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National Market Traders Federation - Northampton Branch
Summer Newsletter 2011
New committee elected at NMTF Branch AGM.
A new committee was elected for the coming year at the Branch AGM on Wednesday, June 1st.
The Branch Committee Elected were:
Chair: Christine Domansky. Vice-Chair: John Greatorex. Secretary: Keith Westhead.
Treasurer: Mick Wilson.
Committee Members: John Greatorex, Jnr. Dusty Miller. Helen Miller. Pete Cartwright.
Most members of the new committee have had previous experience as branch committee members.
The future for Northampton Market - Report of the Traders' General Meeting
At the General Meeting which followed the NMTF AGM on June 1st, Councillor Tim Hadland, Portfolio Holder for Town Centre Regeneration, took the Chair. Cllrs Penny Flavell and Sally Beardsworth were also in attendance.
Cllr Hadland said he wanted everyone to be in the picture regarding the Market and the Town Centre. Amongst improvements for the Town Centre was the introduction of free one-hour parking at certain times. This in itself would generate good publicity for the Town Centre. Another promotion would be via the BID, or Business Improvement District, which was gathering pace and would be actively involved in improving the town centre. Cllr Hadland said that it would be good if the market traders could be involved as members of the BID, as market businesses were at the heart of the town. He would be looking into the possibility of this, and would report back to the traders' committee.
Asked about any plans to move the market again, Cllr Hadland said there were no plans for this.
It was important that the present market should be stabilised, and trade improved, before any new ideas were discussed. Cllr Hadland was willing to hear from traders any ideas to improve the market. Cllrs would be present at Derrick Simpson's meetings, to answer questions and give more authority to discussions about the market. Any trader would be able to ask any questions at these meetings.
While it was not possible under present economic circumstances to reduce the stall rents, these would not be increased.
Questions of security were raised, particularly since the Market Office is now located so far from the market, and the market office staff are so remote from the marketplace. Security guards now seemed to be confined to the Grosvenor Centre, so there is nobody on the market to overlook security.
In reply, Cllr Hadland said that priority would be given to seeing that the market office had a greater presence on the Market Square. He would also look into the business of security guards apparently being confined to the Grosvenor Centre.
There was further discussion about the Market Square and the Town Centre. Cllr Flavell said it was hoped that in the near future buses would again be able to drop off and pick up shoppers in the streets of the town, rather than only in the bus station, as at present. When this improvement took place both market traders and shops would benefit. Cllr Hadland said that it was likely that initially at least part of Abington Street would be opened up to traffic.
Committee Chair Chris Domansky thanked Cllr Hadland for Chairing the meeting, and the Cllrs for attending. The committee feel that this has opened a new chapter, with a new administration that is openly friendly towards the Market and the Traders. With this administration in office at NBC, the committee can look forward to renewing a cordial relationship with those councillors responsible for policy concerning the market. Traders can be assured there will be no sudden moves or changes of market layout, and no reallocations as a result. Our best wishes for trading during the summer.
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National Market Traders Federation - Northampton Branch
Spring Newsletter 2011
Good News for Northampton Market Traders...
At a meeting of market traders and market management in the Northampton Guildhall on 11th May, Town Centre Manager Derrick Simpson gave some good news for Northampton traders.
The first was that, as many people already knew, the previous NBC administration of Liberal Democrats had been replaced on May 5th by a mainly Conservative council, who it was hoped would be more sympathetic towards the market.
(Traders had found the Liberal Democrats very difficult to work with; they had moved the market against the wishes of some 11,000 town centre shoppers back in 2009, and against the advice of the traders themselves. The result has been the half-empty market we have left today).
Another piece of good news, at least from the traders’ point of view, was that the Events staff had been cut down by 60%, and Events funding had been cut by 40%. This meant there would be fewer noisy disruptive market square events of the kind loudly complained about by traders over the last two years, but beloved of the last administration. It was hoped these would be replaced by smaller quieter events which would not have an adverse impact upon the market trade. Matt Pearson, head of Events, told the traders that 90% of what noisy events were planned would take place on Sundays, when there is no market. This statement was well received.
This Northampton Branch Committee welcome the arrival of a new set of Councillors in NBC, and we express the hope that traders and council can now work together for the betterment of the market and the town centre. So far as we are concerned these new Councillors start with a clean sheet, and we hope that we can meet with them soon after they have settled themselves in, and help to plan for the future of the market. Nobody is expecting miracles, but it would be good to be able to work with the council again, to gradually build a better market, a market that Northampton can be proud of.
This year's NMTF Annual General Meeting has had to be brought forward two weeks, and will take place slightly earlier, with a 5.30 PM start. Details are given below.
Because several traders who are not in the NMTF have expressed a desire for an all traders' meeting, we have extended the room hire, and a Traders' Meeting will start at 7.00 PM, and continue to 8.30 PM. All traders, whether NMTF members or not, may attend this meeting at 7.00 PM. Details are below:
Traders Meeting: There will be a Traders' Meeting in the Court Room at the Guildhall on the evening of June 1st, at 7.00 PM.
All Traders are invited to this meeting, whether or not they are members of the NMTF. This will be an opportunity to meet the new Councillors recently voted in, and discuss the future of Northampton Market.
If you have any ideas or proposals to put forward, please bring them to this meeting, which is open to all market traders at 7.00 PM. You do not have to book for this meeting, just turn up at 6.45 - 7.00 PM.
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Notice of National Market Traders Federation
Northampton Branch Annual General Meeting
Wednesday 1st June, 5.30 PM in the Court Room, at the Guildhall.
This year’s AGM is to take place on Wednesday, 1st June. The venue this year will be the Court Room, in the Guildhall. This is the Town Hall, and is located in St. Giles Square, at the junction of St Giles Street and Derngate.
Doors will be open at 5.15 PM; the AGM begins at 5.30 PM.
Please bring your NMTF card, as there is No Admittance without one. No Smoking, Please.
Please note that this is the Annual General Meeting of the Northampton Branch of the National Market Traders' Federation, and admittance will be to card-carrying NMTF Members only. This Meeting is only for the purpose of electing a Northampton Branch Committee.
Once again we are asking for NMTF Members to stand for the Branch Committee; we expect a number of changes to the committee as some members will be retiring, so give this your consideration now. There is a Nomination form below the Booking form on the accompanying sheet.
Tea, coffee, and orange juice and a buffet meal will be provided free. There will be no bar.
If you have something particular to put forward for discussion at the AGM, please fill in the Proposals section on the Booking form before returning it, and then be sure to turn up on the night.
Please hand your completed NMTF Booking form to any member of the Branch Committee, or to Les on Rutherford's key stalls, before 12 Noon Friday, 27th May, at the very latest. Thank you for your co-operation.
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As announced above, there will be an all Traders' Meeting at 7.00 PM, to which ALL traders are invited. This will be an opportunity to meet the new Councillors recently voted in, and discuss the future of Northampton Market. If you have any proposals to put forward, please bring them to this meeting.
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