To consider the recommendations of the Community Services Scrutiny Committee held on 11 March 2009 in relation to the proposed relocation of the Hereford Open Retail Market into the St Peter’s Street/High Town interface and Commercial Street each Saturday and Wednesday.

THAT:

(a)   Cabinet considered the resolutions of the Community Services Scrutiny Committee;

(b)   the relocation of the open retail market be for an initial one year trial;

(c)   the strategy for new stalls including the location be revisited and adjusted where necessary ( in consultation with Hereford City Partnership);

(d)   the Experion software package for measuring footfall be procured to assess the potential impact of the relocation of the open retail market to the Butter market;

(e)   a detailed review of stall allocation be carried out in conjunction with Hereford City Partnership; and

a retail impact study be conducted as soon as practicable.

To inform Cabinet of the outcome of the Call-in by the Community Services Scrutiny Committee of Cabinet’s decision of the 19 February 2009, when Cabinet resolved:

a)      subject to approval of the capital programme bid, the relocation of Hereford Open Retail Market to the St Peter’s Street / High Town interface and Commercial Street as from 8 April 2009 (or as soon afterwards as operational arrangements allow) be approved;

b)     the proposed formulation of a policy governing allocation of the stalls be noted; and

c)   during the first year of operation a Retail Impact Assessment is undertaken and that a formal evaluation of the effectiveness of the new arrangement is considered by the Cabinet Member at the end of that period.

Cabinet could choose not to adopt any of the Scrutiny Committee’s recommendations.