charges for farmers markets set to rise due to council’s loss
Tues, November 15, 2011, Henley Standard
Farmers market
CHARGES for holding the farmers’ markets in Henley are set to be raised by 45 per cent after it was revealed that they are costing the town council money.
The markets, which are held on Thursdays once a month and quarterly on a Sunday in Market Place, would cost the organisers £290 a time instead of £200.
The rise has been recommended by Henley Town Council’s town and community committee but still has to be approved by the full council.
Town clerk Mike Kennedy revealed that each market was resulting in a net loss for the council.
A report by the council’s accountant showed that the Thursday markets resulted in a loss of income of £178 each month from stallholders at the weekly charter markets, who have no room for their stalls when the farmers’ markets are on. In addition, the council pays a net cost of £38 for staff to put up and take down its awnings, resulting in an annual loss of £456.
The Sunday markets cost £160 in staff time, meaning the council makes a profit of just £40 from each one.
The overall net loss to the council from the markets is therefore £296 each year.
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Category: Market News
