Agenda item

A report by the Head of Town Centre, Leisure, Centre, Events and Culture.

The report was tabled in line with a recommendation from phase one of the Prosperous Boston Task and Finish Group that the officers explore the initiative of a Teenage Market for Boston to encourage young people to take up the opportunity to run market stalls and hold events.

Committee were advised that the potential benefits of such markets included attracting the next generation of market traders which was important as over 70% of existing market traders nationally were over the age of 50 and it was important to identify young traders for the future prosperity of the market and the town to address the declining longevity of the market traders.

Furthermore by harnessing the creativity of the young people and giving them a platform to showcase their talents or trial a new business and sell creative products, it would have the knock on effect of encouraging their friends and family to come along and support their endeavours:  leading to an increase in attendance at the markets.  Finally by offering specialist live and retail performances in a thriving market place it would attract a new generation of shoppers and visitors to the town sustaining and increasing the future tourism of the town.  There was no age limit and the provision could be offered to graduates who may be wishing to trial businesses.

Initially the Council would be looking to provide two large scale events then tie in some small ones with the craft markets and other specialist days. However to do this additional money would be required which was not budgeted for in order to allow for increased advertising of the events into magazines.  The events team could accommodate the administration but as the events budget set for 2017/2018 was set there would be a need to divert funds from elsewhere for this one year, should committee wish to take the recommendation forward.

Committee were advised that Teenage Markets were well established nationally and had gained national media attention including support from Mary Portas and Hilary Devey.   Following the success of the first event the founders developed the idea further, and expanded it across the Country. Currently Teenage Markets were in place in over 30 locations across the UK:  the benefits increasing spend in the relevant areas and importantly increasing the footfall to the existing markets.

The costs to put on such a market would be £1280 for one year and £1530 for two years (the cost included the registration fee along with insurance cost of £530).  The registration fee would include branding, the edit portal, processing of digital applications, geolocation integration, together with poster and flyer designs and automated emails.  Most importantly the fee would allow the Council to

The cost would allow the Council to run either four large Teenage Markets per year with up to 100 stallholders and performers including singers, dancers and musicians, or 12 small Teenage Markets with up to 20 stallholders and assorted performers. 

More importantly it would allow the Council to access the huge data base and provide on line booking which would assist with the Council’s limited resources.

Committee were advised that it would be possible to run an event without the national Teenage market branding, but if so, it would require significant internal resources to run it and such resources were not in the current work plan:  furthermore by running via the Teenage Market branding it guaranteed insurance which when dealing with such events would be very problematic if done ourselves.

A member asked if the brand was patented and when advise if was not questioned why the Council’s own events team did not facilitate a similar event. 

In response clarification was given that the ‘brand’ did not actually put on the event and that the Council still needed to produce an event plan, have it approved by the SAG (safety advisory group) and as with the existing markets, would still run the event. 

The further benefit of using the brand allowed access to the data base:  the Council had no such data base and there was no officer time to go out and establish one.

Noting the need for funding members suggested approaching BTAC as it had already funded other events and the event was predominantly for BTAC as against the villages:  one member suggested taking the 10.000 suggested for match funding the Xmas Lights and using that money for the Teenage Markets.

The Portfolio Holder noted that at a recent Cabinet meeting he had challenged the Youth Council to look into this and to feedback to him, but nothing had been done.  The Town Centre Services Manager confirmed they too had contacted the Youth Council but had heard nothing back.

Responding to a question on the same events within the County, members were advised that both Lincoln and Sleaford has hosted Teenage Markets which had proved successful.  

Further clarification was made in that any trials of such events in central park would be subject to the funding requested.

RECOMMENDED:

That the committee agree and support the concept and recommend the following in order to source funding to allow a Teenage Market event to take place within the current year:

1. That the Chief Executive and the Portfolio Holder identify a budget to provide a funding scheme to allow an event to take place.
2. That the Portfolio Holder engage with the Youth Council and explore the possibility of crowd funding.
3. That BTAC be approached with a view to supply funding

TO DO:

1. The Chief Executive and Portfolio Holder to access budgets to identify a possible funding stream.
2. Officers support the portfolio holder in exploring the possibility of crowd funding to secure the funding required with the Youth Council and others.
3. BTAC to be approached with a view to agreeing to provide funding