Decision details
Romford Market Transformation Programme
Decision Maker: Cabinet
Decision status: Recommendations approved
Is Key decision?: Yes
Is subject to call in?: Yes
Decisions:
Councillor Robert Benham, Cabinet member for Environment, introduced the report
Cabinet was informed that the report before it outlined proposals for the transformation of Romford Market. These fell under four main headings: branding identity and vision; operational management and business development; physical transformation and improved use of space.
Work on the first three was being initiated. The full physical interventions proposed were subject to the successful award of external funding to match the Council’s proposed investment.
The transformational plan would see a fundamental change in the way Romford Market looked, felt, was managed and operated as well as changes to the Market Place itself and how it would be used on both market and non-market days.
Reasons for the decision:
A revamped market would bring income to the Council and would spur economic activities elsewhere in the town. The Romford Development Framework indicated that Romford was poised for significant future growth with the potential of 3,400 homes, and 23,000 m2 of office and retail space leading to 480 new jobs over the next 10 years. The RDF and findings of the 20:20 study showed that to reach that potential, Romford needed to improve, and this Market Transformation Programme would be fundamental to cementing and growing Romford’s position as a retail and leisure destination.
Other options considered:
Do nothing. Without intervention the market would continue to decline and underperform as a commercial proposition but also as an asset for the Town.
Cabinet:
1. Endorsed the main proposals developed with the assistance of consultants 20:20 Ltd, as identified in section 4 of the report and tasked officers to progress implementation.
2. Authorised officers to engagewith traders, retailers and partners in the delivery of the changes described in the report.
3. Delegated authority to the Group Director of Communities and Resources in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Environment to finalise the grant application for capital investment in the market to the Mayor of London’s London Regeneration fund.
4. Delegated authority to the Cabinet Member for Environment and the Group Director of Communities and Resources to submit further funding applications (e.g. Veolia and HLF) or to other funding sources relating to the market and Market Place consistent with the programme outlined in the report.
5. Noted the appointment of architects to cost and develop full proposals for the physical development of the Market Place and to recommend to Council the allocation of £1m Council capital funding of the programme subject to securing sufficient match-funding from other sources subject to a business case being signed off by the Finance Business Partner and Group Director, Communities & Resources, in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Environment.
6. Agreed to utilise transformational funding to support the market transformation programme as part of the Council’s ‘invest to save’model and authorised the Group Director of Communities and Resources to release funds accordingly, subject to both the Group Director and Finance Business Partner signing-off a business case in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Environment.
Publication date: 20/11/2015
Date of decision: 18/11/2015
Decided at meeting: 18/11/2015 - Cabinet
Effective from: 25/11/2015
This decision has been called in by:
- Councillor Keith Darvill who writes Please accept this notice to requisition the Romford Market Transformation decision that was agreed at Cabinet on 18 November 2015 on the following grounds:- 1. No evidence has been provided that clearly demonstrates that changes to the market will attract new shoppers and traders. 2. No evidence has been provided to demonstrate the consultant's track record in improving the market experience and footfall. 3. No evidence has been provided in how the proposed changes will be an "invest to save" opportunity. 4. No evidence has been provided to show that market places in London Boroughs are growing in demand. 5. No evidence has been provided that new socio economic classes will be attracted to Romford Market. 6. No impact assessment has been carried out on the potential impact that the proposals will have on independent traders in other town centres in Havering. 7. Lack of detail on the costings of each part of the project and how and by whom it will be managed."
- Councillor Ray Morgon who writes Please accept this notice to requisition the Romford Market Transformation decision that was agreed at Cabinet on 18 November 2015 on the following grounds:- 1. No evidence has been provided that clearly demonstrates that changes to the market will attract new shoppers and traders. 2. No evidence has been provided to demonstrate the consultant's track record in improving the market experience and footfall. 3. No evidence has been provided in how the proposed changes will be an "invest to save" opportunity. 4. No evidence has been provided to show that market places in London Boroughs are growing in demand. 5. No evidence has been provided that new socio economic classes will be attracted to Romford Market. 6. No impact assessment has been carried out on the potential impact that the proposals will have on independent traders in other town centres in Havering. 7. Lack of detail on the costings of each part of the project and how and by whom it will be managed."
Accompanying Documents:
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