Issue - meetings

To consider a report of the Cabinet Member for Economy & Regeneration.

The purpose of the report is to update on the continuing work around improving the offer in the Market Place and to seek authority to use Council assets in the Market Place to attract a strong ‘anchor’, to boost footfall and improve trading conditions in the wider area.

The Cabinet is asked to;
 

(i)     Note the progress made with new short term management operation for the Markets.

(ii)    Authorise the initiation of a procurement process for longer term management operator/s for the remaining market assets (Covered Market Hall, Outdoor Market and 20th Century Stores) to take effect from 1^st April 2018 for a period of five to seven years).

(iii)  Approve the commencement of marketing and letting of The Produce Hall and Blackshaws Café, and the ground floor of No 18 – 19 Market Place, in the event of agreement with MMU to surrender use thereof, to users who would act as an ‘anchor tenant/s’ in the Market Place with a further report to be presented on the outcome of this exercise prior to any arrangements being entered into.

(iv)  Note the development of a markets and animation strategy that will contribute to the regeneration of the wider Town Centre.

(v)   Agree that delegated authority be given to the Corporate Director for Place Management & Regeneration and the Deputy Chief Executive in consultation with in consultation with the Cabinet Members (Reform and Governance) and (Economy and Regeneration) to agree the terms of any occupational interests at each of the Council owned assets in the Market Place (except The Covered Market Hall).

(vi)  Authorise the Head of Legal and Democratic Governance to do all things necessary or incidental to the implementation of the above resolutions.

Officer contact: George Perrin, 0161-474-4510, george.perrin@stockport.gov.uk

The Cabinet Member for Economy & Regeneration submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) updating the Cabinet on the continuing work to improve the Market Place and to seek authority to market Council assets in the Market Place to attract a strong ‘anchor’ to boost footfall and improve trading conditions in the wider area.

The Cabinet Member thanked the Market Traders for their constructive engagement with the Council in developing these proposals.

RESOLVED – That in relation to the Market Place

·         progress made with new short term management operation for the Markets be noted;

·         authorisation be given to the initiation of a procurement process for longer term management operator/s for the remaining market assets (Covered Market Hall, Outdoor Market and 20th Century Stores) to take effect from 1st April 2018 for a period of five to seven years);

·         approval be given to the commencement of marketing and letting of The Produce Hall and Blackshaw’s Café, and the ground floor of No 18 – 19 Market Place, in the event of agreement with MMU to surrender use thereof, to users who would act as an ‘anchor tenant/s’ in the Market Place with a further report to be presented on the outcome of this exercise prior to any arrangements being entered into;

·         the development of a markets and animation strategy that would contribute to the regeneration of the wider Town Centre be noted;

·         authority be delegated to the Corporate Director for Place Management & Regeneration and the Deputy Chief Executive in consultation with the Cabinet Members for Reform & Governance and Economy & Regeneration to agree the terms of any occupational interests at each of the Council owned assets in the Market Place (except The Covered Market Hall); and

·         the Head of Legal and Democratic Governance be authorised to do all things necessary or incidental to the implementation of the above resolutions.

To consider a report of the Corporate Director for Place Management and Regeneration

The report updates the Scrutiny Committee on the continuing work around improving the offer in the Market Place. The Cabinet on 13 June 2017 will be requested to agree to the marketing of Council assets in the Market Place to attract a strong ‘anchor, to boost footfall and improve trading conditions in the wider area.

The Scrutiny Committee is requested to comment on the report.

Officer Contact: George Perrin on 0161 474 4510 or email: george.perrin@stockport.gov.uk

The Corporate Director for Place Management and Regeneration submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) updating the Scrutiny Committee on the continuing work around improving the offer in the Market Place. The Cabinet on 13 June 2017 would be requested to agree to the marketing of Council assets on the Market Place in order to attract a strong ‘anchor’ in order to boost footfall and improve trading conditions in the wider area.

The Cabinet Member for Economy and Regeneration (Councillor Kate Butler) attended the meeting to respond to Members’ questions.

The following comments were made/issues raised:-

• In response to a Member’s question, the Cabinet Member clarified that the Council had not asked CRBE for a plan but had asked it to provide evidence from which the Council could devise a plan to increased footfall and generate increased interest in the market.
• The aim was that the market should remain in the market hall, but that other creative ways should be utilised in order to increase footfall in the area, including ‘pop up’ solutions in the run up to Christmas.
• A Member enquired what the plan was if the Produce Hall was not let by the end of 2017 as was intended.
• The figures in the report from CRBE indicated that Stockport Market was performing below comparable towns in the north west, particularly those with a poorer catchment size, in terms of average rateable value per stall.
• The Council was currently helping Blackshaws cafe find alternative premises nearer to the Merseyway precinct and the retail core of Stockport.
• A Member queried the figure stated in the CRBE report that Foodie Friday generated a footfall of almost 12,000 people for only three hours of trading.
• Information needed to be compiled about what areas were growing in the market and which areas were declining. Officers were discussing this with traders, although there had not currently been any direct engagement with shoppers with regard to the proposals.
• There were scope to bring more traders into the market hall.
• Car parking charges was an issue as there was currently no free parking in the town centre. The Corporate Director advised that a car parking study for the town centre was currently being carried out and would be the subject of a report to a future meeting of the Scrutiny committee.
• The topology of the area was an issue with the market located uphill from the Merseyway Precinct affecting people’s access to the market.
• As part of the Place Marketing work, signage and helping shoppers and visitors find their way around Stockport should be carried out in a creative way.

With the agreement of the Chair, John O’Mara, Chair of the Market Traders’ Federation, was permitted to addressed the Scrutiny Committee. He thanked Members and Officers for the support that they had given the market traders, and provided the Scrutiny Committee with a copy of the market traders’ response to the CRBE report. In addition, he suggested that the Newbridge Lane Car Park be re-named the Market Car Park and the Corporate Director agreed to investigate this matter,

RESOLVED – That the report be noted.