New fee and administrative charging schedule adopted

The consultation ran from 27 March 2025 to 28 April 2025 and followed the statutory obligation of placing a notice in the local newspaper. In addition, we sent a letter to all traders by email, ran an online survey, held two online consultation sessions, two in-person consultation sessions and carried out in-person visits to Chapel Market, Whitecross Street Market and Exmouth Market, delivering leaflets about the consultation and talking to traders. We followed best practise for accessibility and sharing information.

Officers are encouraged by the many positive responses we have received from traders in conversation while visiting the markets and from the positive and thoughtful responses received through the online consultation and this further demonstrates that the changes are proportionate as well as needed. Street Trading received a very low numbers of written responses with 4 respondents.

Officers have considered and agree with most of the comments received on investing in attracting more people to the area, more outdoor seating, attractions near markets and scattered sites, using technology to cut down administration costs, incentives for traders on food safety/other, events and recruitment of new traders. We had already begun working on all the above over the last two years, and the fee increases will speed our capacity to deliver improvements. Street Trading is working with partner teams on improving highways repairs, working with traders on wastewater and oil disposal, and bringing in new footfall through themed markets such as the recent refugee market, the youth markets and black owned business markets held in 2024. These rises are cumulatively below an inflationary rise year on year given that the last increase was 11 years ago in 2014.

Officers accept that there are some differences between markets on pricing, utility usage, commodities sold and community benefit and will look at discretionary reductions based on commodity types that bring social value as soon as is feasible.

Officers see other points raised around impact of COVID19 and footfall as general to inner London rather than Islington specific, and desktop research on comparable markets and street trading charging shows that Islington will still be the most cost effective and best value place to trade in inner London.

Given the above, the recommendation made to committee and approved, was to proceed with the revised fees and charges in full.