Agenda item

Joint report of the City Surveyor & Director of Major Projects

The Committee considered a joint report of the City Surveyor and the Director of Major Projects, Town Clerks, updating the Committee on the work of the Markets Consolidation Programme.  Officers advised that the appointment of a Markets Coordinator had provided a daily presence on the markets and facilitated greater engagement with tenants. 

In response to comments and questions from Members, Officers stated that

·         Most of the tenant engagement had taken place via the Markets Tenants Associations rather than direct with tenants.

·         A tenant engagement meeting for Smithfield Market would take place in October/November 2019.

·         Customer engagement was via the website and stakeholder groups as officers had no direct access to customer data.

·         The Chairman of the Policy & Resources Committee was in a dialogue with TfL in respect of the A13 and Homes England was supporting efforts to get landowners together to release sites.

·         Initial traffic modelling had been undertaken to get an appreciation of the impact on A13 and nearby road networks and it was expected that the wider strategy for A13 improvements would underpin the Private Bill.

·         A report on the learning from visits to large wholesale markets abroad and identifying synergies would be presented to the Policy & Resources Committee in November 2019.

·         Thus far 42 acres of land had been purchased and a site acquisition strategy would identify a further 30-40 acres.

·         Two Member Oversight Groups were being established to support the MCP to

a) consider the future of existing market sites and

b) consider the development of the new market. 

RESOLVED – That the Committee notes:

·         The progress of the Markets Consolidation Programme in developing requirements, particularly the growing interaction with tenants, customers and suppliers at all three markets;

·         The initial feedback from the public consultation and the ongoing engagement with tenants;

·         The establishment of the new Member Oversight Groups.