Verbal update
Minutes:
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 had agreed to close the market. The Committee was advised that the Council had a very limited role in the site and that its role was limited to regulatory oversight and agreeing licences etcetera. The Cabinet Member also highlighted that the Council had entered into a CPO with Grainger over the site and that the Council would be liable if it walked away from the agreement.
g. In response to a question around the impact of rent increases on traders at Wards Corner for the proposed replacement market, the Cabinet Member acknowledged these concerns and advised that this was a concern for all business but advised there had been a guarantee that there would be limited rent rises over the next three to five years. The Committee also noted that Business Rates were set by the government.
h. In relation to concerns about any potential disparity in parking regulations between Muswell Hill compared to Turnpike Lane, the Cabinet Member clarified that the restrictions for Muswell Hill did not include free parking, merely just a two hour time limit in order to encourage short duration trips.
i. The Committee commented on the building next to Muswell Hill Library and its use as a hub for start-ups and small businesses, and questioned the potential conflict between supporting this and using the site for alternative uses such as housing. In response, the Cabinet Member agreed to come back to the Committee with options for the site and some thoughts on potential conflicts. (Action: Cllr Adje).
j. In response to a question around the rising financial costs involved with Osbourne Grove, the Cabinet Member advised that this was due to the revised plans for capital investment at the centre.
k. In response to a question around identifying some of the biggest risks within the budget, the Cabinet Member advised that the biggest risk was around non-delivery of savings.
l. In relation to a question on whether the strategic priorities of the administration were reflected in the budget, the Cabinet Member confirmed that this was the case and highlighted the recruitment of key officers to deliver the Council’s housing targets as an example.
m. In relation to a question about equalities considerations within the budget setting process and how the most disadvantaged residents were protected, the Cabinet Member highlighted the Council Tax Reduction Scheme as a relevant example. The Cabinet Member also set out that Cabinet were due to approve a 200-300% Council tax band for vacant properties. The Cabinet Member also set out that significant work had gone into closing a £4m+ budget gap down to £600k and that this had clear implications on being able to deliver services.
n. The Committee sought further information around the administration’s progress in relation to brining vacant properties back into use. In response, the Cabinet Member suggested that around 1000 properties had been brought back in to use but he would check the exact figure and whether this related to privately-owned or Council properties. (Action: Cllr Adje).
RESOLVED
Noted