Agenda item

To consider a report of the Head of Scrutiny and Member Development on the third session of the Board’s Inquiry to consider the Future of Kirkgate Market.

Referring to Minute 99 of the meeting held on 11^th January 2011, the Head of Scrutiny and Member Development submitted a report on the third session of the Board’s Inquiry to consider the Future of Kirkgate Market.

 

Appended to the report were copies of the following documents for the information/comment of the meeting:-

 

·  Scrutiny Board (City Development) – Inquiry to Consider the future of Kirkgate Market – Terms of Reference (Appendix 1 refers)

·  Inquiry into Leeds Markets: Eastgate and Parking – Report of the Acting Director, City Development (Appendix 2 refers)

 

A copy of  ‘Appendix A’ referred to in the report of the Acting Director, City Development was also circulated.

 

In addition, the Board received a paper from John Perriton, Field Support Manager, National Market Traders Federation commenting on the Acting Director of City Development’s report as he was unable to attend today’s meeting. A paper from “Friends of Kirkgate Market” was also tabled as further evidence to the Board.

 

The following representatives/witnesses were in attendance and gave evidence to the Board and responded to Board Members’ queries and comments:-

 

Martin Farrington, Acting Director of City Development

CathFollin, Head of City Centre and Markets, City Development

Jo Williams, National Market Traders' Federation (NMTF) (Kirkgate Branch)

Liz Laughton, National Market Traders' Federation (NMTF) (Kirkgate Branch)

Michele Hocken, National Market Traders' Federation (NMTF) (Kirkgate Branch)

Lacky Singh, National Market Traders' Federation (NMTF) (Kirkgate Branch)

Sara Gonzalez, Friends of Kirkgate Market

Megan Waugh, Friends of Kirkgate Market

Chris Leonard, Friends of Kirkgate Market

 

The Chair informed the meeting that the evidence presented to today’s Board meeting would be considered in two parts; firstly concerns from the National Market Traders’ Federation (NMTF) (Kirkgate Branch) in support of their continuing concerns in relation to the future of Kirkgate Market and secondly to consider a report from the Acting Director of City Development in relation to parking and the Eastgate Development.

 

The Future of Kirkgate Market

 

At the request of the Chair, Jo Williams, National Market Traders’ Federation (NMTF) Kirkgate Branch circulated a copy of a set of slides from a power point presentation entitled ‘Items for discussion’ for the information/comment of the meeting.

 

The document referred to the following issues:-

·  The Future of Leeds Kirkgate Market

  ?  Management

  ?  Ownership

  ?  Plans

·  Lettings

  ?  Current Position

  ?  Plans

·  Rent and Service Charges

  ?  Accounts breakdown current position

  ?  Plans moving forward

 

Officers responded to the concerns expressed by representatives from NMTF

on each of the issues identified which had been discussed in detail at the last Board meeting.

 

Arising from these discussions, it was reported that the Council’s Administration had recently established a Markets Forum to be chaired by Councillor G Harper in his capacity as a Deputy Executive Member and that its first meeting would be held on 10^th February 2011 with management and market trader representatives to discuss the proposed terms of reference for the Forum and the markets future.

 

The Chair expressed concern that this initiative was not helpful to the Board’s inquiry and that the Board should have been advised of what was being proposed much earlier in the process.

 

Board Members then questioned officers and witnesses on the establishment of the Markets Forum and in particular:-

 

·  the need  for traders to be provided with at least an outline of a proposed market strategy given the length of time this had taken to date

(On behalf of the Board, the Chair agreed to convene an urgent meeting with the Leader of Council with a view to responding to market traders by 11^th February on this issue)

·  clarification of the remit of the Market Forum and whether or not market traders had been involved in preparing the terms of reference

(Councillor G Harper in his capacity as Deputy Executive Member confirmed that market traders had been involved with the Market Forum discussions and read out the proposed terms of reference for the information of the meeting. He also confirmed that the Market Forum would involve trader representation.

 

A number of market traders stated that whilst they had been consulted on this Market Forum sometime ago, they had not supported the proposal and considered that traders were underrepresented on it and that it would be unlikely that they would attend the meeting arranged for 10^th February 2011)

 

The Chair asked about progress in providing details of the service charges to market traders.

 

The Head of City Centre and Markets responded and confirmed that all service charge invoices were now being place in the Markets office for inspection. 

 

A paper providing details of the make up of the service charges which had previously been provided to the market traders and the Chair were tabled for Members information.

.

It was agreed that an audited copy of the 2009/10 accounts in respect of service charges at the market would be provided to the traders.

 

Councillor B Atha raised his concerns that the breakdown figures omitted to show officer salaries and central charges and that it was essential for the Board to receive the complete figures from a business perspective. The Acting Director of City Development clarified that the salaries of the Head of City Centre and Markets and above do not form part of a service charge.

 

The Chair then invited further comments in response to the above issues from Jo Williams; Liz Laughton, Michelle Hocken and Lacky Singh from the National Market Traders’ Federation (NMTF) Kirkgate Branch.

 

Arising from discussions, Councillor B Atha enquired if the Council provided long term lets in the market.

 

The Head of City Centre and Markets responded and confirmed that the Council did provide long term lets, but many businesses in the current climate did not want these and preferred short term flexible lets. She agreed to provide details on the type of leases approved in the last year for circulation to the Board and market traders.

 

In concluding discussions on the future of Kirkgate Market, the Chair invited comments from Sara Gonzalez, Friends of Kirkgate Market. In summary she briefly referred to the following issues:-

 

·  the collection of a petition of 10,000 signatures seeking a commitment by the Council of a significant reduction in market rents, substantial investment over the next 5 years including full repairs to the roof of the whole market and greater involvement and transparency in all aspects of markets management

(This petition was formally accepted by Councillor J Procter on behalf of the Board, and handed to the Board’s Principal Scrutiny Adviser who took official receipt of the petitions)

·  the fact that rent in Kirkgate Market was the highest in Northern England

·  the need to ring fence income for reinvestment in the market

·  the view that relationship between management and market traders needed to improve

·  the need to recognise that Kirkgate Market was an important aspect of people’s life and wellbeing

 

Parking Issues and the Eastgate Development

 

The Chair invited the Acting Director of City Development and the Head of City Centre and Markets to give a brief introduction on the following key points referred to within the Acting Director of City Development ’s report :-

 

·  Background Information on Eastgate Quarters

·  Proposed Highway changes (Eastgate/George Street)

·  Current and Future Customer Parking Provision

·  Trader Parking Provision

·  Current and Future Loading/Unloading

·  Management and Ownership Models

 

Following this, the Chair then allowed Joe Williams, National Market Traders’ Federation (NMTF) (Kirkgate Branch) and Michelle Hocken, National Market Traders’ Federation (NMTF) (Kirkgate Branch) and Chris Leonard Friends of Kirkgate Market to comment on the issues raised.

 

A number of areas were commented upon and discussed by witnesses including:-

 

·  the concern at the potential impact of the Eastgate Quarters development on customer car parking; vehicular access for traders’ deliveries/loading and unloading and trader parking

·  the 1,618 additional car parking spaces that would be provided as a consequence of the Eastgate redevelopment

·  Section 106 planning obligations for this development

·  the fact that a new planning application in outline form had still to be submitted by Hammersons

·  trader parking provision and adequacy of the proposals for loading and unloading

·  reference to the high car parking charges at NCP car parks  which were outside the control of the Council

·  adequacy of the proposed highways changes, estimated footfall and accuracy of bus journey times. It was reported that a traffic impact assessment  would be undertaken in relation to the Eastgate development that would consider a range of issues including bus journey times

·  clarification as to what discussions  had been held between the market traders and Hammersons with regards to the Eastgate Development

(The Acting Director of City Development responded and agreed to write to the developer on this issue)

·  a requirement for the Eastgate development to be pedestrianised

 

In concluding, the Chair, on behalf of the Board, thanked officers and witnesses for their attendance and contribution to the Inquiry.

 

RESOLVED –

a)  That the contents of the report and appendices be noted.

b)  That at its meeting on 8^th March 2011, the Acting Director of City Development be requested to submit a report setting out the management and ownership models that could be applied to the future operation of the market which had been previously reported to the Board and to verbally update on the outcome of his meeting with the market traders in order to inform Scrutiny’s view on their preferred management model for Kirkgate Market.

 

(Councillors G Harper and S Smith left the meeting at 12 noon at the conclusion of this item)