Pictured are some members of the NABMA Retail Forum on their recent visit to Nuneaton market.

The Forum agenda covered a diversity of market related matters including the current attempt by Rating and Valuation Departments to change the rating of markets to individual rather than one collective assessment.

Much attention was given to the NABMA training and development agenda with news that the May 2007 Residential School is sold out and that by the end of 2007 NABMA intends to have in place a comprehensive training strategy linking with partners such as ATCM, the Institute of Place Management, South Leicestershire College and Coventry University.

NABMA is fully committed to ensuring the markets industry will have a policy framework in 2007. The process has started, has wide support and will look to demonstrate how markets can fit into main stream government policy agendas.

NABMA President Elect Councillor Gareth Jones confirmed that the Nuneaton Forum had been excellent. “ The venue and hospitality were first class, the attendance was excellent and the debate was lively, informative and an endorsement of the role that NABMA is now displaying as the true voice for local authority markets.”