Request for Assistance

A valuable NABMA membership service is our request for assistance facility. Individual authorities or officers send in their question or concern to NABMA via letter, fax or email and this is then sent out to the NABMA membership in an email within a working day. Respondents are asked to reply to the person submitting the question at their direct contact number. Questions and help required can relate to any market related activity including operational, supply, policy, performance or simply sharing of good practice.

Feedback has indicated that the service is extremely well used. A NABMA member recently indicated that their request received 9 responses within 4 hours of distribution by NABMA.

To make your request simply email nabma@nabma.com and state your question and full contact details. This will then be sent to the NABMA membership. NABMA will be pleased if a summary of replies can be provided that can then be shared with others through this section of our website.

We are trying hard to improve the impact of this valuable service and we will be contacting all members who make enquiries after about a fortnight to ascertain whether they have received responses. Given the general interest that we often find in the answers given to member responses we are looking at the possibility of opening up a new page on the website giving details of Member Requests. Further details about this new facility will be given in due course.

Below is a sample of some of the recently asked questions:

“Would you be so kind as to ask fellow NABMA members if they are able to recommend a German market?

I have booked both French and Italian markets with success and would like to find a German one for next summer.”

“I have been tasked with preparing a feasibility/business case for an indoor market and would be grateful if members could provide me with an indication of the rents for leases or licences of indoor market units.”

“Information regarding methods of Markets Management in other Local Authorities has been requested by Derby City Council. However, current staffing levels' in relation to current portfolio do not appear to have been considered.

Therefore, could you ask Members please if they could let me know…

How many staff (excluding cleaning, security staff and general administrative staff who would only deal with typing and filing) are employed to deal with their Markets operation.
Whether they have Retail (indoor/outdoor, number of stalls, and days held) Markets, Wholesale Markets and/or Cattle Markets.
Whether they hold Specialist Markets and/or Farmers Markets.
If they are responsible for any additional work areas, such as Street Trading.

“We are currently looking into alternative payment methods with regards to rent collection, due to concerns raised by the Councils risk assessment team. Do you know how most other markets collect theirs? How did they introduce new methods such as DD or Standing Order? We have mentioned it before to traders, but have not had a very positive response. We currently collect cash manually accompanied by Security Officers.

Also, when dealing with stall applications, do you think there should be a preference to current main stall holders over daily bench traders/new applicants? Your views would be helpful.”

“Could you please ask members who run General Markets, not Street or Indoor, how much they charge for a 10’ pitch for Regular Traders and for Casual Traders and then the charge per foot for above 10’ ”

“I wonder if you could possibly give me the contact details of any manufacturers of market stalls. I am aware of CityB, but are there any others?

“My name is Colin Joyce, I am market and street trading officer for Cambridge market. Can someone please help me with the following questions?

1 Does any other market have a sickness policy for market traders?

2 Do they credit a trader if they produce a doctors certificate?

3 Do they credit traders if they just phone in and say that they are sick?

4 Are traders charged for non-attendance on a licensed pitch?

“Tamworth would be grateful to receive any contact fellow members may have for Continental market operators who have been successful in your towns.

We are especially looking for German markets due to a Town Twinning Anniversary next year, however this is not exclusive as we are considering a full range of European markets.”

“We have been looking at our retail markets because in common no doubt with other Authorities our void and arrears levels have increased.

I have been asked to investigate the different ways Authorities manage their markets. Apart from the traditional local authority management model I am keen to hear about other approaches. These could be management buyouts or outsourcing to varying extents or any alternative approaches. To give context to our position we have 24% and 14% voids in our two main markets. Details of any trend analysis of occupancy levels over up to the last three years would be appreciated. Finally are Authorities approaching marketing differently in these hard times.”

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