EALING BUSINESS PARTNERSHIP (EBP) Thursday 4 July 2013 at 7:00 pm PRESENT: Independent Members: Peter Smith (Independent Chair), Iain Mackinnon (Independent Vice Chair) Ealing Councillors: Members - Councillors Dheer, Reeves, Millican and Steed In Attendance Councillor Bakhai Representatives of local business/organisations: Sundeep Sangha (Heathrow Airport), Mathieu Rogers (Ealing BID), Matthew McMillan (Ealing BID), Eric Leach (West Ealing Centre Neighbourhood Forum), Magdalena Silva Roldan (Business Evolution Ltd), Annabel Fogden (Ealing Chamber of Commerce), Sue Robinson (Waitrose West Ealing), Stephen Ingall (Vickers & Co Solicitors), John Kiernander (Neill & Co Chartered Accountants), Hazel Alexander (Department for Work and Pensions), Ann McLaughlin (Ealing Physiotherapy), Nigel Presky (Express Print), Ramandeep Kaur (Inspire Dental Southall), Joanne Lee (Inspire Dental Southall), Hiten Patel (Mattock Lane Pharmacy), P Rastovic (Crispins Wine Bar), Radi Rastovic (Crispins Wine Bar) and Tim Jones (Redwire). Council Officers: Kate Graefe (Head of Strategic Procurement), Divya Parmar (Employment and Skills Apprentice), Kevin Unwin (Scrutiny Review Officer) and Mike Davidson (Democratic Services Officer). 1. Introduction & Welcome Peter Smith (Independent Chair) welcomed everyone to the meeting. He explained that EBP is a borough wide partnership that acts as an interface between the Council and the business community. The business community can make the Council aware of issues affecting them at EBP and the Council can provide businesses with information that they think will be of interest and use to them. 2. Apologies Received in advance of the meeting from Councillors Bell, Johnson and Reen. Councillor Reeves substituted for Councillor Bell. 3. Minutes of Last Meeting and Matters Arising Resolved: That the minutes of the meeting held on 20 February 2013 are agreed as a true and correct record. 1
4. West Ealing Business Improvement District (BID) - Presentation Matthew McMillan and Mathieu Rogers (Ealing BID) provided a presentation on a prospective West Ealing BID. BID s are funded by a levy charged on top of business rates with monies raised reinvested back into the area. Ealing Broadway BID initiatives, for example, have included reducing business rates by 30%, reducing core recycling, energy, waste and insurance costs by 70% through collective bargaining, crime reduction, marketing campaigns and a range of public realm improvement campaigns. A feasibility survey of 289 businesses, with 53 in depth interviews, was done to find out whether there was demand for a West Ealing BID. Two thirds would vote yes to a bid, one third said they might vote yes and nobody said they would vote no. Reducing the costs of business, developing a West Ealing identity, reducing crime and improving the trading environment were identified by businesses as the four key areas for improvement in the area. On the basis of these findings it is recommended that a West Ealing BID be set up as a joint structure with the Ealing Broadway BID Company. The campaign will be launched in September 2013 in advance of a ballot in February 2014. If more than 50% of all businesses and 50% of the areas rateable value vote yes, a BID will be introduced from April 2014 onwards. Councillor Millican said that he welcomed the idea of a West Ealing BID and shared governance with the Ealing Broadway BID. He asked how officers would reassure businesses and residents that West Ealing gets a fair crack of the whip in partnership with the Broadway BID. Mathieu Rogers said that a 5-year business plan would be developed for West Ealing. Matthew McMillan confirmed that all levy s obtained from West Ealing businesses would be spent in West Ealing. Hiten Patel (Mattock Lane Pharmacy) asked how, apart from renewals; the success of BID s can be measured and how BID s are structured. Matthew McMillan explained that each BID has its own set of key performance indicators. With regards to the structure, BID s are managed by a board of local businesses who agree a plan which is implemented by a small team of officers. Ann McLaughlin (Ealing Physiotherapy) asked why the potential BID boundary divides the area into four zones, A, B, C and D. Mathieu Rogers explained that each area has unique characteristics. A is the main shopping area, B is the station approach, C is an industrial area and D covers the southern tip of the high street. Matthew McMillan explained that the area has been divided into four because certain issues will be specific to individual areas. Councillor Dheer asked whether the Ealing BID had considered setting up Acton and Southall BID s. Matthew McMillan said that there was no reason why an Acton or Southall BID would not work. Businesses, however, need to want such an initiative and there are costs involved in setting BID s up. Eric Leach (West Ealing Centre Neighbourhood Forum) said that a West Ealing BID is a once in a lifetime opportunity to improve the business environment in the area and he hoped that officers are successful setting it up. Resolved 2
To note the contents of the presentation. 5. Ealing Council and Heathrow Airport Procurement Opportunities for Local Businesses Presentation Kate Graefe (Head of Strategic Procurement, Ealing Council) provided a presentation on procurement opportunities for local businesses. After explaining what Ealing procured in 12/13 the meeting were referred to two websites where local businesses can find opportunities, London Tenders Portal, www.londontenders.org, and Supply 4 London, www.supply4london.gov.uk. Businesses can register for free, explain what services they offer and, if opportunities arise, they will receive emails concerning relevant tenders. The meeting were also referred to the Selling to Ealing Guide which can be downloaded from the Ealing Council website. It was further explained how Ealing procures and what Ealing Council looks for from suppliers. It is unlikely for contracts to be awarded on the basis of price alone with MEAT (Most Economic Advantageous Tender) criteria applied to tender submissions. Value for money is obtained by ensuring an appropriate level of specification before going out to market and, following the introduction of the Public Services (Social Value Act) 2012, considering how a contract can help improve the economic, social and environmental wellbeing of the area. Ealing Council has a Procurement Strategy, supported by an action plan which will be measured and reported on annually. Kate Graefe agreed to engage with EBP on the strategy s action plan to ensure that it supports as many local businesses as possible. Future actions for procurement include developing pan London standard pre-qualification documents and creating a portal so that businesses do not have to re-enter core data each time they submit a tender. Ealing is also looking at better ways of signposting local businesses to contractors that have signed up to framework agreements as this can represent a good opportunity to become part of the supply chain. Sundeep Sangha (Economic Development Manager, Heathrow Airport) provided a presentation on how the Heathrow is looking to develop the economic prosperity of boroughs neighbouring the airport through the Heathrow Business Summit Programme. Developing on the Meet the Buyer events, workshops will be held in five boroughs and provide small and medium size enterprises (SME s) with the opportunity to meet each other and find out about procurement opportunities at Heathrow. The main event will be at Heathrow on 13 November. The event in Ealing will take place on 8 October and be organised in conjunction with Ealing Chamber of Commerce. The Chair said that EBP would work with Heathrow and Ealing Chamber of Commerce to promote the events on 8 October and 13 November. Councillor Millican asked what opportunities there are for local businesses to work with companies based at Heathrow, such as British Airways. Sundeep Sagna said that they work closely with buyers at the airport and she hoped that they would bring details of contracts with them to Summit events. Councillor Dheer said that it would be useful if Ealing Council could set up some small group workshops to help guide local businesses through the procurement process. Traders may be interested in bidding for tenders but do not know how to go about it. Kate Graefe said that she would be happy to host such a workshop that would look at procurement in generic terms. Annabel Fogden (Ealing Chamber of 3
Commerce) said that she could work in partnership with Ealing Council setting up such workshops. Resolved: i.) To note the contents of the presentations. ii.) To agree that the Ealing Council and Heathrow Airport presentations are uploaded to the Council s website and circulated to the electronic distribution list. iii.) To note that the Head of Strategic Procurement will engage with EBP on the Procurement Strategy Action plan to ensure that it supports as many local businesses as possible. iv.) To note that Ealing Council and Ealing Chamber of Commerce will investigate setting up small group procurement workshops. 6. Neighbourhood Planning The Chair invited attendees to an Inaugural General Meeting of the Central Ealing Neighbourhood Forum on Wednesday 24 July, 6:00pm-8:00pm, Liz Cantell Room, Ealing Town, to discuss creating a neighbourhood plan for Central Ealing. The engagement of businesses and residents in the process is essential as both groups need to agree neighbourhood plans. 7. Any Other Business (i) Scrutiny Review Panel 3 2013/2014, Economic Growth and Business Development Mike Davidson (Democratic Services Officer) said that Ealing Council has set up a new Scrutiny Panel that will be looking at Economic Growth and Business Development in the borough. The Panel, chaired by Councillor Harbhajan Kaur- Dheer, is keen to involve and hear the views of the local business community on this topic. The first meeting of the Panel will take place on Thursday 18 July 2013 at 7.00pm in Committee Room 3, Ealing Town Hall. Further details can be obtained from Harjeet Bains (Scrutiny Review Officer) at bainsh@ealing.gov.uk or 020-8825 7120. (ii) Shaping a Healthier Future Update. Councillor Dheer said that the proposed major reconfiguration of Hospital Services in North West London was referred to the Secretary of State by the Ealing Health Scrutiny Panel. The Secretary of State has asked the Independent Reconfiguration Panel (IRP) to undertake an enquiry and provide him with advice. The Panel are already at work in the borough seeking out evidence in various ways including holding a number of evidence gathering sessions. They welcome all views and you can email them on info@irpanel.org.uk or leave a voice message on 020 7389 8046. 8. Date of Next Meeting The meeting noted that the next timetabled date is Thursday 24 October 2013. 4
The meeting finished at 8:25 pm. Peter Smith, Independent Chair 5