Market Licence policy

11. Balance of trade and product lines

1. 11.1. The Borough Council has a policy on the balance of trades on the market with an aim to create a lively and vibrant environment for shoppers with a wide mix of trades.
2. 11.2. The Borough Council wishes to ensure the market has an appropriative mix of goods so it remains attractive to customers, trying to balance the needs of the customer by offering real choice, providing local business opportunities and ensuring the market maintains a diverse retail offer.
3. 11.3. At the same time the Borough Council recognises the need to let vacant stall(s) whilst ensuring that no traders is provided with a direct covenant not to let other premises to a competing business to avoid a trader occupying a monopolistic position.
4. 11.4. When deciding on a particular trade the Borough Council will take account of the following points:
   • the current availability of particular trades and whether this is a new product
   • evidence of demand from customers for the continuation of the trade or product line concerned.
   • the quality of the product line being offered and its presentation.
   • the attendance record of existing traders in that business
   • times of year the product will be offered for sale
5. 11.5. Any request to diversity goods being sold should be made in writing to the Borough Council with any decision's being considered by the Market Management team in the first instance with their recommendations being passed to a Group Manager for consideration and final agreement. For six day traders this will be considered in conjunction with their lease agreement.
6. 11.6. The Borough Council may accept product lines that compete with existing traders.
7. 11.7 The Borough Council does, however, reserve the right to decline any application if it considers that any particular trade or line will be over represented on the Market.
8. 11.8. If a trader is found to be selling goods that are not agreed by the Council through way of a licence/lease agreement enforcement action may be taken.
9. 11.9. If a trader is found to be persistently selling faulty goods enforcement action may be taken.  This includes stolen goods.
10. 11.10. The Council also reserves the right to review goods sold under existing licences and may make changes from time to time.
11. 11.11. On the two day the market the council reserves the right to restrict uses to prevent conflict on the six day market.  Certain uses on the six day market such as Flowers, plants, fruit and veg, sweets (not an exhaustive list) will not be allowed on the 2 day market unless it can be clearly demonstrated that the goods supplied are significantly different from the trader on the six day market.