Throughout the past year the Business Group has continued to flourish and the membership grow. The Business Group Sub-Committee, under the Chairmanship of Sital Maan, has met throughout the period to address the issues which were felt to be directly relevant to the business community. It has been possible, therefore, to be both pro-active and reactive in respect of business issues. In connection with this "Business Focus" has been published each month giving coverage to these topics, including the Environment, Transport and Retail Crime. The publication continues to attract positive and encouraging feedback.

The Business Group has liaised with both Camden and Westminster Councils, other statutory and voluntary bodies, and made strong representations to central government, particularly on the future of London's Tube. We have not neglected the 'hands-on' representation and mediation role of the Business Group in working groups, such as convened during the redevelopment of Nottingham House in Short's Gardens. Through "Business Focus" we have also been able to offer preferential, money-saving deals, in association with BT, on Business Choices and Group Paging for example.

One area in particular, that of retail crime in Covent Garden, has required a strong and positive response from the Business Group. A 'Business Watch' scheme, using pagers to circularise information on shoplifters and users of stolen credit cards and cheque books etc., has been in operation in the Charing Cross Divisional Sector for several years. Following many requests from members and non-members alike, the Business Group helped to develop and put in place an extension of the scheme within the South sector of Holborn Division, thereby creating an effective 'joint operational area' across the whole of Covent Garden.

Provisions of the Crime and Disorder Act, due to come into force this Summer, require the development of a Community Safety Partnership between the Police, Local Authority, Key Agencies and Voluntary Organisations. The Business Watch scheme is a powerful element which will present a concrete response to retail crime and which has its place within the Crime Control and Reduction sector of the Community Safety Partnership. We are confident that this will offer much to the business community of our area. The active participation of all local business is always welcome and necessary to support the activities which the Business Group undertakes.

 

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