Memorandum by Derby City Council (MARKETS
07)
SUMMARY
Derby City Council manages the Council's five
markets, issue Street Trading consents, manage a Sunday Car Boot
Sale and protects the Council's Market franchise held under a
Royal Charter from King Charles II.
Around 700-800 years ago, the right to
hold a market was a highly valued privilege granted by the monarch
to nobles who enjoyed his favour. Where such markets were held,
people travelled from miles around to buy and sell the essentials
of everyday life.
Towns grew up around the site of regular markets,
which were usually held on one or two days each week, or on special
feasts and festivals. Many of today's thriving communities owe
their existence to the market in their midst.
There are three retail markets:
— Eagle Market (formerly Eagle Centre Market)
This is in an undercover modern building containing
247 retail stalls, offering a full range of goods and with
full access for disabled people. The Eagle Market retail square
footage is 35019.
Opening time: Monday-Saturday 9.00 am to
5.30 pm
— Market Hall (Cathedral Quarter)
This operates in the fully restored Victorian
retail Market Hall and offers separate Fish and Poultry sections.
The Market Hall retail square footage is 18299 and the Fish
Market square footage is 1064. The number of stalls (including
the Fish and Poultry Market are 141.)
Opening times: Monday-Saturday 9.00 am
to 5.30 pm
This is a traditional retail open-air market
of 90 permanent stalls with covered walkways.
General market: Friday and Saturday 9.00 am
to 5.30 pm
Flea market: Tuesday 4.00 pm to 6.30 pm
Additionally there are two non retail markets
and speciality markets.
This is a distribution centre for fresh fruit,
flowers and vegetables from all over the world. Trade sales only,
not open to the public.
This is a traditional livestock market held
on every Thursday of each week.
Horse sales are held every 2nd and 4th Saturdays
each month.
Furniture sales are held every 1st and 3rd Saturday
each month.
SPECIALITY MARKETS
Farmers' Markets are held every third Thursday
in each month throughout the year on the Market Place in Derby.
The Continental Markets' dates are yet to be
agreed for 2009. There are normally two or three a year—three
days each one.
The Car Boot Sale at the Cattle Market is held
every Sunday, apart from the last one in December and the first
one in January. The numbers vary from 50 to 500 a week
depending on the weather, as the Sale is outdoors but hard standing.
TRADITIONAL RETAIL
MARKETS TODAY
How has the picture changed over the last 10 years?
The type of goods sold and services offered
have changed considerably. There are fewer traditional market
products for example butchers, fruit and vegetable sales and florists,
but there are also more specialist products sold and services
offered in Markets. For example beauty/tanning/nail bars, tattooists,
alternative therapy, travel companies, Legal advice/Age concern
and phone unlocking.
Are the number and types of markets in decline?
If so, why?
In the Retail Markets (Eagle Market, Market
Hall) the voids are higher—almost double in the over the
last five years. (This is all that we have figures for.) However,
they are still running at a profit though and bring in large amounts
of revenue for the Council.
In 2003-04 the voids averaged 7.37% in
the Market Hall and in the 6.77% in the Eagle Market, but in 2008/9 the
voids averaged 17.51 % in the Market Hall and 16.99% in the
Eagle Market. (It may be worth noting that in 2007-08 the
voids averaged only 6.77% in the Market Hall and in 14.87% in
the Eagle Market though.)
At Allenton Outdoor Friday Retail Market ten
years ago the Market Supervisor believes that there was about
ninety percent occupancy. There has not been much change in the
revenue in the last five years. (This is all that we have figures
for.) In 2002-03 the income was £27,683, in 2007-08 the
income was £24,328. This continues to run at 50-60% occupancy.
At Allenton Outdoor Saturday Retail Market 10 years
ago the Market Supervisor believes that there was about ninety
percent occupancy. There has not been much change in the revenue
in the last five years. (This is all that we have figures for.)
In 2002-03 the income was £38,348, in 2007-08 the
income was £32,705. This continues to run at 50-60% occupancy,
but it was 70% five years ago.
People tend to prefer to have a dry, and warm,
shopping experience nowadays.
At Allenton Outdoor Flea Market there has not
been much change in the revenue in the last five years in the
evening Flea Market. (This is all that we have figures for.) In
2002-03 the income was £11,344, in 2007-08 the
income was £13,586.50. This continues to run at 50-60% occupancy.
This may be due to the nature of the 'cheaper second hand Market
products'.
The Car Boot Sale has not really changed in
the last 10 years. In 1997-98 there were 13,450 vehicles,
in 2007-08 there were 11,553 but the weather was bad.
This year the figures for 2008-09 are up on the previous
year. The average number of cars for the ten years was 12,947.5 cars
a year. This was despite a £2 per car increase in 2006-07.
It's been suggested that the decline in the
Retail Markets is due to lack of customers due to online shopping/auctions,
out of town 'one stop' supermarkets (with free parking) and the
development of 'one stop' shopping centres. In Derby, as well
as the major Supermarkets offering traditional market goods, including
low cost clothes, there are two retail outlets offering low cost
clothes and goods in close proximity to the markets. In addition,
the new Westfield development has market type stalls in the malls,
creating further competition for the markets.
We are aware of at least three traders moving
completely to their successful 'online sales' business—hoover
bags, toy cars, and toy bears.
Interestingly Derby's Eagle Market, which is
adjacent to the new Westfield Shopping Centre, has much lower
rents than the Shopping Centre. A fact that we are now promoting.
There is a decline in the general retail trade
due to the current climate, this can be seen in the Westfield
shopping centre by the presence of vacant units since the Centre
opened at almost total occupancy in October 2007.
Are there obstacles preventing the creation of
more markets?
The usual Laws (including Planning), legislation
and regulations—and capacity for building within the City
Centre. There is a trend towards modernising town centres and
enclosing/enveloping Markets—for example the proposed City
Scape plans for Derby, adjoining the Market Hall.
Are there obstacles hindering the successful business
of existing market operators and traders?
Economic climate.
What has been the impact of specialist markets
eg Continental and Farmers markets, and do such markets integrate
successfully with older markets?
We have received mixed reviews. We believe that
overall they do attract trade to the adjacent Market—and
bring in additional revenue for the Council as well.
The Farmers Markets (held every third Thursday)
and the Continental Markets (that are held about three times a
year) stand alongside the Market Hall.
We understand from conversations with the Market
Hall traders that these Specialist Markets do adversely affect
the trade in the 'older Market Hall'. Namely those traders who
sell the same/similar goods in the Hall.
However we have observed that the prices are
much higher for many products sold on the outdoor specialist markets
so people prefer to still go into the Hall, and these types of
Markets do visibly draw many more visitors to the area than normal.
The 'end' of the Specialist market's 'walk way' always leads conveniently
into the Market Hall so the footfall will increase anyway.
The Eagle Market traders, who are further away
from the Specialist markets area, that have spoken to us, do not
really note any change in trade.
THEIR SOCIAL
AND ECONOMIC
EFFECTS
What social and economic effects do traditional
retail markets have on their local communities?
Social effects
Meeting place—Coffee bars/cafes, reading
rooms.
Receive 'feel good' experience—nail bars,
beauticians, hair dressers, healing stalls.
Friendly atmosphere to shop in.
Ease of access to all.
Personal service/sales
Economic effects
Place to purchase affordable goods.
The Markets employ traders and staff from the
local area. (In Derby Retail Markets about 800 people.)
There are ancillary employees—for example
suppliers, hospitality, security, delivery vehicles.
There is ancillary work generated for local
car and vehicle dealers and repairers by traders and suppliers.
Markets are in the fore—front of recycling
and re using waste material products.
With Derby's Retail Markets receiving goods
from the Derby Wholesale Market this reduces 'carbon emissions'
and 'food miles', as they do not need to go to other wholesalers
around the country.
What qualities contribute to a successful market
delivering social and economic benefits, and are there examples
of best practice that have a wider application?
Having a mixture of products and services/balance
of goods—not too many of the same products.
Products that customers want to buy—of
the right quality and at the right price.
Having a traders charter—expected behaviour
(no nuisance to others for example, in the tenancy/lease agreement.
Having the right environment—welcoming.
Conveniently located—either locally or
close to bus routes.
REALISING THE
POTENTIAL OF
TRADITIONAL RETAIL
MARKETS
Does local government support markets effectively?
See below.
What are the advantages and disadvantages of local
authorities having powers to operate markets?
Advantages
Control of trade
Associated Council infrastructure available
from Legal Services for expert advice (especially rival Markets),
Administration, Environmental Health, Maintenance for expert advice
Cheaper rents than Commercial outlets
Provides a 'service' to local people (Allenton—an
area of Regeneration).
Use of Council buildings
Fairness—Council regulations/policies
ensure this
Training—Health and Safety (Fire etc)/Water
Hygiene always up to date
Commercial income generation.
Disadvantages
Lack of investment
Limited advertising budget to promote markets—looking
into advertising in Derby this year.
Money made in Market not being reinvested in
Markets
Due to Council regulations/policies
Perceived lack of flexibility due to Council
regulations/policies
Does central government support markets effectively?
If not, what additional support should be provided?
Continuing government pressure for efficiencies
in local government is shared across Markets, reducing the budget
available for investment.
We have Government Directives which are quite
difficult to adhere to without additional funding.
Could central government make better use of markets
to achieve national goals, particularly with regard to social
cohesion, health and regeneration?
Yes.
Social Cohesions— Provide funding for
Local Authority Markets to offer lower rents on stalls for people/organisations
that provide a social cohesion facility for example clubs, clinics,
nurseries. They can be charitable.
Health—Provide free fruit and vegetables
vouchers to children for use in the Market. Local Authority Markets
could offer lower rents on stalls for social/awareness groups
to use especially those to do with Health, for example health—check
clinics, crime prevention units.
Regeneration—Provide funding for the renovation
of all Council—owned buildings.
In Derby we do offer free use of the central
area in the Eagle Market for NHS campaigns, Local Constabulary
campaigns and charitable organisations to raise awareness and
funding.
Planning and licensing issues
Do local and national planning regulations support
or hinder the development of markets?
They hinder them because they allow out of town
shopping areas and restrict building in the City Centre. They
make it difficult to develop, modernise or maintain existing buildings
(for example listed ones) without extreme costs involved.
Do licensing regulations support or hinder the
development of markets?
They support Markets in the fact they can be
held—but they are often very detailed and can easily be
misinterpreted by traders.
What improvements could be made to the planning
and licensing regimes to aid the development of markets?
Make the planning and licensing of Markets more
simple so that everyone understands them and can adhere to them
at all times.
| 
