I write in response to Paul Cunningham s letter in relation to support provided to local businesses. The Council and its partners are committed to an ambitious and prosperous borough that supports business, jobs, skills and attract new businesses. Mr Cu

I write in response to Paul Cunningham's letter in relation to support provided to local businesses.

The Council and its partners are committed to an ambitious and prosperous borough that supports business, jobs, skills and attract new businesses.

Mr Cunningham's company has benefited from a number of council initiatives described by his own Managing Director as 'tremendous support'.

In 2008, his entire workforce benefited from the Workplace Skills for Life Project.

A specialist workforce tutor assessed all staff for their literacy and numeracy needs and provided tailor-made on-site training courses aimed at the continuous improvement of the company (improvement which has seen his company quadruple its turnover, treble its premises and double the number of staff over the last 10 years).

Many staff gained national qualifications and as part of the project legacy, a grant was made for the company to purchase training software for its new learning centre.

As I write, his company is being given a substantial financial incentive to undertake its first Investors in People (IIP) assessment as part of a unique project with Investors in People UK (IIPUK) targeting small and medium-sized businesses. Incidentally, IIPUK chose this Council out of all UK local authorities due to its business-friendly approach.

We are investing �1m this year to improve shopping parades and the first phase of improvements at Creekmouth Industrial area was completed recently with the second phase underway.

Dagenham Dock and Barking Town Centre have seen significant transformations in recent years with millions of pounds of public and private investment.

The Council has invested over �10m into Dagenham Heathway in the last three years.

The company was written to in August for contravening Section 154 of the Highways Act 1980 for allowing shrubs to the side of their property to overhang and cause a danger to users of the highway.

The council has a responsibility to ensure that it works with businesses and residents to make the borough a place where we can all live, work and do business.

Bill Murphy

Corporate Director of Resources

London Borough of Barking and Dagenham