastructure funding by 2018, and increase the number of businesses to 12,040 by 2017.
- Crossrail 2 – Haringey would be the biggest beneficiary, with 4 or 5 stations (depending on which option was selected). It was important to recognise that this was a scheme that would benefit the whole of the South East, not just London. The Council had looked in detail at the merits of an Alexandra Palace – Turnpike Lane configuration against a single Wood Green station, and had opted for Wood Green as a preference. This would have the most catalytic impact on growth, although the regeneration programme was not contingent on this option being selected.
TfL had stated in the consultation material that a ventilation shaft would likely be placed in Downhills Park – the Council had made it clear that this was not a preferred option, and TfL have since assured the Council that they would work in consultation with the Council and the local community to find a suitable alternative location.
- ADA National College for Digital Skills – this was due to open in Tottenham in 2016, and was one of seven new National Colleges. The college would have a significant place making role in terms of Tottenham Hale.
- STEM – the commission launched in 2015 and was tasked at looking at how Haringey could position itself at the forefront of STEM education and ensure that young people had a grounding in STEM skills. The call for evidence had been launched, and the commission would be talking to schools and colleges to see what was currently on offer and what was required. The final product would be a series of recommendations and proposals for the Council.
- London Health Devolution – there were two pilots that Haringey were involved in – North Central London pilot to look at how control could be gained over NHS estates and how the proceeds of sales were used; and a prevention pilot which looked at how planning and licensing powers could be used to improve the health of the community.
- Electric bikes – TfL were leading the procurement for 200 bikes, and conversations were taking place with Islington to install docking stations.
- Equality and diversity in regeneration – the only way to tackle is to ensure that equality and diversity was a key component in regeneration and growth plans – in order to do this would require a full understanding of what was happening in the area and community at the outset.
The Chair thanked the Leader and the Chief Executive for attending.