Agenda and minutes
Venue: Committee Room 4, Town Hall, Upper Street, N1 2UD. View directions
Contact: Zoe Lewis 020 7527 3044
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Apologies for Absence Minutes: None Received. |
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Declarations of Substitute Members Minutes: None |
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Declarations of Interest Minutes: Councillor Dave Poyser declared a personal interest with regard to Item B7, Regeneration of Retail Areas as he is presently a member of the Archway Town Centre Group. |
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Minutes of Previous Meeting PDF 160 KB Minutes: RESOLVED That the minutes of the meeting held on 23 January 2017 be confirmed as a correct record and the Chair be authorised to sign them. |
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Public Questions Minutes: A member of the public requested an update
following a meeting between Environmental officers and the
contractors regarding fly tipping around Wedmore Gardens. |
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Chair's Report Minutes: None |
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Regeneration of Retail Areas Scrutiny Review - Witness evidence - Verbal Minutes: The Chair invited David Fordham, Service
Manager, Service Trading Standards, Jan Tucker, Chair of Archway
Traders Association and Christine Lovett, CEO of
Angel’s Business Improvement Bid
(BID) to address the Committee on their experiences, challenges and
future prospects within the retail areas in Islington.
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Members were informed about the draft street trading strategy which
lists key things the Council aims to
achieve in the next 5 years
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Members were advised that the value of revitalising and keeping the
markets alive, providing local jobs for local people and meeting
environmental sustainable objectives was the stimulus for
action
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That the strategy aims to create a dynamic street trading and
market experience suitable for residents and businesses
·
Members agreed that as shopping habits of members of the public had
changed over the years, street markets would have to adapt to this
new trend.
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There are a number of challenges facing Street Trading and include
lack of infrastructure regarding the removal of waste, parking
issues on market site attracting new traders and retaining the
existing traders.
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Members were advised that the Council aims to raise the profile
of street markets and would promoting
street markets in the Time Out Magazine in May 2017 called ‘
love your market’
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A recognition that street markets still had a vital place within
the community not only with the residents but businesses in its
vicinity so the regeneration of the market was essential to provide
future opportunities.
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Members were informed that street
markets would be encouraged to introduce different themes on market
days as it was noticeable that the existence of farmers markets had
resulted in increase in trading and footfall especially visitors
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Members were advised that most authorities in the country were
experiencing similar issues on managing street markets and that the
decline of traditional street markets was due to a number of
factors such as competition from other forms of
retail, lack of investment or vision by the local authorities and
changing demographics .
·
A Member enquired if the loss of vibrancy of street
markets was due to the prevalence of food stalls competing with the
shops especially as businesses pay rates and charges. The Service Manager, Service Trading Standards
advised that it had not been raised as an issue, however the
Council be looking at ways of assisting or supporting such
businesses
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With regards to the cost of hiring stalls and
pitches and the revenue derived by the Council, the Service
Manager, Service Trading Standards advised that Council charges
£60 per week, the lowest in comparison to other neighbouring
authorities and cheaper than markets that are located on
private land. On the issue of revenue,
Members were advised that any revenues received would be ring
fenced. · A Member enquired whether the Council offered support such as mentoring/training for new stall holders with a view to helping the stall holders move into retail shops .
· A Member enquired if Officers were aware of a financial ... view the full minutes text for item 106. |
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Bridge Works on Holloway Road Minutes: Nick Fairholme, TFL Director of Programmes was
present and was accompanied by Daniel Hall, Project Manager TFL and
provided a verbal update to the Committee during which the
following main points were made-
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Nick Fairholme apologised to residents
and businesses for the disruption to their daily lives as a result
of the unplanned works on the Holloway Bridge Work on the
A1. In explaining the causes for the
work, Nick Fairholme reminded Members that works on the bridge was
necessary as the bridge had reached the end of its operational life
and that the delay and subsequent closure of long sections of the
Holloway Road was done in consultation with Islington Council and
Highways Officers simply to allow demolition to be carried out
during the Christmas period when traffic would be
lighter.
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Ascertaining the ownership of the deep seated cables under the road
surface owned by gas, electricity, water and telecommunication
companies was very challenging as in most cases they had been laid
underground for decades.
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Nick Fairholme acknowledged that as a result of the disruption
especially over the October half term break in 2016, TFL did issue
over 500 letters and emails to residents and businesses explaining
the situation and staff were deployed to respond to enquiries from
residents and businesses in the affected area on Holloway Road. In
addition he also stated that TFL would respond at short notice
especially when sudden incidents occurred for example making
available shuttle buses.
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The Director confirmed that he was delighted to announce that
despite the disruption, the unplanned works to the Bridge was
completed on schedule with all the roads opened by 16 January 2017
and traffic restrictions lifted.
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Members were advised that although engineering works are complex in
nature, most of the challenges are not noticeable until when work
commences however lessons learnt from this experience would be
shared when TFL engages in other projects.
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Nick Fairholme advised the Committee that a number of options had
been considered with regards to the closure of the A1 road and the
decision was not taken lightly and the overriding issue in this
instance was safety.
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Lessons learnt from the experiences on the Holloway Bridge project
include improving the engagement and consultation process with
residents and businesses by using social media forums to
communicate not only prior to the commencement of the project but
throughout the duration of the project. Also better collaboration
between contractor and utility companies should be encouraged
especially where there are over 15 different utility companies
involved.
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With regards to identifying ownership of underground utility cables
especially in the future, Members were advised that utilities are
now mapped and there are now electronic records available which
identifies not only the exact location but the actual depths of the
cables underground.
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The meeting was advised that Upper Holloway would have a number of
utility cables but these were not as complex as those that were
found on the Bridge works at Holloway Road. · A Member wanted TFL to consider the ... view the full minutes text for item 107. |
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Work Programme 2016/17 PDF 110 KB Minutes: That the work programme be noted.
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