‘Let us clean up West End,’ says Dame Judith Mayhew - City Hall should hand over licensing enforcement role

DAME Judith Mayhew Jonas has angered residents for the second time in a month after a video emerged in which she suggests businesses should be handed powers to tackle problems on West End streets.

The footage, which has been circulated by residents, shows Dame Judith, chairwoman of the New West End Company (NWEC), indicating corporate groups could take over responsibility for licensing enforcement from the council.

In the clip, which was recorded at the British Council of Shopping Centres conference last year, Dame Judith said: “It may be that we take over some of the licensing enforcement.”

A spokesman for the NWEC cited illegal street trading, prostitute carding and rubbish removal as areas that businesses were keen to help City Hall deal with.

However, the council said it would continue to discharge its enforcement duties “without third-party assistance”.

And the idea has also been given short shrift by Mayfair residents including West End ward councillor Glenys Roberts, who said: “I’m afraid she (Dame Judith) has rather blotted her copybook, so that now whatever she says you have to ask yourself what businesses are going to be getting out of it.”

Mayfair Residents’ Group chairman Ron Whelan called the video “Orwellian”, adding: “With the council at least we actually voted for them, but with this lot, who knows? I don’t have an objection to business getting involved in the community to fund things, but there has to be some degree of accountability.” Dean Street resident David Bieda said: “I don’t see how the NWEC can carry out Westminster’s statutory duties.”

The NWEC – a Business Improvement District or BID – represents the interests of businesses in Oxford Street, Bond Street and Regent Street and levies a charge used to help promote the area as a “retail destination”.

A spokesman for the NWEC said: “With major funding cuts taking place across local authorities up and down the country it is clear that Westminster City Council will have less money to deliver street management and environmental services in the West End to a standard that businesses and visitors expect of a global shopping destination. Areas like illegal street trading, prostitute carding, rubbish removal and littering spoil the West End for residents, businesses and visitors. 

“The NWEC would like to work with Westminster City Council and the local community to explore various ways in which businesses could help support the enforcement function that Westminster is obliged to do by statute.”

Three weeks ago the West End Extra revealed how Dame Judith had urged council leader Colin Barrow to prevent residents from having greater powers through the Localism Bill.

A spokeswoman for Westminster Council said: “We will always welcome discussions about different ways in working which help the business community and others to continue to make the West End so special.”

Published: 15 July 2011
by JOSH LOEB and CONRAD LANDIN