Meeting documents

Written questions may be asked of the Leader or any cabinet Member if submitted to the Head of Democratic, Legal and Policy Services no later than 12 noon on Monday 10 July 2017. Questions will be submitted in the order in which they were received.

A questioner will have a maximum of 1 minute to ask a question and the answer shall not exceed 3 minutes. Any questioner may put one supplementary question without notice within a maximum time of 1 minute and the answer may not exceed 2 minutes.  

(a)Question from Mr J Hill to the Leader of the Council

"Over the last few years the nature and users of High Wycombe Towns historic Charter Market and market have changed with the loss of a significant number of stalls covering a wide range of goods that you would expect to see in a thriving town market. There has been an increase in the provision of hot food outlets.

What are the views of the Leader and her Cabinet on the demise of the town’s Historic Charter Market which has been in existence for some 7 centuries?"

Response from Councillor Ms K Wood (Leader of the Council)

"High Wycombe’s market has played an important role in the town for several centuries and the Council is committed to ensuring the market continues to thrive and prosper in the future.  In recent years we have supported the Market in a number of ways including help with the installation of new stalls. 

The move of markets away from dry goods towards a greater emphasis on food & drink is a national phenomenon.  In the most recent edition of the National Market Traders Federation magazine (June 2017) the Chief Executive’s annual report laments the continuing decline in the number of market traders across the UK as a whole. 

The sale of dry goods and clothing in markets has been affected by the rise of ‘value’ retailers such as Pound World, Pound Land, B&M and Primark who, in many cases can undercut the prices that market traders can achieve by buying their goods from large wholesalers.

Many markets have enjoyed a rise in fresh and artisan food with a strong local provenance (evidenced by the growth of farmers’ markets) as well as ‘street food’ from a variety of cultural and ethnic traditions. 

The fact that High Wycombe has a market charter dating from medieval times cannot insulate it from changes in consumer tastes and perceptions about what and why they choose to buy from street markets rather than shops, supermarkets or online.

There are certainly issues including food hygiene, cooking fumes and litter problems that can arise from hot food takeaways. However, the Council has resources to manage these issues and to license the traders who operate such outlets.  

It is not realistic or sensible for the Council to intervene to protect market traders from ‘market forces’. Both the town centre and the retail market have undergone dramatic changes in recent years.  The advent of ‘discounters’ and on-line shopping and the town’s demographics all mean that street markets have to evolve.  The same old offering is not enough to attract people. One aspect of this change being that the market has been successful in capitalising upon the growth of ‘street food’, with new improved seating to come.  It retains two fruit and veg stalls and a successful newcomer is a popular cut flower and plant stall.  Plans are being worked on to better utilise the under-crofts of the Guildhall and Little Market House. The market manager will be working with the new BiD Co to arrange regular street entertainment. Ultimately, it is for market traders to make a success of their individual businesses.

Supplementary Question

"Does Major Projects or the Estates Department have any influence over the decision as to how the market should be run in the future?"

Supplementary Response

"No operator wants to see the demise of the market. This Council will continue to support the market to create the environment and conditions that will help market traders to succeed and adapt to changing consumer tastes and demands."

(b)Question from Mr T Snaith to the Cabinet Member for Planning

"In light of all the work done by officers and community groups on the Abbey Barn and Gomm valley developments. I note that the groups have not met to review the infrastructure group findings and the report has not been released.

Why has the Cabinet deemed to debate the release of Gomm Valley ahead of feedback from the groups?"

Response from Councillor D Johncock (Cabinet Member for Planning)

"The final Infrastructure Roundtable report was published in June 2016 and is available on our website. If you are unable to find this, I will e-mail you the weblink details. The publication of this report effectively concluded the workings of the Infrastructure Roundtable and therefore there have been no more meetings since.

The fact is that each of the Reserve Site Liaison Groups had a representative on the Infrastructure Roundtable who then reported back to their specific groups. The requirements in the infrastructure report informed the Development Briefs and will inform both the Infrastructure Development Plan associated with the new Local Plan and, of course, any future planning applications.

In terms of the Gomm Valley & Ashwells brief, the Liaison Group met 12 times through 2015 and 2016 to discuss issues as the site development brief evolved.  There have been two full rounds of Liaison Group consultations on the site development brief and one public consultation. There have also been public exhibitions (Council and Developer led).  So the infrastructure needs associated with this site have been widely publicised and consulted upon.

Yes, there has been a significant delay in updating the site development brief for Gomm Valley and Ashwells following the public consultation and that is regrettable. However, we eventually got there and the brief was approved at Cabinet last Monday.

Consultation with the Abbey Barn Liaison Groups took place from 12th January 2015 to 1st December 2015.  The Liaison Group met 7 times through 2015 to discuss issues as the Abbey Barn South development brief evolved.  There were two full rounds of Liaison Group consultation on the Brief and one public consultation. There have also been public exhibitions (Council and Developer led). The Development Brief was adopted in July 2016. As with GVA Site Development Brief, the time delay between the final Liaison Group meeting and the adoption of the Brief was necessary to action changes to the Brief."

Supplementary Question

"There still remain many un addressed issues on such matters as infrastructure and the problems with traffic congestion in London Road. There has been resistance from many groups, what does WCC propose to do about this? There has been much poor decision making in the process and everyone else has been blamed, example the developer, the Government. If this is the best she can do perhaps the Leader should consider resigning."

Supplementary Response

"There has not been any poor decision making, I agree there is congestion on the London Road and that it does present a challenge. However we need to work closely with the County Council and with Highways to come up with some effective solutions. You must let the officers get on with the job."