Agenda item

The Committee considered the undernoted report:

            “1     Relevant Background Information

1.1    Belfast City Council has exclusive rights to hold markets in Belfast. The Development Committee at its meeting on 26 June 2012 granted authority for the Director of Development or other authorised officer to approve future markets/car boot sales in the City of Belfast.  This applies to car boot sales which are considered to be deminimus with less than 20 persons trading; and/or a market which is considered by officers to be deminimus and/or any markets which are carried out solely for charitable purposes.

            2       Key Issues

1.1    Conway Mill Preservation Trust has applied to operate the weekly market in Conway Mill, every Saturday from 10.00am to 2.00pm. The market will have a mixture of crafts and food and will hold approx 20 stalls each week.

2.2    The market has been operating for a number of months and they wish to register to Council for a licence. The market has been visited by the Council’s Environmental Health Food Safety Officers and the food stalls have all been passed as per food safety regulations.

2.3    Conway Mill Preservation Trust have as part of their application requested to have any payable fees discounted on charitable grounds, (fees include annual £100 fee for multiple market application and £6.00 per stall as the market is under 25 stalls). They have included a charity registration number on their application confirming charitable status. Advice from Development Finance and Legal Services is that the weekly fee per stall could be waivered but annual fee of £100 for application to operate multiple markets is paid.

            3       Resource Implications

3.1    Loss of £6240 in revenue for foregoing weekly stall fee. The £100 annual application fee will cover the administration costs.

            4       Recommendations

4.1    Members are asked to approve the waiver of the weekly fee for charitable status purposes but the annual registration fee of £100 be paid for 2012/2013 period and every year thereafter while the market is in operation.”

            A Member reminded the Committee that, in 2012, it had endorsed the contents of an updated Council Markets Policy and suggested that it would be inappropriate to waive the stall hire fees, as suggested, given that there was no scope within the Policy to do so. A further Member pointed out that the Committee had, in March, rejected a request from stall holders in St. George’s Market to waive their stall hire fees in light of the disruption to business which had occurred due to the unrest in the City. He stated also that the Council was duty bound to protect its income streams and, should a precedent be set by waiving the charges as requested, it might encourage other market stall holders to apply for similar treatment.

            However, several Members suggested that the Committee might consider exercising discretion in this instance and agree to meet the request since it would encourage economic development within an area of need.

Proposal

            Moved by Councillor Reynolds,

            Seconded by Councillor Spence,

     That the Committee agrees not to accede to the request to waive the stall hire charges for the traders at the Conway Mill Market. 

            On a vote by show of hands nine Members voted for the proposal and ten against and it was declared lost.

Further Proposal

            Moved by Alderman Stoker,

            Seconded by Councillor Kyle,

      That the Committee agrees to waive the stall hire charges for traders at the Conway Mill Market for the first twenty stall holders only.

            On a vote by show of hands two Members voted for the proposal and ten against and it was declared lost.

Further Proposal

            Moved by Councillor Maskey,

            Seconded by Councillor Mac Giolla Mh?n,

      That the Committee agrees to adopt the recommendations as set out within the report.

            On a vote by show of hands ten Members voted for the proposal and nine against and it was declared carried.