Agenda item

(Councillor Mair left the room during the discussion of this item, having declared a disclosable pecuniary interest in the matter to be discussed.)

Kate Ellis, Director of Major Developments

a.    presented a report at the request of Performance Scrutiny Committee to provide members with an update on the current position with regards to the Central Market

b.    advised that substantial construction work had taken place in the Sincil Street area for the Transport Hub and redevelopment by the Lincolnshire Co-operative Society in the Cornhill Quarter

c.    confirmed that a reduced income target for 2017/18, was expected to be met  following additional stall lettings in City Square with the potential of a small surplus to offset the increased expenditure  incurred as a result of a range of activity to support market traders and businesses in the area during the construction works on the Hub, as detailed at paragraph 4.3 of the report

d.    stated that:

·         Out of 71 interior stalls, 61 were let.

·         The outside area was more problematic and monthly meetings were held with the traders and Lincoln BIG. Market activity and event activity was discussed at these meetings and it was agreed that nationally indoor markets tended to be at the higher end of food and drink suppliers and intended to attract tourists.

·         Traditional traders were focused outside.

·         Market towns found it hard to cope with the larger supermarkets and the Lidl/Aldi groups

e.    explained that 2018/19 would be the year in which the retail assessment, the outcome from the BIG review and the options for the market within that would be explored and funding options investigated

f.     concluded by asking members for comments or questions.

The Committee thanked the Director of Major Developments for the report and proceeded to ask the following questions:

Question:  With regards to the Market Charter was it known what the rights and privileges were? The market currently seems to be unpopular with traders and the public.

Response: As there has been a considerable amount of construction and disruption it was understood that traders and the public were not happy with the situation. However now that the bus station and car park were open hopefully trade would increase in the market and Cornhill area. With regards to the Market Charter as this was quite complicated legal advice always had to be sought. The charter incorporated the showground and an area of 6.25 miles from the market.

Question: At the monthly meetings did all the stallholders attend or just representatives? Were the fruit and vegetable stalls a high priority as they were high priority for members of the public?

Response: The meetings were facilitated by Lincoln BIG who were currently undergoing a review. The stallholder group had encountered issues over the years however they were now coming together to form a committee.  Fruit and vegetable stalls were better accommodated outside and semi-permanent structures were more beneficial. A solution was being sought in terms of Heritage Conservation but semi-permanent constructions were costly. Continued discussions would take place with Lincoln BIG and the stallholders and an agreement on a single, co-ordinated and joined up approach to the markets offer and its delivery was still required in line with the Council’s jointly agreed strategy.

RESOLVED that the contents of the report and comments from members be noted.