Issue - meetings

To consider a report of the Executive Councillor (Thriving Economy)

The purpose of this report is to update the Executive on progress with the Market Place and Underbanks Regeneration Strategy. There has been significant progress achieved, however the area is still very fragile.   It is recognised that an overall framework for intervention is required, in order to support and deliver the strategy and outcomes for the area. To take this forward, regeneration consultants Urban Vision were commissioned to develop a vision and an urban design plan to regenerate the core Market Place and Underbanks area and their report is attached at Appendix 1. The report before the Executive proposes a vision for taking forward proposals to further enhance and support this area.

The Executive is recommended to:

·         approve the overall approach;

·         agree to accept further reports setting out the business case for specific proposals including relating to alternative uses for the market halls and relocation of the market.

Officer contact: Nicola Turner, 0161 218 1635, nicola.turner@stockport.gov.uk

The Executive Councillor (Thriving Economy) submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) inviting the Executive to consider the progress in delivering the Market Place and Underbanks Regeneration Strategy and to consider proposals for enhancing this work, based on a study undertaken by Urban Vision. That study made a series of recommendations to further enhance the Market Place and Underbanks area and approval was sought from the Executive to endorse this strategic vision and to develop more detailed proposals to support it.

Executive councillors explained that while the previous measures and the hard work of traders had led to improvements in the look and quality of the facilities of the market, this had not led to significant increases in footfall. Concerns were expressed that further incremental change would have little effect on the levels of footfall and that bolder measures were needed to make the most of the opportunities the market had to offer.

Executive councillors acknowledged the need to develop proposals as soon as possible, involving and engaging traders and businesses through the process. Suggestions made at the recent Environment & Economy Scrutiny Committee that greater management control of the market be given to the traders organisations were welcomed and it was suggested that this be explored further.

RESOLVED – That

·         the overall approach to the future of the Market Place and Underbanks as set out in the report be approved;

·         further reports be submitted to the Executive setting out the business case for specific proposals including relating to alternative uses for the market halls and relocation of the market.

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

The report updates the Scrutiny Committee on progress with the Market Place and Underbanks Regeneration Strategy.

The Scrutiny Committee is requested to comment on the report.

Officer Contact: Nicola Turner on 0161 218 1635 or email: nicola.turner@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 progress with the Market Place and Underbanks Regeneration Strategy.

Although significant progress had been made in the Market Place and Underbanks area over recent years as a result of dedicated partnership working from a wide range of committed stakeholders, the report highlighted that the area remained very fragile with low footfall, particularly on non-market days, issues of security and safety remained, and problems of vacant and derelict properties still existed. Awareness of the area was still low and it lacked a critical mass of shops, businesses, housing tenures or other reasons to visit.

In addition, it was recognised that an overall framework for intervention was required in order to support and deliver the strategy and outcomes for the area. To take this forward, regeneration consultants Urban Vision had been commissioned to develop a vision and an urban design plan prepared to regenerate the core Market Place and Underbanks area. In summary, the report proposed generating a critical mass of uses, activities and people by:

·         Creating destinations: things worth travelling to and staying for

·         Encouraging pedestrian and cycle through movements: A to B via the Market Place and Underbanks

·         Creating active nodes and anchors: enticing people beyond to the next street

·         Increasing a resident home audience: live/work/play

With the agreement of the Chair, various questions were submitted from market traders regarding the following issues:-

·         What would happen to market traders who were unhappy with the new location for the market

·         Whether there would be any compensation for market traders unwilling or unable to move to the new location for the market

·         The benefits of specialist traders who currently operated in the market hall

·         The effect on business for the market traders after the market was relocated

·         Who would run the market in the future

·         Details of the arrangements for the operation of the market after it was relocated

·         Whether the Council would pay for the relocation costs to the new location of the market

·         Whether the Council would have a budget to promote the new location for the market until it was firmly established,

·         Whether all the traders in the current market hall would be guaranteed units at the new location for the market

·         The opening and closing times of the market after it was relocated

·         Whether there would be improved signage to the new location for the market

·         How the negative issues highlighted in the report would affect the market and how the Council would support market traders

·         Why market traders had not been consulted on the report

·         The provision of a lift or escalator from Warren Street to the current market.

The Executive Councillor (Thriving Economy) responded to the questions.

With the agreement of the Chair, Mr John O’Mara was permitted to address the Scrutiny Committee on behalf of market traders.

The following comments were made/issues raised by market traders:-

·         The market traders in general were not opposed to the relocation of the market, just the uncertainty as a result of the proposals and the need to find the right location for the market and the right package of proposals.

·         The traders requested that they be allowed to run the market.

·         The original idea for ‘Foodie Friday’ from market traders was for it to run from lunchtime on Fridays through to 7.00pm. It was Council Officers who had decided to start the event at 5.00pm at a time when the market was shut and market traders had been working since early in the morning. The perception amongst market traders was that the Council had agreed to events being carried out that benefited the Market Place, not the Market traders.

·         The Vintage Village took place on a day of the week when the market was not open.

The following comments were made/issues raised by the Members and Officers:-  ...  view the full minutes text for item 5