Agenda item

1.         That the Winchester City Street Market Operating Policy be adopted as set on in Appendix 1 to CAB3427.

2.         That the Corporate Head of Service: Economy and Community be given delegated authority to commence the competitive tender exercise to seek bids for a market operator and to award the contract to the most economically advantageous tender for a term of 3 years with an option to renew annually for up to a further 2 years based on performance of service provision.

3.         That the Corporate Head of Service: Economy and Community be authorised to enter into all necessary agreements with the preferred contractor to manage the street market.

4.         That delegated authority be granted to the Service Lead: Legal to execute and enter into all necessary contractual agreements.

5.         That the Corporate Head of Service: Economy and Community, in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Business and Culture, amends the Winchester Street Market Operating Policy to include specific measurements for the placing and spacing of the Market stalls.

Councillor Thompson introduced the report and emphasised the importance of an attractive and well managed street market in the city centre.  The street market management contract was now to be competitively retendered so that that the market’s operation could be aligned with the priorities outlined in the Council Plan.

Councillor Thompson reported that the Winchester Town Forum and the Business & Housing Policy Committee had each raised similar points regarding the draft policy, including safety considerations and accessibility.  Councillor Thompson then proposed an additional recommendation (5) to those set out in the report to ensure that the new operating policy included specific details for the measurements for the placing and spacing of the market stalls.  The wording of the resolution was agreed as set out in new resolution 5 below.

Ian Tait spoke during public participation as summarised briefly below.

He was a supporter of the street market at its current location which was a bigger and more successful operation, with quality goods on sale when compared to its previous position in Middle Brook Street.  He was concerned at pedlars in the High Street and also that the Farmers’ Market had diminished in size in recent years.  He also requested that the council help ensure that the baby changing facilities at the Market Lane toilets were reopened without further delay.   

At the invitation of the Leader, Councillors Wallace and Horrill addressed the meeting as summarised briefly below.

Councillor Wallace

He believed that street markets were at the forefront of the visitor experience and the new contract was an opportunity to create a more distinctive market to attract more visitors and also to have regard to sustainability matters.  The contract should be bolder in its aspirations in this regard, and he made some suggestions such as promoting local retailers.  

Councillor Horrill

          She raised some points for clarification which included – (i) opportunities for other street markets in the market towns of the Winchester district, (ii) why had a signed agreement with the current operator been left for so long?  (iii) a robust performance schedule was referred to in the report, but how would this be conducted? (iii) how would safety concerns be overseen and dealt with in the new contract, such as dangerous loading and unloading of stalls that had been witnessed? (iv) how would local providers be given priority and proper labelling of produce enforced? and (v) how would street market approved traders be ratified by the council?

Councillor Thompson and the officers present responded to each of the points raised above and provided assurance and clarification where appropriate.

In response to questions from Cabinet, it was confirmed that officers had met with the current operator of Alresford Market regarding brand awareness and sharing best practice.  The mechanisms of weighting and scoring for new traders were also explained, including how this would favour locally sourced goods and where traders were based.  A compliance policy regarding public health was also to sit alongside the operating policy and labelling of goods would also be subject to the usual trading standards criteria.

Cabinet agreed to the following for the reasons set out in the report and outlined above.

RESOLVED:

1.                That the Winchester City Street Market Operating Policy be adopted as set on in Appendix 1 to CAB3427.

2.                That the Corporate Head of Service: Economy and Community be given delegated authority to commence the competitive tender exercise to seek bids for a market operator and to award the contract to the most economically advantageous tender for a term of 3 years with an option to renew annually for up to a further 2 years based on performance of service provision.

3.                That the Corporate Head of Service: Economy and Community be authorised to enter into all necessary agreements with the preferred contractor to manage the street market.

4.                That delegated authority be granted to the Service Lead: Legal to execute and enter into all necessary contractual agreements.

5.                That the Corporate Head of Service: Economy and Community, in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Business and Culture, amends the Winchester Street Market Operating Policy to include specific measurements for the placing and spacing of the Market stalls.