Boroughs helping to ease impact of recession on local communities

London Councils Release 13 August 2009

Converting empty shops into art galleries and introducing a new local 'currency' are among the innovative ways in which London boroughs are helping to ease the impact of the recession on their local communities and firms.

They are just two examples of the good practice initiatives featured in a new guide produced by London Councils' improvement and efficiency partnership Capital Ambition.

Others include publicity campaigns to make people aware of all the benefits to which they are entitled, special networking meetings for small businesses to build contacts with larger organisations, and partnerships with DIY stores to offer cut price loft insulation to help cut people's energy bills.

The Waltham Forest High Streets Arts initiative is designed to help keep shopping areas vibrant and interesting by using empty shops to hold exhibitions of work by local artists and groups. This has included using an old branch of Woolworths in Leytonstone to display the work of 60 artists.

From next month residents in Lambeth will be able to use the special currency 'The Brixton Pound' to buy local goods from participating shops around the borough. The scheme, supported by a range of local shops, is designed to boost the local economy and get people thinking about buying locally produced items.

In Sutton a special initiative has been set up to give executives and professionals who have been made redundant help and advice on finding a new job or training opportunities, or starting their own business.

Other examples include:

* a special not for profit company that has been set up in Croydon by the council and the business community to help promote the area's profile as somewhere where local, national and international businesses can thrive

* special outreach programmes in Hackney to ensure that all council and housing association tenants are fully aware of the help and advice available to them

* a joint initiative between Sutton council and B&Q to provide 5,000 rolls of cut price loft insulation to help residents keep their heating bills down

* Barking & Dagenham council investing £1million in five local shopping areas to make them more attractive to visitors

* a series of events in Bromley to bring businesses in the borough together to promote their firm, develop new contacts, and receive advice from specialist advisors

* Islington and Lambeth supporting schemes to provide face to face advice to local residents on making their homes more energy efficient and reducing their fuel bills.

London Councils lead member for Improvement, Councillor Michael White, said: "These are still very difficult and troubling times for families and businesses across the capital but Londoners should be assured that boroughs are determined to do everything they can to help ease the impact of the recession on them.

"Boroughs and their partners have come up with a package of common sense and innovative ways to help families save money, keep our town centres vibrant provide training and support to people made redundant and to help local businesses maintain a solid foundation in this bleak economic climate.

"This guide just outlines the foundations that boroughs and their partners have laid. As councils gain a deeper understanding of the recession's impact in their local areas they will develop the appropriate responses."

The guide also outlines 10 'quick wins' that a number of boroughs have already introduced and others could introduce as well.

These include providing extra funding to Citizen Advice Bureau and others providing residents with help and advice with financial concerns, using small and medium local businesses to provide councils services, speeding up the payment of invoices and introducing a more flexible timetable for tenants to pay their rents.