Memorandum
from City of Westminster Council
(MARKETS 18)
City
of Westminster Council is pleased to offer evidence to the Communities and
Local Government Select Committee enquiry on Traditional Retail Markets. Our
response is structured around the question set out in the original notice of
the inquiry and call for evidence.
Main Points:
· Markets play a vital role
within our communities
· The rise of specialist
markets is a good sign of the continued vitality of markets, especially in
Westminster
· The City of Westminster
Bill is a vital piece of legislation in order to rebalance the relationship
between the local authority and traders
· City of Westminster Council
is happy to facilitate any visit to its local markets the committee would like
to see.
1.
Traditional retail markets today.
• How has
the picture changed over the last 10 years?
Westminster's experience is that following a
period of quite rapid decline in the previous 20 - 30 years, the position for
traditional markets has stabilised over the last 10 years. What markets offer
has become more diverse, as has the background mix of market traders. Although
held less frequently, growth has been seen in the demand for, and provision of
specialist, leisure and farmers markets.
• Are the
number and types of markets in decline? If so, why?
In Westminster traditional markets and street
trading is relatively stable, with operator and consumer demand for specialist
markets growing. However, variations are evident depending on the location and
immediate environment of the markets, and the demographics of the surrounding
area.
• Are their
obstacles preventing the creation of more markets?
In Westminster, physical infrastructure
restrictions, particularly on the highway and in the public realm, can create
barriers to the creation, expansion and maintenance of markets, because of the
competing demands on highway use. However, other obstacles in play presently
include the economic climate and local competition, lack of available
investment, and policies seeking to balance the viability of existing markets
and retail premises against new market proposals or opportunities.
• Are their
obstacles hindering the successful business of existing market operators and
traders?
The
major difficulty for the City of Westminster, as a market operator, is the
inflexibility and prescriptive nature of the legislation under which street
trading and markets operates. Prescriptive rights held by individual traders as
licence holders, and restrictions in re-siting and developing pitches, limits the
ability of the City Council to implement improvement plans for markets. The
value of these rights, and the fact that they are not time extinguished, is
such that traders are reluctant to risk their rights in order to commit to
proposed changes.
A recent consultant study of street trading in the
Oxford Street / Regent Street / Bond Street area demonstrated a real lack of
retail expertise amongst many street traders, and the need to provide research
and training to inform business decisions.
• What has
been the impact of specialist markets e.g. continental and farmers markets, and
do such markets integrate successfully with older markets?
Specialist markets have had a positive influence
both for existing traditional markets and for communities when operating in
isolation. They tend to operate for a limited duration, either on a single day
per week or for 3 or 4 days at infrequent intervals. They have integrated well
in Westminster with existing markets under these operating conditions.
2. Their Social
and Economic effects
• What
social and economic effects do traditional retail markets have on their local
communities?
Markets,
on the whole, do have a valuable social and economic effect on local
communities. They do this in a number of ways. They provide retail
opportunities and support complementary retail premises in the area by
increasing footfall on market days. They provide low-start-up-cost employment
opportunities. They provide a physical focus and activity within a community,
which can be enhanced by associated leisure and cultural activities. This
contributes to a sense of place for all the community.
• What
qualities contribute to a successful market delivering social and economic
benefits, and are their examples of best practice that have a wider application?
Markets
need to be relevant to the community, who ideally should at least be
stakeholders in them. In the largest traditional market operated by the City
Council arrangements to devolve the governance of the market have been
implemented to the local community, which involves local residents, market
traders, and community representatives. This has allowed relevant priorities to
be set and focussed local interest in the management and operation of the
market.
A local innovation has been the allocation of Ward
member budgets, which some members have earmarked as additional investment in
local markets.
3. Realising the
potential of traditional retail markets
• Does local
government support markets effectively?
Support in Westminster is provided in line with
other corporate priorities and resource constraints. Feedback suggests support
is effective but can be improved.
• What are
the advantages and disadvantages of local authorities having powers to operate
markets?
One
advantage of local authorities operating markets relates to the integration of
market development into the wider management and improvement of the public
realm. This includes physical, economic, and social development strategies.
Another advantage is the ability of the local
authority to take a long-term view, and support markets through challenging
financial times or periods of change. Local authorities may also prioritise
markets for other than purely financial reasons.
Some potential disadvantages are that some local
authorities may not have relevant organisational structures or dedicated
expertise to maximise business opportunities, or may not have the necessary
freedoms to implement innovation.
• Does
central government support markets effectively? If not, what additional support
should be provided?
Not known. Very little knowledge of any cohesive
market strategy or support currently provided in the Westminster area, which
suggests very little is given.
• Could
central government make better use of markets to achieve national goals, particularly
with regard to social cohesion, health and regeneration?
The
possibilities here seem endless. Direct support to market operators, traders,
and sharing of best practice would obviously assist, not just the traders but
Local Authorities.
4. Planning and
licensing issues
• Do local
and national planning regulations support or hinder the development of markets?
Westminster finds the planning regulations have a
neutral effect on the development of markets.
• Do
licensing regulations support or hinder the development of markets?
Licensing
regimes vary and markets can be established by a number of statutory and
non-statutory means. Existing legislation, unique in Westminster, which
regulates markets and street trading has proved to significantly restrict the
City Council in achieving change in market operations, or integrate street
trading provision into a wider vision for the public realm. The City Council
has deposited a Bill (City of Westminster Bill 2008-09, http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/privbill/200809/unassigned/cofw/020/414655/191108/2009020.htm) to
relax some of these constraints, although a balance will still exist between
trader's rights and local authority powers, even if it brought into force.
• What
improvements could be made to the planning and licensing regimes to aid the
development of markets?
The Bill deposited by the City Council would go
some way to make amendments to the licensing regime under which markets
operate. Further amendments promoted in a public Bill would make more
fundamental changes to existing regimes to give greater flexibility in managing
markets for the wider benefit of local communities.
5.
Other Comments.
City of
Westminster Council would be happy to arrange for the Select Committee to visit
the area to see first hand the operation details and successes of the local
markets.
January 2009