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West End Extra - LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
Published: 7 November 2008

Labour’s five-point plan for economic recovery

• LABOUR councillors have launched a five point city council economic recovery plan to protect local residents and businesses during the current economic difficulties caused by the local Conservatives and by the current global financial problems.
First, the council should pay all invoices from small firms within 10 days of receiving them in order to ensure businesses have the cash flow available to pay the wages of their staff. Without quick payment of outstanding bills some firms will be forced to lay-off staff.
Second, the council should suspend planned rent increases on commercial premises occupied by small business. This will help struggling shops in Church Street and elsewhere which are faced with massive rent increases. Many local traders have told us of the problems they face because of the Council’s insistence on putting up rents despite the difficult economic situation.
Third, the council should advertise jobs in the Westminster Reporter and newspapers in order to attract applications from local residents. This would increase local incomes and increasing local economic spending power. It would also result in less commuting and less traffic on the roads.
Fourth, the council should link up with the health authorities, Westminster University, local colleges and police to offer more apprenticeships, training courses and work experience opportunities.
Fifth, the council should mount a major benefits “take-up” campaign, in association with local advice agencies, to ensure that residents maximise their income by claiming what they are legally entitled to.
It will need to offer more support to the law centres and Citizens’ Advice Bureaux which have been shamefully neglected by the Conservatives over the past 20 years and more.
It is vital that in these difficult economic times the city council uses its economic and financial muscle as an employer, landlord and purchaser of goods and services to help residents and businesses weather the storm.
The next few months will be an opportunity for the council to show that it is up to the task.
Labour councillors will continue advice sessions every Tuesday at the Harrow Road One Stop (7pm to 8pm) and Church Street One Stop (6pm to 7pm), open to all residents who need help and advice.
Cllr Paul Dimoldenberg
Leader of the Labour Group,
Westminster City Council

Send your letters to: The Letters Editor, West End Extra, 40 Camden Road, London, NW1 9DR or email to letters@westendextra.co.uk. The deadline for letters is midday Wednesday. The editor regrets that anonymous letters cannot be published, although names and addresses can be withheld.
Please include a full name, postal address and telephone number.
Letters may be edited for reasons of space.

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