Wirral Council passed a controversial new markets policy despite objections from multiple markets and residents.
The policy also faced accusations it is intended to “stop other markets” but this was denied by Councillor Andrew Hodson, chair of the council’s Regulatory and General Purposes committee.
The council said in a report the policy will help provide transparency and clarity and help avoid appeals over future decisions made. A six-mile zone around Birkenhead Market was also proposed to support the market’s traders in the policy.
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The policy has faced criticism from a large number of community groups and local churches over concerns it could require them to pay for a licence.
It appeared the policy might not pass with opposition expressed to certain conditions by Councillors Leah Fraser and Christopher Cooke and concerns raised by Councillor Chris Jones. It was later passed by the committee after several changes made.
The draft proposal said events would not need to apply for a licence if it is held no more than six times a year, only lasts one day, has fewer than 20 stalls, and does not impact Birkenhead Market.
For events larger than this, a Market Rights Licence would be required in Wirral before the event can take place.
Changes were made to increase the number of times the event could be held every year to 12, the number of stalls to 30, that events can last two days (for example run over the weekend), and have “no significant impact on trading at Birkenhead Market.
The policy, despite being voted through, is open for review by councillors and another meeting will be held to discuss future licence fees, which have not been decided.
Any licence fee will be based on size, how often a market is held and its potential commercial impact. The policy states one-off events such as book fairs and cake sales are not affected.
In a council report published before the meeting, one member of a local church accused the council of becoming a “Scrooge,” calling the policy “utterly disgusting.”
At the meeting, councillors heard from representatives from farmers’ markets in Heswall and New Ferry and Wallasey Food Fair.
John Jones, who runs the food fair, said: “There is no way that the markets we run for four hours a month have any impact on Birkenhead Market. We are not impacting on that.”
Mr Jones said events like his were a starting point for new businesses and stalls and licensing might stop new events from forming as “it is another level of bureaucracy.
“We are bringing local produce in and trying to bring more into the local economy.”
Councillor David Burgess-Joyce said this was a “valid point,” adding that the council needs to “encourage people to have farmers’ markets.”
An argument broke out after a representative from Wirral Farmers’ Market accused the policy of trying to harm other markets. He said: “The whole premise of the report is absolutely to try and prevent other markets.”
Cllr Hodson immediately denied this, adding any fees were “not going to be onerous.” At one point, he asked "I do not understand why you are being so belligerent."
Cllr Hodson said that the committee recognised the concerns of groups unable to afford a licence fee and said this would be taken into consideration when the fees are determined.
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