Market Management Committee Meeting Minutes - 14 April 2016
PRESENT:
North Ward
Councillor T Johns
East Ward:
Councillor Mrs R Craigie
South Ward:
Councillor D Brenton (Chairman)
Councillor J Day
Butcher’s Row
Mr N Morgan
Market Hall
Ms S Cobb
Market Street Shops
Ms S Logan
IN ATTENDANCE:
Mr R Coombes (Deputy Town Clerk)
2 x Traders / Tenant
128 APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE
Councillor R Wootton (South Ward – personal) and Mrs J Fisher (Market Hall – leave).
129 DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST ON ITEMS ON THE AGENDA
There were no declarations of interest.
130 PUBLIC PARTICIPATION PERIOD
There was no public participation.
131 MINUTES
The Minutes of the Meeting held on 2 March 2016 were approved and signed as a correct record.
(Vote – For: 4, Against: 0)
132 MATTERS ARISING
The Market Administrator advised Members:
a. The Businesses of Bideford (BoB) will be holding a Late Night Shopping day on Tuesday, 6 December 2016. They would like to repeat the Market Initiative on the same terms as that enjoyed on 8 December 2015:
o Extend opening to: 08.00 am – 8.00 pm.
o Gratis stalls for additional Arts / Crafts Traders.
BoB will charge traders £5 which will pay for advertising (will include Map of Events inc. Pannier Market).
• Request that Market support Entertainment on the day / attractive for children.
b. Wicked Week: 22 – 29 Oct 16:
o Larger Budget.
o Disco will be held in the Youth Centre (not the Market).
o Would like two stalls for Pumpkins.
c. That a request from the North Devon Positive Living Group (not for profit) to hold a Positive Living Sustainability Fair in the Bideford Pannier Market on a Sunday (between 10.00 am – 4.00 pm) in September 2016 had been received. It will provide (green / sustainable) groups, organisations and individuals with an open space to share and showcase their life enhancing projects, practices and aims through demonstrations, talks and presentations. Bideford Sustainability Group will promote sustainable living, learning and information sharing.
Members reflected on, and indicated support for, the initiatives / requests, which the Chairman advised would be confirmed / resolved upon at the Meeting of the Committee to be held on 19 May 2016.
133 ACCOUNTS
It was proposed by Councillor Johns, seconded and
RESOLVED: That the list of payments be approved.
(Vote – For: 4, Against: 0)
134 MARKET HALL WORK SHOP UNIT INITIATIVE
Ms Cobb raised the following points on behalf of the newly installed Market Studio Tenants:
a. Lighting. The Studio 8 Tenant hand indicated that the lighting was weak, exacerbated by its Market Hall siting.
o Both Councillors Johns and Brenton believed that the three pairs of sockets should provide the opportunity to use additional / spotlights.
o The original wattage / specification could be reviewed.
b. Timing / Hours of work.
o Market Administrator confirmed that the hours were structured around the Market Officer’s working hours.
o Ms Cobb believed that a 4 pm cessation would be preferable.
Market Administrator indicated that provision could be made for a tenant to hold the key / security code.
Ms Cobb would canvass / report back.
c. Outside table / display.
o The Chairman felt that it had been envisaged that a narrow table could be employed to promote / display, not greater than half the size of a trestle table. A small bench on a hinge / chain could be considered.
d. Arts and Crafts! Ms Cobb led discussion on the strength of the initiative, the unique opportunity, and importance of quality art; she guarded against the danger of diluting the project.
e. Honestone Car Park – opportunity to promote Artisan Market. It was felt that an approach could be made to TDC to use the good location of the car park to advertise the Market especially given that it is so reasonably priced and leads to the Complex.
SUSPENSION OF STANDING ORDERS
Proposed by Councillor Day, seconded and
RESOLVED: That Standing Orders are suspended in order to allow Members of the Public to address the Meeting.
(Vote – For: 4, Against: 0)
Studio 7 Tenant, Raz Olivier explained that posters had been designed for the Official Opening of the Market Hall Units on 23 April 2016.
f. Ms Cobb raised concerns about the Outside Market Hall Toilets. Having confirmed that they are the responsibility of TDC Mr Morgan added that where there have been incidents in the past Trevor Hill, Unit 1 / 2 (Minxy’s Sweets), Butcher’s Row, had raised the alarm on the Bideford (radio) “Store net”. Councillor Johns referred to occasions where drug abuse had caused alarm; Mr Morgan believed that the perpetrators had moved on.
Discussion returned to the principle behind the Arts and Crafts initiative with the Chairman confirming the desire not to waiver from the creative doctrine.
RETURN TO STANDING ORDERS
Proposed by Councillor D Brenton, seconded and
RESOLVED: That the Meeting return to Standing Orders.
(Vote – For: 4, Against: 0)
135 FREE WI – FI IN THE MARKET
Councillor Day led discussion on the introduction of Free Wi-Fi in the Pannier Market including his research on technical / responsibility issues and the offer from Reality Creations Ltd (Butcher’s Row Tenant: 24) – members had previous sight – to install an access point in the Pannier Market to enable customers and traders to use the internet. While Reality Creations Ltd would provide the equipment and absorb the set up costs they would charge a single monthly fee of thirty pounds. Councillor Day indicated that the 20 mb connectivity was very good.
(Ms Logan joined the Meeting.)
Further discussion followed on the cost of the Free Wi-Fi, the benefit to the Market as a whole and potential as a venue for a community gaming club to be held in the evenings (but not to clash with Kenwith Company of Archers).
Proposed by Councillor Day, seconded and
That Reality Creations Ltd is engaged to provide Free Wi-Fi access to the Market (stakeholders) at a cost, to the Council, of thirty pounds per month. The facility will be reviewed within the year.
(Vote – For: 4, Against: 0)
136 NABMA ANNUAL CONFERENCE: 18 - 20 SEPTEMBER 2016
Members had had sight of the itinerary for the NAMBA Annual Conference to be held in Stratford upon Avon: 18 - 20 September 2016. The Chairman indicated that it was an excellent opportunity to meet market driven personnel, learn what is being progressed in the community, receive information on central and local government initiatives and network generally from attendance at the Conference. He added that NABMA membership had provided free (legal) advice.
Members agreed to attendance and saw merit of continuity.
Proposed by Councillor Brenton, seconded and
RESOLVED: That Councillor Mrs R Craigie attend the Conference and that the travelling expenses and subsistence costs be met by the Council.
(Vote – For: 4, Against: 0)
137 COMMITTEE TRADERS / TENANTS
Ms Logan led discussion on bus provision including a suggestion for siting a list of traders / tenants on the Quay.
Ms Cobb floated an old summer bus; Councillor Brenton referenced the Vintage Bus hired during Christmas Festive weekends but guarded against the cost. He regretted the loss of the (effective) Hopper Bus Service and castigated the desultory twice weekly provision. It was an area, he maintained, that needed revisiting.
Councillor Mrs Craigie agreed to make some enquiries.
Ms Logan spoke about the Barnstaple Real Food Market noting that a number had attended the Bideford Pannier Market Valentine Event and were impressed with the clean, light and warm environment. Having canvassed fellow artisans she concluded there was a will to follow up the success with a third Saturday of the Month food inspired Event during a standard Market trading day.
She questioned the Market provision of space allocation, the use of gas, electricity and expanded on the Real Food Market experience including “open mic”, music and entertainment. In addition she suggested that local schools, play groups and volunteer organisations could be invited to take a stall in the Market Hall.
The Market Administrator stated that those traders using gas appliances would have to provide risk assessments / method statements and operate them in a safe manner, in accordance with the manufacturers’ guidance. Like all Market Hall traders they would need public liability insurance. Electricity was available at a nominal charge. He confirmed that a normal pitch was six by three feet but the Market Officer would provide direction on the management of space.
The Members, led by Councillors Day and Mrs Craigie expressed support for introducing a third Saturday of the Month (food) initiative.
While the Chairman indicated that the Office did not have provision to organise an event Ms Logan would liaise with the Market Officer and Administrator in the first instance.
138 CONFIDENTIAL ITEMS TO BE TAKEN IN PART II
Proposed by Councillor Brenton, 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; the tenants / traders were instructed to withdraw.
(Vote – For: 4, Against: 0)
PART II (CLOSED SESSION)
139 TERMINATIONS OF LEASES BY TENANTS/APPLICATIONS RECEIVED FOR TENANCIES OF PREMISES
The Members considered five applicants for the three remaining work shop units.
Proposed by Councillor Brenton, seconded and
RESOLVED: That the following successful applicants are offered a tenancy for the Market Hall Shop Units: Thomas Hawkins, Jane Bly, and Jack Monk.
(Vote – For: 4, Against: 0)
140 UPDATE ON RENT ARREARS
The Market Administrator confirmed that all rental payments had been made by the end of the financial year.
The Chairman, having established that there was no further business to discuss, thanked the Members for their attendance and concluded the Meeting at 7.38 pm.