Monday November 15, 2010

Dear colleague,

Rating of Market Halls

This seems to be the “hot” topic at the moment. Information on the revised assessments have been sent out to the markets affected and everyone is currently digesting the implications. NABMA has been working with the Valuation Office and NABMA members to provide the best advice and information. It is very difficult to take a united approach on the basis that each market has its own requirements. Some markets will benefit from the changes while others appear to be affected very badly. A large number of issues have already arisen and we are doing our best to get answers to the questions that have been raised. Chris Poulter, NABMA President, wrote to Andrew Stunell MP, Minister for Markets, about the potential impact of the new rating assessments on markets and while Andrew was sympathetic he indicated that the Valuation Office is independent of Government and they have a statutory duty to keep the rating list up to date. It is very important that all NABMA members affected take advantage of the six weeks consultation period to raise issues and seek clarification of matters that affect them. NABMA is giving two further opportunities for discussions on this issue. The first is on the 12th November 2010 at the Retail Forum at Halifax and the second is on the 16th November 2010 at Preston when we will have the Chief Executive of the Valuation Office with us together with the Lead Valuer.

Working with Government

NABMA, and the other market industry organisations, are scheduled to have a meeting with Government officials on the 30th November 2010 to consider a further programme of work. NABMA believes it is vitally important we continue to have a formal dialogue with Government and it is clear that the work we have undertaken over the last fifteen months have brought further recognition to the markets industry. Over the next twelve months we will be looking at ways of taking advantage of the work that has already been completed and hopefully we will have a programme of announcements early in the New Year. All Government departments are suffering significant cutbacks and there is still a risk that the work on markets will be cut from the Government’s programme. When we meet on the 30th November 2010 NABMA will be arguing very strongly that the Government should continue to support markets and help us to meet the challenges that lie ahead.

"Streets Alive"

You have already received information about the joint NABMA/ATCM One-Day Seminar on the 27th January 2011 in Birmingham. This is the first joint collaboration with ATCM and we are greatly looking forward to this event and further partnership working in the future. A programme has been put together that will appeal both to Market Managers and Town Centre Managers and we will, of course, feature the KPR Market of the Year Awards which have become the centre piece of previous One-Day Conferences. Further information about “Streets Alive” and KPR Midlink Market of the Year can be found at www.nabma.com

Institute of Place Management

Details have been sent out to all NABMA members about the progress that is being made to secure a professional qualification for those employed in the markets industry. This is one of the most important developments that we have pursued and NABMA is supporting free membership of the Institute and also, in due course, we will be providing a number of bursaries to enable officers to achieve a Diploma in Markets Management. We are hoping to recruit more than fifty officers by Christmas and if you have not already registered as a member of the Institute you are encouraged to do so as soon as possible. You can do this by using the following link http://files.placemanagement.org/nabma/

NABMA's Website

Thank you for those who responded to the recent questionnaire regarding a review of NABMA’s website. We are hoping to carry out the review early next year and further information about the proposed content of the review will be available in a few weeks.