Verbal update
Minutes:
Councillor Bull, Cabinet Member for Local Investment and Economic Growth, appeared before the Committee and outlined his areas of responsibility within his portfolio. The Councillor then responded to questions from the Committee and the following information was noted:
a. The Cabinet Member informed that the unemployment rate in Haringey was 4.5%.
b. Regarding monitoring the impact of the Liveable Crouch End scheme on the surrounding area, the Cabinet Member invited local businesses to provide any information that demonstrated the scheme was having an impact on their business. Officers noted this was an ongoing pilot scheme and would provide fuller findings of the economic impact on the area to the Committee when they became available.
c. In response to a question regarding encouraging businesses to provide jobs to local residents, the Cabinet Member noted there were provisions within the Procurement Strategy that had weighting in favour of businesses that sought to provide local residents with jobs. The Cabinet Member noted the Community Wealth Building fully supported the encouragement of local residents being provided with jobs where the Council provided investment and development.
d. Regarding assisting young people for the future by preparing them for the job market, the Cabinet Member noted Haringey Adults Learning Service should be able to assist in that area. He would also explore with the Cabinet Member for Children and Families what extra support and assistance could be provided to young people which ensured they were fully prepared for the job market.
e. Regarding the support that the Council would provide to businesses on struggling high streets, the Cabinet Member noted general improvement was required such as cleaning up the streets and removing graffiti to make them a more attractive business investment. The Cabinet Member reiterated support for encouraging the employment of local residents from new business areas regenerated. With regard to Wood Green High Street specifically, Officers added that there was a piece of work underway called the Wood Green Place Shaping Manual which sought a collaborative approach between councillors, the community, and departments of the Council to identify projects that would help improve Wood Green High Street.
f. Officers noted the Section 106 provided for major schemes to contribute to Haringey Works which provided free employment and skills support exclusively for Haringey residents. It also provided for funding to be made to the Haringey Construction Partnership which facilitated local employment in the construction sector.
g. Regarding the High Road West Strategy, the Cabinet Member recognised businesses concerns and informed the Committee there were plans to work with the Peacock Industrial Estate businesses to find alternative locations for them to continue their businesses in Haringey, or as close to the borough as possible.
h. The Cabinet Member noted that the two small business loan funds would be available for start-up companies as well as existing businesses in Haringey, if the businesses were able to provide a credible business plan. The two council-run small business loan funds were the Opportunity Investment Fund and the new Productive Valley Fund, as discussed at Cabinet on 8th October 2019. There would be support provided to small and medium sized businesses (SMEs) applying for the Loan Funds who did not have English as their first language. Officers added that small businesses and start ups received £110mil a year from the Council. For start-ups, the Council had the provision to directly award contracts valued at £10k and under. It was also now easier for contracts below £160k to be awarded to small businesses.
i. The Cabinet Member recognised there were concerns surrounding the apprenticeship levy and noted the Council was looking into best practice and lessons learnt from Hackney Council. The Cabinet Member noted the Council needed investment in its HR department to ensure the maximum was achieved from the Apprenticeship Levy.
j. Regarding town centre managers, Officers agreed that they provided great value to the community, building partnerships with businesses and locals. It was noted the town managers had previously been funded by the general fund and efforts would be made to look at how this could be alternatively provided.
k. The Cabinet Member stated the Council’s website needed to be more business friendly, such as having dedicated business pages for transactions to be carried out. Successful business stories should also be included.
l. In response to what the Cabinet Member could do to help those not receiving the London Living Wage (LLW), he highlighted the Council could lead by example and become a London Living Wage Employer. Businesses that worked with the Council would be encouraged to pay the LLW to all employees.
m. The Cabinet Member noted business rate relief was offered to SMEs and that the Council was willing to work with struggling businesses.
n. The Cabinet Member invited members to forward via email any concerns they had surrounding street rangers in Wood Green. The Cabinet Member would raise those concerns with Officers.
o. Officers would provide a written response on the salary of town centre managers (Action: Peter O’Brien)