This report will deal with the development of a Covered Market retail strategy.  The report will present the recommendations made by specialist market consultants  following stakeholder consultation and seek agreement to them.

The Regeneration and Major Projects Team Manager submitted a report (previously circulated, now appended).  The Board also had before it a Scrutiny report (previously circulated, now appended).  Councillor Campbell and Fooks addressed the meeting.  In summary they referred to the need for a clear positioning of the Council in respect of its responsibility for the Covered Market and that this should be made clear in the Asset Management Strategy; that a market manager should be appointed as soon as possible and work should then commence as a priority with the traders to develop the Covered Market for the future and to improve trust between the traders and the Council; and that the physical development of the Covered Market on the Market Street frontage was important.

Resolved to:-

(1) Note the consultants’ recommendations and the responses to the public consultation on the consultants’ report;

            (2) Instruct the officers to prepare a detailed, costed action plan and programme, that plan to consider, among other things, the content of Scrutiny recommendations 5-8 and to emphasise the importance of a market committee to facilitate this, among other purposes;

            (3) Subject to funds being available in the Council’s Budget, to be agreed by Council on 19^th February, to endorse the appointment of an interim market manager;

            (4)   On Scrutiny recommendations 1, 3 and 4, generally to endorse them; and on recommendation 2, that a market manager would be appointed subject to funds being available in the Council’s Budget (resolution (3) above refers).