Agenda item

The Chairman hoped that Members would be able to support the Markets Float at the upcoming Lord Mayor’s Show.

The Chairman provided Members with an update on his trip with the Markets Director to the wholesale markets of Abu Dhabi. He said that he wanted the MCP to provide a food hub that would be the envy of the UK and which should aspire to create a market for the future.

The Chairman suggested, and Members agreed, that one way to fulfil these aspirations was to embrace third-party financing, should that be an available option, and hoped that a briefing session with top financiers could be convened. A Member returned to the subject of the establishment of a special purpose vehicle to aid in this, as they felt it was easier for these entities to get external funding. Another Member seconded this idea and suggested that market tenants should be encouraged to invest in any potential entity to ensure buy-in to its success.