Agenda item

To endorse the proposals for the relocation of the Huntingdon Street Market and detailed feasibility work for the relocation of part of the St Ives Monday market.

i.  Approve the proposals to relocate Huntingdon Street Market; and

ii.  Approve the proposal to carry out detailed feasibility work and consult with retailers in St Ives regarding the proposed relocation of part of the St Ives Monday market, both to negate the need for a partial road closure and re-introduce some parking spaces on Market Hill for Blue Badge Holders.

The Cabinet considered a report, presented by the Executive Councillor for Operations (a copy of which is appended in the Minute Book) on the improvement plan being implemented for the Council’s Markets Service, following a review, and proposals to reconfigure the layout of the Huntingdon and St Ives markets to return the service to a trading profit.

To address the lack of management of the Markets Service and its decline, the restructure of the Operations Service in 2015/16 had incorporated a retail specialist as the Markets Officer. Working with the Business Development Manager the service has been fully reviewed and improvement actions implemented to first stabilise and then develop the markets. Significant progress had been made and the Markets Service was due to produce a trading surplus of over £50,000 in 2016/17.

It was explained that Huntingdon Market would be relocated from Market Square to along the High Street which would capture the main footfall of the town and re-invigorate both the Market and High Street and enable the Market Square to be used for promotional and community events, such as the recent Italian flag throwing demonstration.

In addition, as the fortnightly farmers market had been operating at a loss for a number of years it was also proposed to consolidate the Farmers Market with the High Street Market every Wednesday and Saturday. 

It had been disappointing to witness the decline of the Markets and therefore the Cabinet were supportive of the proposals.  In response to a question it was explained that following informal consultation with over 80 retailers directly affected by the proposal in Huntingdon, only two did not support the proposal.  However, the market relocation would be sited to ensure that stalls did not impede the frontage of premises along the High Street. 

It was noted by some Members of the Cabinet that the solution proposed was one that had been suggested in the past by the public, retailers and the market stall traders and had already been trialled.

As Huntingdon Market would be relocated from the Market Square, the Cabinet requested that a number of promotional and community events be scheduled and advertised to encourage more people to the Market and High Street.

It was agreed that St Ives Market was the more thriving market but required improvement.  The Markets Officer had a number of ideas to continue to develop the Markets and the Cabinet commended his achievements, acknowledging him as an exceptional Officer, particularly given the short time he had served in post.

In the past selling the rights of the market had been considered as a potential funding stream and the Cabinet reflected that the decision to not pursue this option had been the correct decision.

It was requested that the Executive Councillor for Operations contact St Neots Town Council to offer the services of the Markets Officer on a consultancy basis to improve St Neots Market.  It conclusion the Cabinet,

RESOLVED

  i.   to approve the proposals to relocate Huntingdon Street Market; and

  ii.  approve the proposal to carry out detailed feasibility work and consult with retailers in St Ives regarding the proposed relocation of part of the St Ives Monday market, both to negate the need for a partial road closure and re-introduce some parking spaces on Market Hill for Blue Badge Holders.