The Green Party firmly believes that small businesses are the lifeblood of London’s economy with over 99% of businesses employing between 0 and 49 people. Markets with their small independent traders are the heart of the community and as such are invaluable and should be supported to thrive.
Kingston Market has seen a decline in recent years with the loss of some long standing stalls and an increased emphasis on fast food outlets. The proposal from Kingston Council for changes to Kingston’s ancient market that would bring the management of the market itself, the marketplace and the sadly neglected Market House under one operator, with the aim of revitalizing the market, diversifying its offerings, encouraging more cultural events and bringing the Market House back into proper use is broadly welcomed.
However, we have some concerns which we have fed back to the council via the Kingston Let’s Talk Website consultation page:
- Will the council be considering alternatives to ceding management to a third party commercial organisation? For instance, are there plans to investigate the possibility of not-for-profit organisations taking on the role or indeed retaining responsibility within the council itself?
- What are the selection criteria upon which the operator will be chosen?
- What protections will there be for existing stallholders under the new management? The Green Party is concerned that existing traders should not be priced out through rent rises or controls over opening hours (especially with the proposed extended hours for the market).
- What are the KPI’s that the council will expect the organisation to work to – will these be made public and will there be transparency around how well the organisation is performing against them?
- It is understood that there is a capital budget for restoration of the Market House. Who will be responsible for this budget and the restoration project under this new lease arrangement?
- How will a decision on the replacement of the wooden market stalls be made?
- Many market operators talk about cashless operation. How will the council ensure that the market does not become completely cashless under the new operator?
- Who would be able to give consent for access to the market place for such events as the Kingston Carnival or Bike races which have gone through the market in the past? Could this new operator prevent access to such events?
We applaud many of the aspirations outlined for the market, particularly that it should meet local needs for varied and seasonal produce, should be a vehicle for bringing together the local community and looking for ways to minimise environmental impact, but there is a danger that they remain just that, aspirations, unless they are backed up with publicly visible, strong KPIs and measurable objectives alongside protections for the market stall holders.
Lastly, the market ultimately should be an asset for the local community, and so the emphasis should to provide for the needs of local people. The need for fresh, good quality, reasonably priced produce should be at the heart of these plans. It should not simply turn into a tourist attraction.