Agenda item

To provide an update on the responses received from the Town Council’s and Grantham Charter Trustees to help inform the next stages regarding the development and future management of Council-operated street markets in Bourne, Grantham and Stamford. The report proposes the creation of a task and finish group to oversee a consultation regarding the future of markets, ahead of the development of a markets strategy.

The Deputy Leader of the Council stated that the item followed on from the last meeting of the Committee when markets were discussed.  It was suggested at the last meeting, that a Task and Finish Group was assembled to organise a consultation in respect of markets.  The Deputy Leader stated that his intention was for a Task and Finish Group to oversee the development of a market strategy.  There were Terms of Reference for the Task and Finish Group appended to the report and he welcomed the Committee’s comments on the document. 

The Chairman was thanked for sending a letter out as requested following the last meeting of the Committee to the Grantham Charter Trustees and also Bourne and Stamford Town Councils. 

The Deputy Leader thanked Councillor Charmaine Morgan for the work that she had undertaken in respect of circulating and collating a questionnaire in respect of Grantham market and the questions posed by the letter circulated.  It was disappointing that only one response to date, had been received from one Stamford Town Councillor.

Craig Rudd, the new Markets Supervisor was introduced to the Committee.

The Committee were asked to look at the Terms of Reference for the proposed Task and Finish Group which would co-ordinate the Market Strategy separate to the Committee.

The Chairman supported the recommendation contained within the report and highlighted the quick responses from Bourne Town Council and the work undertaken by the Grantham Charter Trustees to move the issue forward and come to a meaningful outcome.

In respect of the membership of the Task and Finish Group, the Deputy Leader asked that the Cabinet Member for Leisure and Culture be included.

Comments were made about past market reviews of which there had been many over the years, but it was highlighted that Councillor Tim Harrison had been instrumental in bringing the issue forward, attending the Grantham market and speaking to stall holders and he was thanked for the work that he had undertaken.  Reference was also made to the email that Councillor Harrison had circulated to Members with ideas for the markets that could be pursued instantly rather than having yet another Task and Finish Group whose proposed membership was far too big. 

It was felt that each market should have its own individual Task and Finish Group with a stripped back membership, such as the Ward Councillors where the markets were held, the relevant Cabinet Member and an Officer.

Further discussion followed on how each market was different and had distinctive needs.  Councillor Harrisons work on markets was acknowledged by the Committee.  The Deputy Leader stated that his proposal was a genuine attempt to get the right people in a room to look at aspirations to get the markets flourishing, to look at budgets and issues which affected the individual markets and other factors such as whether the Council were the right people to manage the markets or could others manage them, look at better engagement with stall holders and promotion of the markets.  The Deputy Leader was clear that this did not include privatising the markets or shutting them down.

More comments were made about reducing the membership of the Task and Finish Groups to Ward Members, an Officer and the Cabinet Member and that they should be three “micro” groups that meet as soon as possible to discuss specific proposals and due to the work done already by Grantham Members it was felt that Grantham should be the first to meet to push through ideas.

It was stated that not all Members who were interested in the markets were the specific Ward Member where the markets were held and it was felt that rather than Ward Members it should be those who had a fundamental interest in markets.

Concern was expressed that the issue would get dragged out and it was stated that the markets needed to be nurtured and they would improve.  Each should have a specific group which contained local intelligence which could liaise with the right people to find solutions and this should be undertaken quickly.

The Deputy Leader took onboard what had been said and indicated that he would bring something back to the next meeting based on three individual small groups for each Town who would look at each individual market and put proposals forward.

It was proposed, seconded and AGREED that three small Task and Finish Groups would be established for each Town (Bourne, Grantham and Stamford) to look at proposals for improving each of the three markets.

Membership of each group to include the Ward Councillors, an Officer and the relevant Cabinet Member.

Ø Action

That three small Task and Finish Groups be established for each Town (Bourne, Grantham and Stamford) to look at proposals for improving each of the three markets.  Membership of each group to include the Ward Councillors, an Officer and the relevant Cabinet Member.  A report to come back to the next Committee meeting based on this.