Agenda and minutes
Economy Committee - Tuesday 4 November 2014 10.00 am

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

1.1  Apologies for absence were received from Tony Arbour AM for whom James Cleverly AM substituted.

Report of the Executive Director of Secretariat

Contact:  David Pealing, [email protected], 020 7983 5525

The Committee is recommended to:

(a)  Note the list of offices held by Assembly Members, as set out in the table at Agenda Item 2, as disclosable pecuniary interests;

(b)  Note the declaration by any Member(s) of any disclosable pecuniary interests in specific items listed on the agenda and the necessary action taken by the Member(s) regarding withdrawal following such declaration(s); and

(c)  Note the declaration by any Member(s) of any other interests deemed to be relevant (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 to note any necessary action taken by the Member(s) following such declaration(s).

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

2.2  Resolved:

That the list of offices held by Assembly Members, as set out in the table at Agenda Item 2, be noted as disclosable pecuniary interests.

Report of the Executive Director of Secretariat

Contact:  David Pealing, [email protected], 020 7983 5525

The Committee is recommended to note the completed and outstanding actions arising from previous meetings of the Committee.

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

3.2  Resolved:

  That the completed and outstanding action arising from previous meetings of the Committee be noted.

Report of the Executive Director of Secretariat

Contact: Teja Zbikowska, [email protected]; 020 7983 4510

The Committee is recommended to note the report as background to discussing with experts the key issues affecting personal debt in London.

4.1  The Committee received the report of the Executive Director of Secretariat as background to putting questions on problem personal debt to the following guests:

·  John Gathergood, Associate Professor in Economics, University of Nottingham;

·  Dr Pippa Lane, Senior Policy Researcher, Citizens Advice Bureau;

·  Ally Paget, Researcher, Demos;

·  Robbie de Santos, Senior Public Policy Advocate, StepChange; and

·  Caroline Siarkiewicz, Head of Debt Advice, Money Advice Service.

4.2  A transcript of the discussion is attached at Appendix 1.

4.3  During the course of the question and answer session, Caroline Siarkiewicz committed to provide detailed numbers of people in Council Tax arrears in London by Borough and by demographic; and Robbie de Santos committed to provide the monetary impact of problem debt on public and social services in London.

4.4  Resolved:

  That the report and discussion on problem personal debt be noted.

Report of the Executive Director of Secretariat

Contact: Simon Shaw, [email protected]; 020 7983 6542

The Committee is recommended to agree its report Trained in London: Creating more apprenticeships to support the London economy.

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

5.2  Resolved:

That the Committee’s report Trained in London: Creating More Apprenticeships to Support the London Economy be agreed.

Report of the Executive Director of Secretariat

Contact: Simon Shaw, [email protected]; 020 7983 6542

The Committee is recommended to note its work programme and priorities for 2014/15.

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

6.2  Resolved:

  That the Committee’s work programme and priorities for 2014/15 be noted.

The next meeting of the Committee is scheduled to be held on 9 December 2014 at 10.00 am in Committee Room 5, City Hall, London SE1 2AA.

7.1  The date of the next meeting of the Committee was scheduled for Tuesday 9 December 2014 at 10.00 am in Committee Room 5, City Hall.

8.1  There were no urgent items of business.

9.1  The meeting ended at 12.17 pm.