Minutes:
The Committee received a presentation from the Head of Economic Development Services.
The Head of Service, Economic Development outlined the services objectives and how the service operated in order to meet these objectives.
The Committee was informed that
the service had a five year target
part of which was to deliver Romford 2020 as an increasingly
vibrant and prosperous Town Centre.
That Romford was a place with good transport infrastructure, employment opportunities and a vibrant community. It had a good mix of high street shops, some restaurants, cafés, a traditional market and the museum.
That most of the shopping centres in Havering had a low vacancy rate, in Romford it was 6.47 compared to the national average of 12.4 %. It was recorded that over 25 million people visit Havering Town Centres.
The Committee was informed growth was required if in 2020 Romford was to remain a town where families settled, businesses flourished and visitors were welcomed.
The Head of Service outlined that in order to ensure Romford Town was a vibrant economic area part of the responsibility of the service was to support the new Crossrail station and environment in Romford.
It was explained that the service was working with Crossrail to deliver a high quality station design and station gateway development by bidding for TfL Complementary Measures funding
The Service aims to achieve public realm improvement valued at about £5 million, in addition to the new station with a southern entrance in Romford.
These improvements would lead to vitality and viability of the town centre and increase commercial business rates capital funds for the council.
The Service detailed its objectives for delivering high quality housing in Rainham. It was explained that strong partnership with the Greater London Assembly (GLA) and the London Borough of Barking & Dagenham would ensure viability/contamination studies are completed and sites in the area come to market.
The service was also supporting Havering Town Centres, developing partnerships, attracting funding and delivering an annual programme of events. These programmes include also the delivery of specialist markets, promotional activities and town centre events.
The Committee was informed that the service was also involved in Improving the Skills Levels of Havering’s residents, improving the match of skills provision to business needs and implementing a Harold Hill skills and employment programme.
The service had developed a Skills and Employment Strategy and built relationships whilst developing funding opportunities with Havering College and other partners.
Members gathered that these initiatives would improve accessibility to labour market for long term unemployed and improve skills attainment particularly in Harold Hill
The service also outlined its objective for London Riverside in 2020 to support the delivery of twenty new Businesses with £1 billion of private investment
The Committee was informed that the involvement of the service related to:
• Agree land use strategy and improvement to public realm;
• Building on partnership with the GLA to promote and market development opportunities;
• Improving bus links into area;
• Supporting businesses to resolve Broadband infrastructure issues;
• Working with the Business Improvement District to improve security and environment in the area; and
• Supporting the further development of CEME and links to manufacturing industries.
The Committee was informed that residents of the borough would benefit from an increased Business rate base and better value added businesses within the London Riverside Area.
Members gathered from the presentation that the service had successfully attracted and delivered £3 million of new investment in Havering’s green and blue infrastructure.
The Head of Service detailed that the service had been able to support, develop andsubmit bids for green infrastructure development to the Lottery, GLA, Veoila North Thames Trust (VNTT) and EU. The service was also involved in the developing of partnership and overarching green and blue strategy and its operating plan.
It was explained that this involvement had led to improvement in green infrastructure in the borough. This had also provided residents’ use and access to open space and the natural environment.
In response to a Member’s enquiry, the Head of Service explained that funding had been allocated for station improvement at Romford and Harold Wood.
The Committee noted the presentation