Agenda item

Report of the Director of Markets and Consumer Protection.

The Committee received a report of the Director of Markets and Consumer Protection providing an update on progress against the Business Plan of the Markets Department for Period 1 (April-July) of 2015-16 against key performance indicators (KPIs) and objectives outlined in the Business Plan.

The Chairman reported that there had been additional visitors to the Markets since the report had been produced. The Lord Mayor had visited Smithfield Market on 28 July 2015, the Deputy Mayor of London, Roger Evans, had visited Billingsgate Market on 15 September and the Committee had also visited Billingsgate earlier this morning for which the Chairman, on behalf of all Members, wished to record his thanks to all staff and traders.

The Chairman highlighted that references to ‘overtrading’ within the report related to traders who were trading outside of their tenanted area. It was requested that this be referred to as an ‘encroachment fee’ in future reports. In response to a question, the Director stated that simply asking traders to move goods that were placed outside their tenanted areas was not effective. An incentive for traders to comply was therefore required. The Deputy Chairman reported that he had now seen the issue first hand and that this was a real problem. The Chairman asked for further reports on this matter if the encroachment fee did not result in improvements.

In response to questions regarding sickness absence levels, the Superintendent of New Spitalfields Market (and former Superintendent of Smithfield Market) reported that there had been some long-term sickness cases, predominantly within the Constabulary teams at both sites, but that two of the individuals concerned had now returned to work. However, Members were informed that a member of maintenance staff had now gone on long term sick leave and had undergone one operation and was awaiting a further procedure. The member of staff’s future employment would need to be considered.

A Member requested that, in future, sickness absence and long-term sickness should be separated out so as to present a clearer picture to the Committee. The Director agreed to report this, as in the past, in a broken out way.

A Member questioned whether members of the Constabulary underwent medical examination before appointment. The Director confirmed that all would be required to complete an Occupational Health form and receive clearance from Occupational Health before taking up employment. He underlined the sensitivity around medical information. A Member stated that there were also restrictions around what questions could be asked of employees in accordance with the Disability Discrimination Act.

In response to further questions, the Superintendent of New Spitalfields Market reported that long term sickness absence could relate to either physical or mental illness and that work as well as many other factors may be contributors to this.

The Chairman requested that sickness absence levels be kept under review and reported back to this Committee periodically.

In response to a question regarding details around the increased charges at Smithfield Market for the new VINCI car park, the Superintendent of Smithfield market undertook to circulate a note to all Members following the meeting, via the Committee Clerk.

In response to a question, the Superintendent of Smithfield Market reported that the filming of ITV’s Jekyll and Hyde was charged at a rate of £250 per hour. Members requested that the final fee charged be circulated to all. Members also requested that information on the fees associated with the filming of the Sky production ‘Lucy Man’ be circulated to all outside of this meeting.

RESOLVED – That the Committee notes the content of this report and its appendices.