Agenda and minutes

Apologies for absence were received from Graham Jones (Harrow Council Director, Planning Development and Enterprise), Linzi Clark (Harrow Council Tourism Officer), Suzy Wood (St Ann’s Centre) and Boots the Chemist.

The Forum received the Chairman’s annual report of the activities of the Harrow Town Centre Forum.  The Chairman provided a brief overview.

AGREED:  That the report be noted.

The Chairman presented the report of accounts for the Harrow Town Centre Forum for 2006-2007.

AGREED:  That the report of accounts of 2006-2007 be approved.

One nomination was received for Steve Kent (St George’s Shopping & Leisure Centre).

AGREED:  That Steve Kent be appointed Chairman of the Forum for 2007-2008.

(Shall be a Primary Representative nominated by the Council.)

One nomination was received for Councillor Narinder Singh Mudhar.

AGREED:  That Councillor Narinder Singh Mudhar be appointed Vice Chairman for 2006-2007.

No nominations were received for additional Core Funders to serve as members of the Forum.

AGREED:  That the above be noted.            

(One each from leisure industry, small retailers, residents, business sector and education.)

No nominations were received for additional Ordinary Members to serve as members of the Forum.

AGREED:  That the above be noted.            

(Chairperson, Vice Chairperson, a maximum of five other Forum members and the Town Centre Manager.)

It was noted that the Executive consisted of the Chairman, Vice Chairman and up to five other Forum members. 

AGREED:  That, in addition to the Chairman and Vice Chairman, the following be appointed to the Executive:-

(To act in an advisory capacity only.)

AGREED:  That the following be appointed to the Promotion and Marketing Sub-Group:-

Apologies for absence were received from Graham Jones (Harrow Council Director, Planning Development and Enterprise), Linzi Clark (Harrow Council Tourism Officer), Suzy Wood (St Ann’s Centre) and Boots the Chemist.

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

Harrow Town Centre Forum meeting – Ordinary Meeting held on 18 July 2007.

AGREED:  That the minutes of the meeting held on 18 July 2007 be agreed as a correct record.

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

No matters were raised.

Report from Graham Jones, Director of Planning Services, Harrow Council.

The Forum received a report of the Director of Planning, Development and Enterprise, Harrow Council, setting out possible structures for the Harrow Business Improvement District (BID) Board and Company, and looking at the relationship between the Harrow Town Centre Forum and new BID Company structure.  The officer briefed the Forum on two options relating to the BID Company structure and the relationship between the Forum and the BID Board and Company:

• option 1 – the Town Centre Forum to be developed into a consultation group
• option 2 – the Forum to become a more formal Town Centre Partnership.

The officer informed the Forum that questionnaires on the BID were being sent to all businesses in the town centre, and it was anticipated that the ballot on whether to set up a BID would take place in January 2009.

AGREED:  That (1) a Shadow BID Board be established as soon as possible to lead the BID development process until the ballot;

(2) as set out in the report, the Town Centre Forum act as a consultation body to the Shadow BID Board;

(3) option 1 relating to the BID Company structure, as set out in the report, be adopted.

RESOLVED:  To note the Harrow Town Centre Forum’s budget position as set out in the 2006-2007 accounts, approved at the AGM.

The Chairman updated members of the Forum on the work of Harrow Business Against Crime (HBAC), which now had over 50 members in the town centre.  The possibility of linking part of HBAC’s services with the Business Improvement District (BID) was being investigated.

RESOLVED:  That the above be noted.

RESOLVED:  That the Chairman seek out meeting venues that were more easily accessible.

RESOLVED:  That (1) a meeting be convened in approximately three months’ time with four weeks’ notice, the exact timing to depend on progress on the BID;

(2) the possibility of inviting the BID Board to the next meeting be considered.