Posted in document archives - Market Management Minutes

Minutes of the Market Management Committee Meeting

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held in the Council Chamber, Town Hall, Bideford, on
Thursday 1 April 2010 at 6.00 pm

BIDEFORD TOWN COUNCIL

PRESENT:

North Ward:    

Councillor Ms E L Farrington
Councillor D C Fulford (Substitute for M L Bushell)

South Ward:

Councillor A T Inch
Councillor P J Pester (Chairman)

IN ATTENDANCE:

Mr G B McLauchlan (Town Clerk)
Mr R Coombes (Market Administrator)
3 x Market Tenants
1 x Member of the Press
1 x Member of the Public

141    APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE

Councillors Mrs C B Church (East Ward – Holiday) and M L Bushell (North Ward – Work Commitments).

142    DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST ON ITEMS ON THE AGENDA

There were no declarations received at this time.

143    PUBLIC PARTICIPATION PERIOD

The President of the Bideford Chamber of Commerce spoke on an initiative to provide street entertainment for the local community and visitors, including street traders, in Mill/Cooper Street.  In seeking support from the Council he envisaged one Friday a month, between the times of 4 - 7 pm building up for the summer months. The Plan, in its infancy, would require permissions and licences, not least the right of way for traffic but also a formal request to the Committee with a view to using Market tables.

The café proprietor voiced her concerns about the forthcoming agenda item number 7 and also her disquiet about not being able to open the Galley Café on Good Friday.  The Town Clerk advised that staff would accrue double time for working on the public holiday and could not commit a staff member to be on call for the day as the Council would not be receiving any income.

144    MINUTES

The Minutes of the meeting held on 4 March 2010 were approved and signed as a correct record.

(Vote: – For: 4,  Against: 0)

145    STEERING GROUP

Concern was raised again regarding the lack of councillor attendance at Steering Group meetings.  The Town Clerk reminded members that it was not a formal Group and that its remit was to provide a link between the Traders/Tenants and the Committee.  Further, it was to be a resource for ideas and initiatives such as advertising.  Councillor Ms Farrington stated the continued importance of the Steering Group while Councillor Fulford requested that future meeting dates be promulgated and recorded in the Steering Group’s Minutes.  Councillor Pester, while conceding that his absences had been as a result of other commitments on the meeting days, suggested that the Steering Group conduct their meetings on a 6 weekly basis with a view to changing the day from a Wednesday.

The Steering Group had expressed unease at Councillor Ms Farrington’s declared Prejudicial Interest at Item 9, of the Market Management Meeting, held on 4 March 2010, while she had not declared any interest in item 8.  The Town Clerk advised that the item for discussion at 8 referred to a policy already in force and that no advantage could be gained by an interested party.  He did admit that a Personal Interest declaration would not have been incorrect.  Further, he reiterated the drive behind item 8, highlighting the importance that tenants had agreed to commit to opening 30 hours a week.

Councillor Ms Farrington spoke on the Group’s question regarding the responsibility to advertise the Pannier Market.  She had been in discussion with Tourism Officer regarding a Christmas Market and Fayre.  Further she had also been in talks with two Antique Market organisers with a view to an on site meeting after the introduction of the new market stalls.  A dialogue with Mr Sims from the Bridge Trust had elicited the potential to tap into grants for young people starting and creating new businesses.  The Town Clerk charged the traders and tenants with their established networks to promote the Pannier Market as a vehicle to trade as well as the Council and its staff.

146    POLICY ON SALE OF UNSUITABLE GOODS

The Town Clerk highlighted the recent headlines in the National Press covering methadrone and legal highs.  He referred to a recent article in the North Devon Journal that only partially quoted his response to the question of whether the Council had concerns regarding legal highs being sold in Butcher’s Row.  To date there had been no public concerns expressed but he intimated that the Council has to maintain a moral stance.  He added that the police do monitor the Market Complex.  Councillor Ms Farrington stressed caution given that the legal items referred to were widely available in the Town, throughout the country and also on the internet.  Councillor Inch expressed his disgust at the general trading of certain recreational products.

RESOLVED: That Council seeks legal advice on the grounds by which it can terminate a current tenancy agreement.

(Vote: – For: 4,  Against: 0)

147    SUSPENSION OF STANDING ORDERS

Proposed by Councillor Inch, seconded and

RESOLVED:  That Standing Orders be suspended in order for the café proprietor to partake in the discussion of item 7.

(Vote – For: 4, Against: 0)

148    INCREASE IN CAFÉ RENT – RESPONSE TO LETTER

The Chairman confirmed that members had been given a copy of the café proprietor’s letter which had been circulated with the agenda.  After a brief dialogue with her, he read an extract from the record made of the meeting held with her and members of the Committee on Thursday 11 February 2010.  Further discussion regarding the rate that had been resolved by the Committee at the previous meeting followed.  The Town Clerk spoke on the not inconsiderable amount of investment made by the Council into the café in recent years.  Councillor Ms Farrington alluded to the need to make the facilities available for future events.  The proprieror worried about the effect that this might have on her reputation. While prepared to support events when asked to do so she felt that the figures proffered could find her paying out more in rent to trade and make a profit, than the original £3,000.00 per annum.  The Town Clerk stated that a tenancy agreement effective from 1 August 2010 would need to be specifically tailored for the café.  It was proposed by Councillor Inch, seconded and

RESOLVED: That a Tenancy Agreement specifically for the café be drawn up as a matter of urgency.

(Vote: – For: 4,  Against: 0)

149    RETURN TO STANDING ORDERS

Proposed by Councillor Farrington, seconded and

RESOLVED:  That the Meeting return to Standing Orders on completion of item 7.

(Vote – For: 4, Against: 0)

150    ACCOUNTS

Proposed by Councillor Inch, seconded and

RESOLVED: That the list of payments be approved and form part of these Minutes.

(Vote – For: 4,  Against: 0)

151    MARKET ADMINISTRATOR’S REPORT

The Market Administrator advised that:

•    In response to Cllr Mrs Church’s question regarding the advertising banners over the Public Highway – Section 178, Highways Act 1980, a letter received from the Area North Highway Management, Devon County Council, has been received.  It stated that banners will only be permitted for the purpose of advertising charitable, community or special annual events that are in essence community events involving the majority of businesses in the town concerned e.g. Special Christmas events, Carnivals etc.

•    Signs for outside the Market have now been ordered.

•    The Community Project partnership had corresponded regarding the possibility of drafting in further workers.  The representative from Petroc referred to a meeting with the Bridge Trust to support a funding initiative, but stated that the project will continue as planned.

152    CONFIDENTIAL ITEMS TO BE TAKEN IN PART II

Proposed by Councillor Farrington, seconded and

RESOLVED: That in view of the confidential nature of the business about to be discussed, it is advisable, in the public interest, that the public be excluded for the remainder of the meeting; they were instructed to withdraw.

(Vote – For: 4, Against: 0)


PART II (Closed Session)

153    TERMINATIONS OF LEASES BY TENANTS/APPLICATIONS RECEIVED FOR TENANCIES OF PREMISES

The Market Administrator advised that none had bee received.

154    UPDATE ON RENT ARREARS

The Market Administrator advised that there was nothing to report.  The Town Clerk intimated that this was the best position that the Market had held at the end of the financial year for some time and thanked the Market Administrator for his efforts.


The business of the meeting having been completed, the Chairman thanked the members for their attendance and the meeting concluded at 7.26 pm.



Signature of Deputy Town Mayor:……………………………………  Date:……………………...........



Signature of Chairman:………………………………..........................  Date:……………………….......