There was a change of membership for this Committee: Councillor Wylie replaced Mayor Thornhill and Councillor D Scudder replaced Councillor Sharpe.

The Sub-Committee was asked to elect a Chair for the Hearing.

RESOLVED –

that Councillor Wylie be elected Chair for this meeting.

There were no disclosures of interest.

To submit for signature the minutes of the meeting held on 19 July 2011.

The minutes of the meeting held on 19^th July 2011 were submitted and signed.

Managing Director’s Report to the Market Working Group – 21 February 2012.

Consultation with Market Traders on their requirements for a Redeveloped Charter Place

Mr Jones introduced himself and outlined the scope of the Market Trader Audit.  He explained that in order to redevelop the shopping centre successfully all elements should be drawn together into a cohesive whole.  He advised that to achieve this it was important to understand the needs of Market Traders; their ideas would then be included in the proposals. 

Mr Jones said that his team had met with Grant Adams (Chair of the Market Traders’ Association) the previous week.  He wished to establish when would be a good time to speak with traders and whether this should be in the form of face-to-face interviews.   He said that letters would be sent to all traders and that the interviews would be held over a two-week period.  Mr Jones added that G L Hearn were keen to engage with all current occupiers of Charter Place.  A public consultation would also be undertaken which would begin in late Spring 2012. 

One Member asked when the Market Working Group would have the chance to look at the outcome of the consultation.

Mr Jones said that the Market Working Group would have this opportunity as soon as the report was available.

Another Member enquired whether the traders’ wishes would be included or whether they would need to fit with existing plans.

Mr Schofield assured the Member that the results of the survey would feed into redevelopment plans. 

A further Member asked whether Market customers would be consulted.

Mr Jones advised that traders would be asked initially and that shoppers would be consulted later.  He explained that the traders and other businesses in Charter Place would be surveyed first, followed by the whole of Watford.  This second consultation would not, however, be in such depth.  He noted that the intention was to make Charter Place appealing to shoppers. 

Toni Davis expressed her view that it was important to consult with customers in order to achieve a greater footfall.  She said that she hoped the new market premises would bring in additional customers. 

Michael Rockman suggested that all discussions with traders should take place in conjunction with the Market Supervisor and that the supervisor should make the introductions and be present throughout the interviews.  He stressed that interviews should be with the owner of the stall rather than with an employee.  He also advised that interviews should have a set time length and that only the set questions be addressed.  He stressed that it was imperative that traders move straight into the new premises with no temporary measures being employed.

The meeting discussed optimum means of holding the interviews.

It was suggested that 20 minutes would be sufficient for each interview and that it would be better to hold the meetings when traders were not engaged in working on their stalls.  One Trader, however, considered that it would be more beneficial to conduct the interviews on the market floor in order to demonstrate  ...  view the full minutes text for item 9.

To be Confirmed

The date of the next meeting to be confirmed.