Agenda item

Joint report of the City Surveyor and the Director of Markets & Consumer Protection

The Committee considered a joint report of the City Surveyor and the Director of Markets and Consumer Protection in respect of the establishment of an on-site food school as part of the Markets Consolidation Programme (MCP).

In introducing the report, the Director of Markets & Consumer Protection paid tribute to the Deputy Chairman for the tenacity with which he had driven this element of the MCP.  Steady progress was being made and governance matters were currently under consideration.

A member referred to concerns he had raised in respect of the CoL relationship with Be First and Counterculture Partnership LLP.  Officers had responded with assurances that Counterculture was the only body who could demonstrate the breadth of experience to provide the specialist services required.

The Committee echoed the sentiments of the Director of Markets & Consumer Protection on the invaluable input of the Deputy Chairman and unanimously supported the Deputy Chairman’s wish to continue as the Committee’s Lead Member to drive forward progress with the Food School. Members also agreed that oversight for management of the proposed Food school should lie within the remit of the Markets Committee and agreed to send a recommendation to this effect to the Policy & Resources Committee.  

Members also made the following points:

·           Rent charges should be on the basis of an educational establishment rather than as a trader;

·           The scope for fishmongers and livery companies providing funding should be explored

RESOLVED –

(1)      That the report be noted.

(2)      That officers explore whether rent charges should be on the basis of an educational establishment rather than as a trader.

(3)      That Officers explore the feasibility of fishmongers and livery companies providing funding.

(4)      That a recommendation be made to the Policy & Resources Committee that the Markets Committee unanimously endorses the Deputy Chairman continuing to act as the Markets Committee’s Lead Member for driving forward with the Food School element of the MCP.

(5)      That the Policy and Resources Committee be recommended to revise the Markets Committee’s Terms of Reference as follows (insertion in italics):

Terms of Reference

To be responsible for:-

(a) oversight of the management of all matters relating to Smithfield Market, Billingsgate Market and New Spitalfields Market and the letting of all premises therein;

(b) oversight of the management of all matters relating to the proposed onsite Food School at Dagenham Dock as part of the Markets Consolidation Programme;

(c) the appointment of the Director of Markets and Consumer Protection (acting jointly with the Port Health and Environmental Services and Licensing Committees).