Report of Chief Executive attached.

Report AGREED by 47 votes to 0 with 1 abstention.

A report of the Chief Executive sought Council’s agreement to support work to oppose plans by the City of London Corporation to move three wholesale markets to the Barking area, potentially posing a risk to the sustainability of Romford Market and its traders.

The report was AGREED by 47 votes to 0 with 1 abstention (see division 1) and it was RESOLVED:

That being satisfied that the City of London (Markets) Bill as currently drafted conflicts with the London Borough of Havering’s market rights to protect the continued commercial viability of Romford Market pursuant to the Royal Charter of the Liberty of Havering, by failing to provide that the markets proposed for relocation to the site at Dagenham Dock may only operate for the supply of goods on a wholesale basis, the Council is accordingly satisfied that it is expedient to:

1. Oppose the said Bill in Parliament pursuant to its powers under section 239 of the Local Government Act 1972, and

2. Insofar as may be necessary to ratify its Petition to oppose the said Bill as already lodged in Parliament in order to comply with the Parliamentary timetable;

And the Council does accordingly resolve to oppose the said Bill in Parliament and insofar as may be necessary to ratify its Petition to oppose the said Bill.