To update the Committee on the Haringey Markets Strategy and the development of the associated Action Plan.
Minutes:
The Committee received a report on the Haringey Markets Strategy and Action Plan, along with a copy of the Haringey Markets Strategy attached as an appendix to the report. A set of presentation slides was also presented, these are set out in the tabled papers pack. The report and presentation was introduced by Pippa Gueterbock, Head of Placemaking and Keith Trotter, Interim Lead – Local Economy, as set out in the agenda pack at pages 65-168, and in the tabled papers pack. Also present for this item was Cllr Ruth Gordon, Cabinet Member for Placemaking and Local Economy. The following arose during the discussion of this item:
a. The Committee queried what prompted the Council to develop a market strategy in the first place, and what additional resources would be required to implement the strategy. In response, the Cabinet Member advised that it was driven by a manifesto commitment and the Cabinet Member’s enjoyment of walking around a market. The Cabinet Member welcomed the fact that there were different types of markets across Haringey. The Cabinet Member commented that the Latin market at Seven Sisters should be reopening soon. In terms of resources, the Cabinet Member acknowledged that the Council was in a difficult financial position. It was commented that the role of the Council was to act as a curator, and to leverage different business networks together. The Council worked closely with Wood Green BID, and was developing a wider business forum network, which among other things would provide a degree of mentorship.
b. In relation to concerns around the types of markets and ensuring they appealed to the local area, the Cabinet Member echoed comments made in relation to the success of Holcombe Road market and acknowledged the challenges with Tottenham Green market. The Cabinet Member suggested it was partially about engagement and understanding what worked in a particular area, as well as the regularity and wider variety of stalls encouraging more traders to the market. Officers added that there was always a balance required between the overall viability of the market and ensuring it offered the right products at the right price point.
c. The Chair queried whether the option of effectively providing land to external market operators limited the Council’s ability to ensure that the right type of markets were happening in the right locations. In response, the Cabinet Member acknowledged that it was difficult to give a definitive answer, but ultimately the Council did not have the resources or expertise to run markets in-house. It was commented that in order to do this, the Council would have to build up a team over a period of time.
d. The Committee referred to Alexandra Palace farmer’s market as an example of a successful market in the borough that was away from a town centre location and sought the comments from officers about why the strategy was focused on town centre locations. In response, officers commented that the market was very well established and people knew when it was on for example. It would be difficult to replicate the market at Alexandra Palace, not least given it’s prominent location and history. It was commented that the strategy focused on high footfall areas and town centres, but the team were open to exploring opportunities elsewhere, particularly if there was a good viability case.
e. The Committee queried what checks were being done around fair pay and working conditions for the markets we interacted with. In response, officers commented that the markets were subject to a licensing process and that the inclusive economy team were part of the Market Strategy, working with business to provide support. Officers commented that fair pay was something they could look at pushing as part of the engagement with businesses. The Cabinet Member commented that a lot of smaller businesses tended to be sole traders and there was also some work to be done around facilitating mentoring by more established businesses.
f. The Committee welcomed the return of the Latin market at Severn Sisters.
g. A Committee Member welcomed the fact that Muswell Hill had been nominated as one of the town centres. The Committee asked about opportunities for ward councillor engagement with the Town Centre team going forward, given recent changes within that team. In response, officers advised that the team had recently been through a restructure and those roles were now called Business Engagement Officers, these officers still covered specific geographic areas and lead on market development on the ground. The Committee was advised that the team would be engaging with Ward Councillors and Members were able to contact them as and when they wanted to.
h. In response to a question about likely contractual arrangements for market operators, officers advised that at Tottenham Green an initial 12 month contract was offered, followed by a three year contract. It was envisaged that something similar would be offered to other markets. Officers provided assurances that operators would have performance targets and that the fact they were taking place on Council land gave the authority a degree of control.
i. The Chair queried the feasibility of Option D, a new council-operated market, in light of the responses given by officers at the meeting and questioned whether it was possible that there would be a council-operated markets in the future. In response, officers advised that they did not want to rule it out definitively and the option would be kept under review. The advice from the retail group, who carried out some of the work on the strategy, was that Haringey didn’t have access to the larger markets necessary to subsidise the smaller markets. Instead, it was recommended that Haringey should retain its current route of street trading licences, rather than becoming a market borough. It was acknowledged that a council-operated market would be unlikely without significant growth in markets in Haringey. However, this was something that the administration wanted to keep under review.
j. The Committee agreed to recommend that the decision to operate an in-house market service was kept under review, as the strategy developed and markets expanded, in line with the wider policy position around in-sourcing of services.
k. The Committee requested that a communication was send round to ward councillors and grouped into town centre areas, that set out what the next steps were for the strategy, along with engagement opportunities for ward councillors and the Business Engagement Officers. In response, the Cabinet Member agreed to write to all Councillors, as well as contacting councillors in groups corresponding to wards with town centre sites, such as Muswell Hill and Crouch End, to provide a point of contact and give summary of the strategy so far, and to attach the slides presented to the Committee. (Action: Cllr Gordon).
RESOLVED
Supporting documents: