Agenda item

To receive updates from the General Managers of Smithfield, New Spitalfields and Billingsgate Markets.

The Board received an update from the General Managers of Smithfield, Billingsgate and New Spitalfields Markets.

In respect of staffing matters at Smithfield Market, a Member asked General Managers if there was cause for concern since she was aware of several staff resignations. The General Manager for Smithfield Market admitted that this was due to the market rate for salary pay of maintenance staff being low which made recruitment difficult. Although the Market Forces Supplement (MFS) had added an additional £9,000 to the Maintenance Manager roles, with these positions being filled at the time of the meeting, staff at the lower-end of the pay scale were being recruited via agencies. Despite there being a challenge to identify candidates who were both heavily skilled and experienced for the maintenance staff role(s) it was expected that any vacant positions were soon to be filled.

It was also noted that pest activity at Smithfield Market had fallen because of successful pest-proofing. However, due to the condition of the building and the construction works being carried out to complete the new Museum of London having an influence on pest activity, it was expected that pest activity would be an on-going challenge. Similarly, there was intermittent insect activity on a very small scale at Billingsgate Market which was being managed appropriately.

The General Manager for Billingsgate Market also confirmed that Tony Lyons had been reinstated as Chair of the Billingsgate Markets Tenants Association.