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CAMBRIDGE CITY
COUNCIL
Officer
Urgent Decision - Record
Closure of the
city centre market
Decision(s)
taken: |
To close the city centre market until further
notice for public health reasons. |
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Decision
of: |
Strategic
Director, Suzanne Hemingway |
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Date
of decision: |
30
December 2020 |
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Matter
for Decision: |
The reason for the closure is that there are
large crowds gathering in the market to queue, and also in the market square
and surrounding streets (especially Kings Parade) to eat takeaways purchased
from market stalls. Officers have
reviewed the matter with Public Health colleagues, and their advice is that
the crowds pose a real risk of viral spread and that, in the light of the
rapidly rising rate of covid infection in the city, the Council should take
action to reduce the crowds. The Council considered whether other actions are
available and concluded that access
cannot be limited to the market square due to the number of entrances into
it, and officers do not believe there are legal powers to limit trading on
the market to only certain stalls or types of goods. The market square
area was extremely busy 26/27 December and action is required ahead of this
weekend, which as New Year could be even busier. The following
actions are being put in place: 1.
The decision
will be communicated after any government changes that may be announced at
14:30, but before close of business. 2.
The Market
manager will liaise with market traders affected by this 3.
The Council
will work to identify what funding and support is available to market
traders, ensure they are made aware of this, and consider if anything further
should be done 4.
Will review the
closure every two weeks to consider epidemiology (infection rates), national
guidance, Public Health advice, any other locally relevant factors 5.
Whilst the
market is closed the Council will investigate whether there are any other
legal powers available to us, that would enable us to reopen parts of the
market (eg outer stalls) and/ or limit trading to certain goods (eg fresh
food / no hot food) 6.
Throughout, the
Council will continue to robustly engage with bricks-and-mortar takeaway
businesses to ensure they are managing queues and not permitting too many
people inside at any one time. The Environmental Health team are willing to
use enforcement powers where needed. The market will be open tomorrow (Thursday) as
midweek trading is not so busy, and we are aware traders need some notice of
closure. |
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Any
alternative options considered and rejected: |
See above. |
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Reason(s)
for the decision including any background papers considered: |
An urgent decision under paragraph 2 of section 9, Council Procedure
Rules was necessary to enable traders to be advised urgently because of the
timeliness and public health position.
The decision making was based on the latest guidance and information
resulting from the Covid-19 situation.
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Conflicts
of interest and dispensations granted by the Chief Executive: |
None. |
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Other
Comments: |
The Executive Councillor Climate change, Environment and City
Centre, was consulted prior to the decision being taken. There will be budgetary implications of these decisions which
will fall outside of the current budgetary framework and be reported in the
Council’s financial planning and response to Covid-19.. |
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Reference:
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2020/OfficerUrgent/EnC/18 |
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Contact
for further information: |
Suzanne
Hemingway, 01223 457461 suzanne.hemingway@cambridge.gov.uk |