East Cambridgeshire District Council

Councillors in East Cambridgeshire met tonight (Tuesday 3 August) to discuss the outcome of the consultation on an Improvement  Plan to introduce changes to Ely Markets.

The cross party Review Team presented their report to the Internal Overview and Scrutiny Committee for their recommendations to Community Services Committee later this month.

Following extensive research and consultation, the plan highlights a number of areas for change, they include:

• Looking to expand the market through additional markets
• Seek to secure control over the Market Square to find more opportunities for income generation
• A weekly charge of £10 + VAT to supply and dismantle stalls for the Saturday Craft and Collectable Market. The provision of a stall and charge would be optional and members also recommended investigating transitional arrangements for traders taking up this option
• Reducing staff costs by 50 per cent

Should these proposals be approved the income will be used to help the Council rebalance the authority's reserves while ensuring the market continues to grow and prosper.

Cllr Michael Allan, Chairman of Internal Overview & Scrutiny Committee of East Cambridgeshire District Council, said: “We have come along way since we first started this review on Ely's Markets. We were clear from the start that there were no plans to close any of the Markets. For example, our work was not just about proposals to charge for the supply and dismantle of stalls on a Saturday - we have looked at creating new markets and finding ways to bring new shoppers to the market.

"We have gone through an extensive consultation process which sought the views of as many people as possible. We know that some of the proposals may be difficult for a few traders but I think we have all come to recognise these are very difficult times for local authorities with many tough decisions having to be made. We believe the Improvement Plan will help to ensure that the markets remain strong and viable in challenging economic times which face us all."

For further information or to submit information please call us on 01353 665555.

ENDS

Notes for editors:

For further information contact Tony Taylorson in the Communications Team on 01223 699285.

Political contacts: Cllr Michael Allan (Lib Dem) 01638 744050 and Cllr John Humphreys (Con) 01353 722716.