Agenda item

This Draft Final Report presents Members with all the information collated in relation to the scrutiny review to date. They are asked to formulate recommendations arising from this.

Members received a draft final report in regards to the scrutiny review that they had conducted on Newgate Market.

Members were asked to consider the information to date and formulate the recommendations arising from the review. Their discussions were focused around some common themes that had arisen during the course of the review namely:

• The implementation of the cleansing Service Level Agreement (SLA) and the possibility of this being reviewed after it had been in place for three months time.
• The use of the market space when the market was closed, particularly in the evening, for unauthorised parking.
• Possible enforcement action that could be used to dissuade people from parking in the market space.
• The trial of permanent sculpted stalls instead of current temporary ones.
• The possibility of the introduction of a fixed closing time for the market.
• The accessibility and attractiveness of the entrances to the market.
• The use of the empty space at the bottom of the market for storage purposes.
• A reduction of stalls in the medium term to generate more footfall.

Members expressed the view that as the market had been shown to be a viable and profitable operation for the city, that a greater amount of financial assistance should be given, in order to harness investment. It was suggested that if a certain part of the income of the market was reinvested into the market that this might build confidence amongst traders. Further discussion ensued as to where this assistance could be derived from. 

The Scrutiny Officer informed the Committee that the final report would be presented to the Executive at one of their future meetings.

RESOLVED:       1.That the draft final report be agreed and having considered all the information received the following recommendations arising from the review be added:

NB: The exact wording of the following recommendations are subject to change.

1.                                 To improve the general cleanliness of the market. This can be achieved in the short term by:

(i)                                         Early implementation of the Service Level Agreement (SLA) with a review after 3 months.

(ii)                                       Closing the market one day per quarter for deep cleansing(the first instance to be before Easter 2011).

And in the medium term by;

(iii)                                     Exploring the possibilities of storing waste underground-possibly in St Sampson’s Square or by exploring other suitable options.

2.                                         To improve the public realm-this can be achieved in the short term by:

(i)                                         Working with landlords and leaseholders of buildings surrounding the market to improve their general appearance.

(ii)                                       Trialling ‘sculpted style’ stalls along Jubbergate.

(iii)                                     Looking at ways of preventing unauthorised parking in Silver Street and the Market.

(iv)                                     Providing additional market stalls along Silver Street.

(v)                                       Improving lighting in the area.

3.                                         To begin to improve the early evening economy in the short term. This can be achieved by undertaking a trial of a fixed closing time of 5 pm for the market.

4.                                         In the short term, to improve and make more attractive all entrances to the market.

5.                                         In the short term to encourage more open access from the Shambles and other properties that back onto the market. To encourage pavement cafes and ‘walk through’ premises where possible.

6.                                         To improve the market stalls; this can be achieved in the short term by:

(i)                                         Replacing the existing canopies on the market stalls at an approximate cost of £200 per canopy.

(ii)                                       To reduce the number of stalls in the market to enable freer footfall.

And in the medium term by:

(iii)                                     Exploring the type of stall that would be most suitable for the marketplace.

7.                                         In the medium to long term to look at using the rear of the market for a new store for market equipment.

8.                                 That a programme of reinvestment in the marketplace should be undertaken.

Reason:To address the remit and key objectives of this review.

2.                                To add the final report arising from the review to the Executive Forward Plan.¹          

REASON:                  In order to complete the review.