The Regeneration and Major Projects Team Manager submitted a report (previously circulated, now appended) which updated the Covered Market action plan & programme to include costs and also addressed recommendations 5 – 8 from the Scrutiny Committee.

Councillor Ed Turner, Board Member for Finance, Asset Management and Public Health presented the report. He said that he was very pleased to report good progress on the action plan and that there was now a clear direction of travel for the Covered Market.  He thanked Cllr Clarkson, the Regeneration & Major Projects Service Manager and the Markets Manager for their hard work and contribution to the on-going success of this project.  

Cllr Brown expressed concern at the lack of progress with the wifi initiative.  The Markets Manager explained that although there was currently insufficient support from the traders the issue would remain a Council priority for future implementation. The Markets Manager confirmed that representatives from the County Council had been involved in the development and delivery of the action plan.

In response to a question from Cllr Tanner, the Board Member for Finance, Asset Management and Public Health confirmed that the Council had reached agreement with all tenants on rents and payments.  A report on the leasing strategy for the Covered Market would be submitted to the June meeting of the City Executive Board. Cllr Price noted that the arrangements for the rent review process still needed to be decided.

The City Executive Board resolved to NOTE the report.

The Regeneration and Major Projects Manager presented the report which provided costs for the projects listed in the Covered Market action plan.  The action plan is a combination of recommendations from the Retail Group’s Covered Market strategy, the Scrutiny Covered Market Panel and officers’ ideas. She explained that priorities in the plan were listed as short, medium or long term projects.

The Committee discussed the following:

·       Traders are not interested in paying for free wi-fi in the market. Many of them already pay for their own internet access and see little benefit in paying extra for public wi-fi.

·       The Market Manager is working on a common signage policy for the market. She is liaising with the owners of the Golden Cross arcade to possibly incorporate it into the common signage area.

·       There are aspirations to create zones in the covered market which contain stores that complement each other. There is also potential to have more dining areas available outside of shops.

·       The website is currently out of date and the market manager is working with the Covered Market Traders Association (CMTA) to rectify this.

·       The leasing strategy will be reviewed by CEB in June, there is no change proposed in the store ratio for food to retail, but a move to improve the offer and mix of food stores available.  The Scrutiny Committee asked to pre-scrutinised the strategy.

·       There is a plan to move the gates forward on the High Street entrances to deter rough sleepers.

The Scrutiny Committee made the following recommendations to CEB:

·       Invest in public wi-fi in the market

Build brand identity through a common signage policy, up-to date website and multi-lingual advertising.