Meeting documents

1 THE ISSUE

2 RECOMMENDATION

2.1 consider this report and decide whether to allow the GMTA to hold a market in the Guildhall car park for the period of the 2006 Christmas Market (which runs from 30 November to 10 December plus an additional day prior to and after the Market for setting up and dismantling).

2.2 If consent is given to the use of the car park for this purpose then it is suggested that consent is given subject to the following conditions:-

a) That planning permission and all other statutory consents are obtained and all conditions (if any) are complied with fully before the market is set up

b) That all necessary street trading licences are obtained before the market is set up

c) That the GMTA enter into a licence with the Council documenting the agreed covenants and obligations of each party

d) That alternative appropriate arrangements aremade for users of the displaced parking space for the disabled and for users with small children

3  FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS

4 COMMUNITY STRATEGY OUTCOMES

5 CORPORATE IMPROVEMENT PRIORITIES

Developing a sustainable economy - allowing the GMTA to use the car park to hold a market over the period of the Christmas Market will significantly increase foot fall to the Guildhall Market. The Market is a discrete part of Bath's retail offer, supplying many local shopping needs in the City which are not available elsewhere. The Market is situated in the Guildhall complex and suffers from a lack of visibility as signage to the listed structure is limited. The increased foot fall from the Christmas Market helps to sustain the viability of the businesses in the Market.

6 CPA KEY LINES OF ENQUIRY

Ambition for the community - The Council has indicated that it is trying to achieve a sustainable economy and this proposal gives it the opportunity to demonstrate this.

7 THE REPORT

7.1 A Christmas Market has been held in Kingston Parade, in front of Abbey Chambers, since 2000. In 2004 the Market was extended to the Guildhall car park but Bath Tourism Plus who organised it, found that it was not financially viable to run although it attracted increased footfall to the Guildhall Market.

7.2 In 2005 consent was given to the GMTA to hold a market in the Guildhall car park for the period of the Christmas Market. There were a number of operational difficulties particularly in setting up the market but it did generate increased footfall into the Guildhall Market. This generated an increase in trade which is thought by many stall holders to be an essential part of their annual income.

7.3 The GMTA has asked the Council as landowner, for consent to run a market in the Guildhall car park for the duration of the 2006 Christmas Market. It is proposed to hold the market in three interlocking marquees to be erected in the car park, containing approximately 20 stalls (depending on the size of stalls required) plus 5 wooden chalets to be situated outside the Guildhall elevation to Orange Grove (it is understood that Highways have no objections to the position of the chalets).

7.4 The fire officer has been consulted about the use of the marquees and does not have any objection to the proposal.

7.5 The GMTA has applied for planning permission for the use of the car park as a market for the period of the Christmas Market and the application is to be heard at Committee on 1 November.

7.6 Details of the issues arising from the use of the car park last year are outlined in the Appendix to this report together with measures proposed to alleviate these.

7.7 It is proposed that the four car parking spaces immediately to the left of the entrance to the car park will not be included in the letting. It is suggested that for the period of the Market the space reserved for the Chair of the Council and the Mayor be moved to the adjoining space, thereby releasing their dedicated space for use by anybody with a disability. There will be two further spaces which it may be decided to allocate to those Councillors with child care arrangements and where particular difficulties were highlighted last year.

7.8 Although there were concerns that presence of the Market may disturb the Register office, the Registrar confirmed that last year the Market was considered to be a subdued affair and that there was not any disruption to their service.

7.9 Last year the residents of the Empire supported the proposal and there were not any complaints from them about the Market. The proposals for the Market for this year have been explained to a meeting of the Empire Resident's Association and again they support the proposal.

8 RISK MANAGEMENT

9 RATIONALE

10 OTHER OPTIONS CONSIDERED

11 CONSULTATION

11.1 Executive Councillor, Ward Councillors

11.2 Consultation has been carried out by email.

12 ISSUES TO CONSIDER IN REACHING THE DECISION

13 ADVICE SOUGHT