Issue - meetings

[Report of the Director of Housing, Regeneration and Planning. To be introduced by the Cabinet Member for Finance and Strategic Regeneration]

The report seeks Cabinet to note the work of the Wards Corner Policy Advisory Group (PAG), which was established to review the options for the future management of the Seven Sisters Market in Tottenham Green Ward, in response to ongoing concern regarding the current management of the market.

The Cabinet Member for Finance and Strategic Regeneration introduced this report which asked Cabinet to note the work of the Wards Corner Policy Advisory Group (PAG), which was established to review the options for the future management of the Seven Sisters Market in Tottenham Green Ward, in response to ongoing concern regarding the current management of the market.

At the outset, the Cabinet Member stressed that the Council had no ownership of the Seven Sisters Market and that the PAG’s recommendations were not for the Council to implement. It was hoped that the key stakeholders would work together to ensure the recommendations were met.

The Cabinet Member informed that he had worked with Tottenham Ward Councillors to commission the independent review and enable this important conversation on the future management of the Seven Sisters Market to take place with key partners and stakeholders. As PAG, we have been very clear that we want the Seven Sisters Market, which includes the Latin Village, to be the best it can possibly be and recognise the social value that it brings to Haringey. That was why, even though the Council itself has no ownership or management role in the market, we recognise that the status quo was not working for all parties and we are committed to engaging with all the key stakeholders to find a sustainable solution for the future management and operation of the market that enables this important trading community to thrive in the future.

The Cabinet Member informed that, in recommending the Partnership Model as the proposed solution for future management and operation of this market, the review had considered the particular circumstances that the Seven Sisters Market finds itself in and balanced the importance of social value with the requirement for a viable operation. The PAG was confident, therefore, that the Partnership Model combined the benefits of an operator model with the right governance oversight from the key stakeholders.

The Cabinet Member highlighted that the approach was entirely consistent with the Community Wealth Building objectives of the Borough Plan which sought to build the strength, depth and wealth of our local economy and our Business Pledge to support SME businesses. And, it was vitally important that the key stakeholders came together to develop this model further to suit their combined requirements and aspirations.

The Cabinet Member was pleased this work had engaged with key stakeholders, including the majority of permitted traders as well as Grainger, TfL, the Mayor of London, the Assembly Member for Enfield and Haringey, Council Officers and Tottenham Councillors past and present in an effort to balance the needs and interests of all parties.

On behalf of PAG, the Cabinet Member paid a special thanks to the key stakeholders for their participation in this critical review and invited them to work collaboratively to implement all of the review’s recommendations and ensure a successful Seven Sisters Market.

In response to questions from the Leader, Cllr Brabazon, Cllr Hare, Cllr Ibrahim, Cllr Chandwani, and Cllr Hakata,  ...  view the full minutes text for item 162