Issue - meetings

(i)            That an external partner be sought to operate and manage the Council’s town centre Markets and that officers be authorised to prepare a tender pack at the earliest opportunity and to take all the necessary steps to procure such an operator.

(ii)           That officers be authorised to prepare an outcome-based specification for the service in consultation with the relevant Portfolio Holder(s) taking account of the views of the Economic Development and Enterprise Scrutiny Committee.

(iii)          That the results of this tendering exercise be reported back to a future meeting of Cabinet with a view to appointing an external market operator for Newcastle town centre market as soon as practically possible.

A report was submitted to Cabinet setting out options for the future management of the town centre market and seeking a decision on the preferred option.

The matter had been examined by the Economic Development and Enterprise Scrutiny Committee and the Chair, Councillor Allison Gardner had been invited to this meeting of Cabinet to update Members.

Councillor Gardner advised members that four areas for investigation had been reviewed:

1)    How can the performance of Newcastle market be improved

2)    What do customers want from Newcastle market

3)    How can new traders be attracted to Newcastle market

4)    How can current traders be encouraged to work with the Council for the benefit of Newcastle market.

Surveys and interviews had been carried out with various interested parties and a ‘walk about’ had been undertaken around the market.

Different types of management models had been looked at and presentations had been given looking at possible ways of improving the current situation.

A report had been produced, in draft form, but it had not yet been to a meeting of the  Economic Development and Enterprise Scrutiny Committee.  Approximately twenty suggested recommendations are listed within the draft report.

Resolved:       (i)         That an external partner be sought to operate and manage the

Council’s town centre Markets and that officers be authorised to prepare a tender pack at the earliest opportunity and to take all the necessary steps to procure such an operator.

(ii)           That officers be authorised to prepare an outcome-based

specification for the service in consultation with the relevant Portfolio Holder(s) taking account of the views of the Economic Development and Enterprise Scrutiny Committee.

(iii)          That the results of this tendering exercise be reported back to

a future meeting of Cabinet with a view to appointing an external market operator for Newcastle town centre market as soon as practically possible.