Agenda and minutes
Economy Committee
Wednesday 11 July 2012 2.00 pm

To receive any apologies for absence and any announcements from the Chair.

1.1  There were no apologies for absence.

The Committee is recommended to:

(a)  Note as disclosable pecuniary interests the list of memberships of functional bodies and London Borough Councils, as set out in the table at Agenda Item 2;

(b)  Declare any disclosable pecuniary interests in specific items listed on the agendaand take any necessary action regarding withdrawal following such declaration(s); and

(c)   Additionally declare any relevant interests (including any interests arising from gifts and hospitality received which are not at the time of the meeting reflected on the Authority’s register of gifts and hospitality, and noting also the advice from the GLA’s Monitoring Officer set out at Agenda Item 2) and take any necessary action regarding withdrawal following such declaration(s).

2.1  Resolved:

(a)   That the list of memberships of functional bodies and London borough councils, as set out in the table at Item 2, be noted as disclosable pecuniary interests; and

(b)  That Andrew Boff AM’s involvement as a business partner of Zen Internet, a broadband provider, be additionally noted as a personal interest in relation to Item 4 on the agenda.

The Committee is recommended to confirm the minutes of the meeting held on 20 June 2012 to be signed by the Chair as a correct record.

3.1  The Committee received the minutes of the meeting of the Committee held on 20 June 2012.

3.2  Resolved:

That the minutes of the meeting of the Committee held on 20 June 2012 be signed by the Chair as a correct record.

Report of the Executive Director of Secretariat

Contact:  Richard Berry; richard.berry@london.gov.uk; 020 7983 4199 

The Committee is recommended to note the report as background to putting questions to the invited guests and to note the answers given in response.

4.1  The Committee received the report of the Executive Director of Secretariat as background to putting questions to the following guests about broadband and wifi provision in London:

·  David Hodges, Digital Policy Adviser, London Chamber of Commerce and Industry;

·  Mike Butcher, European Editor, TechCrunch;

·  Robert Milne, Partner, Antelope Consulting;

·  Greg McCulloch, UK Managing Director, Interxion;

·  Andrew Campling, General Manager, London, BT Group;

·  Jon James, Executive Director, Broadband, Virgin Media;

·  Mark Kleinman, Assistant Director, Economic and Business Policy, Greater London Authority; and

·  Phil Saw, Deputy Programme Director Broadband Delivery UK, Department for Culture, Media and Sport.

4.2  During the course of the discussion, the Committee noted that BT would provide additional information on:

·  The quickest time it could take to install a broadband line;

·  The percentage of homes currently able to connect to 80 Megabit per second broadband if they wished to; and

·  Details of what is being done to improve broadband connectivity in Soho.

4.3  A transcript of the discussion is attached as Appendix 1.

4.4  Resolved:

That the report and discussion be noted.

Report of the Executive Director of Secretariat

Contact:  Richard Berry; richard.berry@london.gov.uk; 020 7983 4199 

Committee agrees the terms of reference for the proposed investigation into empty shops on London’s high streets as follows: 

•  To examine what has been done by the public, private and voluntary sectors to bring empty high street shops back into use.

•  To consider which of these measures have the potential to boost high street performance in London in a sustainable way while maintaining diversity.

•  To consider what the Mayor can do to help ensure successful measures to tackle empty shops are implemented on London’s high streets.

5.1  The Committee received the report of the Executive Director of Secretariat.

5.2  Andrew Boff AM asked whether the terms of reference covered incentives to prevent empty shops, such as via taxation.  It was agreed that the proposed terms of reference be amended to say “what has been done and can be done by the public, private and voluntary sectors to bring empty high street shops back into use”.

5.3  Resolved:

That the terms of reference for the proposed investigation into empty shops on London’s high streets be agreed as follows: 

•  To examine what has been done and can be done by the public, private and voluntary sectors to bring empty high street shops back into use.

•  To consider which of these measures have the potential to boost high street performance in London in a sustainable way while maintaining diversity.

•  To consider what the Mayor can do to help ensure successful measures to tackle empty shops are implemented on London’s high streets.

Report of the Executive Director of Secretariat

Contact:  Richard Berry; richard.berry@london.gov.uk; 020 7983 4199 

The Committee is recommended to note programme and priorities for 2012/13.

6.1  The Committee received the report of the Executive Director of Secretariat, setting out the programme for the Committee’s future meetings.

6.2  Resolved:

That the Committee’s work programme and priorities for 2012/13 be noted.

The next meeting of the Committee is scheduled for Wednesday 19 September 2012 at 2.00pm in Committee Room 5.

7.1  The next meeting of the Committee was scheduled for Wednesday 19 September 2012 at 2.00pm in Committee Room 5.

8.1  There was no other business.

9.1  The meeting ended at 4.12pm.