News

news Mayor recruits experts to

shape future of London’s buildings

The Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, is recruiting a new cohort of Mayor’s Design Advocates (MDAs) – independent experts who will ensure quality buildings and public spaces that benefit Londoners are at the heart of the capital’s recovery from the pandemic. Sadiq will appoint 30 design advocates with a wealth of expertise and skills to support his vision of “good growth”, delivering a more inclusive and sustainable built environment.

The original cohort of MDAs was appointed in 2017 and developed guidance and policy in support of the London Plan in relation to housing design, circular economy, public realm, social infrastructure, urban industry, the childfriendly city and high streets. They have also developed a handbook to support diversity in the built environment profession. MDAs also design reviewed more than 150 schemes through the London Review Panel, where the mayor is investing funding, making a planning decision or supporting local authorities. These have ranged from highprofile schemes such as the Tulip, Bishopsgate Goodsyard and Oxford Street pedestrianisation, to supportive workshops for community groups in receipt of Crowdfund London funding. “Good Growth” is the mayor’s guiding principle for the built environment and sets the direction of the London Plan and all related mayoral decisions, investments, strategies and policies. Jules Pipe, deputy mayor for planning, regeneration and skills, said: “We know that good architecture and planning can make a real difference between the places that work – socially and environmentally as well as economically – and those that age gracelessly. “That’s why we’re delighted to be recruiting a new cohort of 30 experts who will use their extensive expertise and skills to help us build back fairer and greener after the pandemic and support our vision for Good Growth in London. We look forward to reviewing applications and welcoming the new cohort in March 2022.”

Virtual high streets to

help local shops thrive in Kingston

With high street shops reopened after months of uncertainty and lockdown, Kingston’s town centres are now fighting back. Kingston Council is enabling independent shops and businesses to join the collective, local shopping and business ecommerce platform, Shopappy.com. It’s a town-based website that makes it easier for everyone to buy goods and services from their own local high street from the comfort of their sofas – at no extra cost.

Surbiton and Kingston will be the first two town centres launching, with dozens of local independent businesses already sharing their services and products on the platform.

Cllr John Sweeney, portfolio holder for business and leisure at Kingston Council, said: “With our lives increasingly focusing on the local, Kingston is fortunate to have everything needed to live a fulfilling, healthy and prosperous life within the borough. We are creating even more opportunities for people to genuinely live, work and shop locally. This is one of the things we can do to offer much more than traditional shopping and ensure the whole borough is well-placed to thrive in a completely new social and economic climate.

“We are happy to be able to provide this for businesses free of charge until February 2022 and make it easier for people to support local businesses beyond lockdown. With ShopAppy, you can browse goods and services online, organise a convenient collection and support local businesses from the comfort of your home. But this is not just about shops. ShopAppy.com can help services, trades, B2B businesses, chefs, pop-ups, entertainers and market stalls with bookings, click and collect, home delivery and can even host virtual events such as fairs and markets – all ways in which online can support our economic recovery.”

Eva Veliotou, from Rocco Jewellery, said: “We think that people love to shop locally, especially if it’s convenient! ShopAppy is a unique platform that connects customers with businesses and allows them to easily shop from their high street, online. It’s also a great way of discovering businesses that customers may then want to visit in-store.”

The Adam Nakar consequences of liquidation on directors

A common question we are asked by directors is what the consequences are of placing their company into insolvent liquidation. Many of them are also good at finding wrong answers! As many more are now considering liquidating their companies, this article aims to lay out a few key facts of the matter.

The only automatic restriction on a director of a company that goes into insolvent liquidation is that you cannot reuse the company’s name or trading styles for ongoing trade (subject to certain exceptions). That’s it. You are otherwise free to continue trade as you wish; form new companies, carry on in the same industry, seek credit and work exactly as before. Just use a different name. While the trading name is the only restriction, there are other duties and consequences of insolvency to be aware of. Directors will have a duty to cooperate with the liquidator, to deliver up books and records of the company, complete a questionnaire on the affairs of the company, and comply with any reasonable requests for information that the liquidator may make. The liquidator is required to make a report to the Secretary of State on the conduct of the directors, and non-cooperation with the liquidator is taken as seriously – and reported – as much as any matters for concern in the running of the company. It is time consuming, not remunerated, but it is important. Another consequence will be if directors have personally guaranteed debts. (Note that, unless you have obtained more than £250,000 you will not have a personal guarantee on bounce back loans or CBILS). In these circumstances, you will need to arrange to settle payment of these claims against you. Finally, do remember that if your company is in financial difficulty, it is your duty to act in the interests of its creditors. That means ensuring you do not deliberately worsen their overall position without good reason, not dissipating assets or drawing what’s left for yourself, and seeking professional advice.