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Market Management Committee Meeting Minutes - 3 August 2017


PRESENT:   

North Ward   

Councillor T Johns (Chairman)
Councillor D McGeough (Town Mayor)

East Ward   

Councillor Mrs R Craigie
Councillor J McKenzie

Market Hall    

Mrs J Fisher
Ms M Sparkes

Butchers Row   

Mr N Morgan

Market Street   

Mr A Bailey

IN ATTENDANCE:

Mr R Coombes (Deputy Town Clerk)
2 x Tenant / Trader

In the absence of the Chairman the Deputy Chairman, Councillor T Johns, assumed the Chairmanship.

31.  APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE

Councillors D Brenton (South Ward – personal) and B Wootton (South Ward – illness).

32.  DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST ON ITEMS ON THE AGENDA

There were no declarations of interest.

33.  PUBLIC PARTICIPATION PERIOD

There was no participation from the public.

34.  MINUTES

The Minutes of the Meeting held on 22 June 2017 were approved and signed as a correct record.

(Vote – For: 3, Against: 0, Abstention: 1)

35.  MATTERS ARISING

Minute Number 22.e.  Devon County Council (DCC) untenable Pannier Market Trees.  Members had received correspondence from DCC in the light of the Committee’s response. 

Councillor McKenzie gave an interpretation largely that DCC had taken on board the concerns regarding the type of replacement trees but that additional (Committee) thoughts were beyond their request. 

The Mayor expressed his concerns at the removal of the (live) trees although he remained happy that they were being replaced by other trees that were regarded as more suitable to the highway.

It was noted that there was opportunity for further discussions on general ideas for Market Place area improvements.

36.  MARKET ADMINISTRATORS REPORT

The Market Administrator advised of the correspondence that he had had with the Highways Officer regarding loading / unloading / parking permits for outside the Market entrance.

Mrs Fisher indicated that she will provide correspondence of the invitation made by DCC to Barnstaple Market for car passes.

Discussion followed on the Trader mini bus initiative.  The Chairman indicated that the item should be placed on the Agenda for the next meeting.

37.  ACCOUNTS

It was proposed by Councillor McKenzie, seconded and

RESOLVED:  That the list of payments be approved.

(Vote – For: 4, Against: 0)

38.  BIDEFORD BURTON

Mr Morgan spoke about a meeting that he had with Emily Paine the Gallery / Tourist Administrator.  He alluded to their limited space and the two distinct areas that they drive: Tourist / Art.

Tourist Information Centre: the feedback they have received from visitors on their Pannier Market experience appeared polarised: people were either struck by the diversity or disappointed.

It was suggested that the website was misleading as it implied the sale of food and needed updating in order to inform people of what they can expect from a visit.

The Tourist Information element was not supportive of the Pannier Market advertising them.

The Burton Gallery does have a display cabinet, however, there is a selection process where reviewed items do have to be of a high standard; there is limited space.

While the Burton as a whole has no manager and the Trustees are short of two personnel Mr Morgan felt that there was some optimism for the future (for some form of collaboration).  The Burton is very protective of their “project” and any selection of work is very much on their terms.

Mr Bailey felt that Mr Morgan’s approach to form a link could be mutually beneficial to both the Burton and the Market.

39.  COMMITTEE TRADERS / TENANTS

a.   Ms Sparkes expressed concern that the hirer of the Hall for the very successful Ceramics Event in June had access from 4.00 pm.  She stated that the Market Hall traders accepted that the Hall will be hired out but reminded Members that traders trade to 4.00 pm. 

Ms Sparkes felt consideration should be given for a window of one and a half hours as traders had begun to pack up their stalls from 1.30 pm, which had a negative, domino effect.

The Mayor saw merit in restricting the potential hirers from having access until ninety minutes after cease trading.

He also commended the Traders for their positive attitude towards the marketing / hiring of the Community Hall.

Discussion followed with Members confirming the need for traders to have a ninety minute window to remove their wares prior to access from future Hirers.  It was noted, though that the Light up a Life Service commences at 6.00 pm on a Saturday inferring a degree of flexibility.

b.   Mrs Fisher highlighted the difficulties presented by siting the Signing of the Lease and possibly the hosting of the Landivisiau Twinning Associations in front of the central double doors.  Access to the Hall is restricted and can discourage potential visitors.  The Market Administrator would raise the concerns with the Market Officer with a view to siting functions held during Market Trading elsewhere in the Hall.

40.  DEVELOPMENT PLAN

Members had received the “returns” from the Market Complex Traders and Tenants.

Discussion included:

•    Car parking.
•    Promotion of the Market as a whole entity.
•    Hiring of the Hall, introducing new visitors - benefits all.
o    Repeat successful events.
•    Appeal to locals as well as visitors.
•    Installation of glass doors to the Market Hall.
o    Landlord property officer content approach to be made to Conservation Officer.
•    Name change.
o    Careful not to lose branding / lose identity.
•    Need for policy / vision of the future.  Parameters for introducing new traders / tenants.  Encouragement for those who bring customer base.
•    Concerns over limiting the Market attraction if it has only a narrow appeal.
•    Importance of tenant / trader alliances / self-promotion (of their respective businesses).
•    Creation of a Working Group to consider tenant / trader “responses” and develop plans / policies for the future of the Bideford Pannier Market Complex.

It was proposed by Councillor McKenzie, seconded and

RESOLVED:  That Councillors McGeough and McKenzie and Market Tenants: Mr Morgan, Mr Bailey and Mrs Fisher form a Working Group to consider tenant / trader “responses” and develop plans / policies for the future of the Bideford Pannier Market Complex.

(Vote – For: 4, Against: 0)

41.  CONFIDENTIAL ITEMS TO BE TAKEN IN PART II

Proposed by Councillor  McGeough, 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)

42.  PART II (CLOSED SESSION)

43.  UPDATE ON RENT

The Market Administrator advised that all rent had been received for July 2017.

44.  TERMINATIONS / APPLICATIONS

There were no terminations and no vacant units.

The Chairman, having established that there was no further business to discuss, thanked the Members for their attendance and concluded the Meeting at 8.05 pm.






 





















 














 




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