Agenda and minutes

Received from Anthony Wood (Harrow Public Transport Users’ Association), Jeannie Cohen-Brand (Harrow College) and Councillor Marilyn Ashton.

To agree the minutes of the following meetings as a correct record:

• Harrow Town Centre Forum  - Ordinary meeting held on 19 July 2006;
• Harrow Town Centre Forum – Annual General Meeting held on 19 July 2006.  

That the minutes of the ordinary meeting held on 19 July 2006, and of the Annual General Meeting held on 19 July 2006, be agreed as a correct record subject to the following amendments:

Minute 18, Annual General Meeting,

‘Harrow Against Business’ should read ‘Harrow in Business’.

To consider any matters arising from the minutes of the last meeting.

The Forum heard that there had been progress on the Alcohol Exclusion Zone since the last meeting, with a full license being issued.

A member advised that an intelligence officer was now in post, and that an intelligence gathering scheme would be launched soon. A pilot scheme was currently under way.

AGREED: That the above be noted.

To consider the future of the Harrow Town Centre Management Initiative in the light of the departure of the Harrow Town Centre Manager and the Council’s budgetary position.

• Report on the Council’s position – Graham Jones, Director of Planning Services, Urban Living

• Possible ways forward - Graham Jones, Director of Planning Services, Urban Living

• Discussion

The Forum received an update from the Director of   Planning Services , who explained that owing to the Council’s financial situation, all non-essential services had to be reviewed, and this included town centre management. This had coincided with the departure of the Town Centre Manager.

Target savings of £40, 000 were required this financial year, and £75, 000 in the next financial year. This meant that the Town Centre Manager could not be replaced, and that the possibility of match-funding with the contributions of core funders would be small.

On opening the item for questions, the Chairman commented that the work of the Forum would be difficult to conduct without the Town Centre Manager, and with reduced financial support from the Council.

The possibility of submitting an application to become a Business Improvement District (BID) was raised. The Director of  Planning Services stated that if such a bid were successful, it would generate more revenue than currently invested in town centre management. However, the process of submitting a bid itself would require significant resources.

In response to a question as to the continuing viability of the Forum, the Chairman stated that a possible course of action would be for the core funders to meet with the Council, and discuss the future of the Forum’s work, either through continued direct funding or through a BID application. This was to be scheduled before the next ordinary meeting of the Forum.

AGREED: That the above be noted.

Which the Chair has decided is urgent and cannot otherwise be dealt with.

Shopwatch Scheme

A Member raised the issue of illicit trading in the high street, and sought to draw the Forum’s attention to the possibility of a ‘shop watch’ scheme to aid deterrence. The scheme would involve the contribution of staff by local retailers to assist Police in conducting their duties in the area.

In response, members raised concerns as to the availability of staff to support the scheme, although it was noted to be a worthwhile initiative. An advisor to the Forum also drew its attention to potential logistical difficulties, particularly in relation to coordinating the scheme and the length of time to implement.

However, the Forum stated its support for the initiative, and proposed to raise this matter with Harrow Business Against Crime (HBAC).

Faith Advisor

An advisor to the Forum queried the potential appointment of a voting faith representative to the Forum, particularly in relation to which Faith or Faiths would be represented, and the mechanism by which the position would be elected.

It was stated that the representative would be drawn from the town centre area, and agreed that the issue warranted further consideration at a future meeting.

AGREED: That the above be noted.

AGREED: That the date of the next meeting Forum would be scheduled at a later date, to take place in January 2007.