Council to meet with market traders

The Council has a responsibility to ensure that the Victorian Market and its Tenants receive the highest standard of service and support so that the Traders have the best chance for success and the Inverness Common Good Fund receives a reasonable rate of return. The Common Good Fund recently spent £1million on refurbishing the Market Roof and has installed new heaters and windows, without direct cost recovery from the Tenants.

Every effort is made to help tenants promote the Market, with sums being allocated for advertising and last year, the Council arranged for the Market to be opened on Sundays for a trial period - again at no cost to Tenants.

There are 35 units in the Victorian Market and of the 16 reviews served recently 6 have already been agreed at increases ranging from 4.8% to 22.2%.

The City Leader, Cllr Ian Brown said: “We note that there are a number of concerns raised by some of the traders and a letter went to the retailers on Monday 16 Feb 2015, highlighting support available and willingness on the part of the Council to discuss any issues. Productive discussions have since been held with the tenant of the Model Shop and I am pleased to say that an agreement has been reached. The unit was previously three units and it has been agreed that the unit be split again (approximately in half) with a pro rata reduction in rent. The tenant has agreed to enter into a new lease under these terms.

“A meeting will be held with market tenants on Thursday 26 February to discuss the plans for the future of the market and to see how we can best support and  improve the economic viability of the market.”