RQ1647033(SJ) – Markets and Street Trading Manager

Directorate: Regeneration, Enterprise and Skills

Reporting to: Head of Business, Markets and Town Centre

Purpose of job

To lead, manage and be responsible for the development of the borough's markets and street trading services. Taking day to day overall responsibility to ensure the efficient operation of the market and street trading inspection service borough wide by enforcement of relevant legislation thereby reducing the level of environmental crime and illegal street trading. To ensure the delivery of high-quality Markets and Street Trading services which meet the council's aspirations with regard to growth, economic development and legal compliance as well as providing a service that meets the needs of a diverse community. Manages up to four part time street trading inspectors and any relevant apprenticeships/consultants that are brought in from time to time.

Main duties and responsibilities

• To manage the borough's markets and street trading inspectors service with responsibility for ensuring their efficient operation, thereby reducing crime and fear of crime, fostering social inclusion, deterring low level anti-social behaviour, and overseeing effective enforcement action against those who fail to comply with legislation and market rules.
• Lead on the development of the markets and street trading function for the whole borough, maximising income generation through reviewing and facilitating the expansion of street trading and markets borough wide.
• To oversee the enforcement of the London Local Authorities Act 1990 and the drafting of new street trading licences in accordance with the street trading policy.
• Ensuring that the service meets statutory and identified organisational standards and regulations.
• To identify and respond to changes in legislation affecting the service, advise the Head of Business, Markets and Town Centres accordingly and prepare policies and procedures to ensure the effective implementation of changes to service delivery.
• To interpret and enforce environmental legislation, market rules and licences ensuring that offenders and market traders are dealt with in a diplomatic and assertive manner and in accordance with the agreed enforcement protocols and policies.
• To take action in response to enviro-crime in accordance with the enforcement policy, including where necessary the seizure of goods, vehicles, stalls used in connection with such activities, to accurately record such articles seized and ensure secure storage.
• To consider and respond to Fixed Penalty Notice representations and take into consideration the circumstances in which they may be issued and questioned.
• To initiate legal proceedings for fixed penalty notice cases, which are due to go to court, liaising with other departments and other organisations as necessary, to attend court and hearings to give evidence on behalf of the Council in accordance with the Council's enforcement policy.
• To contribute to the team’s service plan; formulate and develop teamwork plans; and report on performance.
• Including carrying out individual performance evaluations, as well as ensuring and promoting compliance with various council policies and procedures, including but not limited to those relating to human resources, standing orders and financial regulations.
• Manage up to 4 staff and/or consultants assigned to deliver services, projects, partnership programmes and from time to time, temporary staff.
• Lead on the recruitment of new staff and the engagement of consultants and contractors as required.
• To ensure the fair and accurate allocation, monitoring and recording of staff attendance, including developing rotas and assigning overtime as required.
• To assist in policy formulation, and to identify new initiatives which help to develop the service.
• To write, prepare and present reports and returns.
• To ensure that applications for RBG markets and street traders are dealt with in an efficient manner with due customer care and that a waiting list is maintained for prospective market traders.
• To monitor the work of contracted cleaning staff to ensure compliance with the service specification for market cleaning, and to refer any deficiencies to the contractor and monitor their resolution.
• To ensure that all staff carry out their duties in connection with the day-to-day operation of the service, including RBG’s public markets and street trading sites, the allocation of sites, supervision of the public markets, including the market traders compound and car park.
• To liaise with other Council departments to ensure the maintenance of the market infrastructure and to assist traders in being able to arrange maintenance of their own market stall equipment.
• To investigate and respond to enquiries and complaints from members of the public, including market traders, Councillors and MPs, advising, investigating and taking action where appropriate, seeking at all times to provide a service with due regard to customer care.
• In relation to the public markets and licensed street traders to ensure that accurate invoices are raised, adding, removing or varying charges to traders’ accounts as required and liaising with the finance debtors team in monitoring accounts to ensure charges are paid regularly.
• To undertake site visits, inspections and meetings to ensure effective and high-quality service provision.
• To ensure electronic collection of fees for rent in accordance with agreed procedures to ensure that all financial systems operate effectively to maximise income for the service.
• To ensure that all traders with debt in relation to licence fees are dealt with in accordance with the market rules.
• To administer and make recommendations relating to income and budgets and to assist in identifying needs.
• To ensure the effective collection, storage and disposal of market waste, and to make recommendations as to how to effectively ensure this objective.
• To attend Committees, working parties, public meetings, enquiries and courses, as required.
• To ensure that all work undertaken actively promotes the Council’s equal opportunities, customer care and environmental policies in relation to service delivery and staff management.
• In carrying out the duties of the post, have due regard to the health and safety at work legislation, Directorate guidance and procedures and to the safety of the public.
• Foster and develop relationships and partnerships with external stakeholders such as local agencies, businesses, and the voluntary and community sector to deliver wider regeneration objectives and promote locations across the area, including participating in forums such as traders’ associations and other working groups.
• Work in partnership with the Police, community safety and enforcement colleagues to promote actions to safeguard and enhance safety and security in the area’s business locations.
• Initiate, develop and lead consultation and engagement exercises with residents, businesses, and the voluntary/community sector.
• To have a flexible approach within your duties and working hours, working 5 days in 7, including working early mornings, evenings and weekends as appropriate.
• Work flexibly including weekend and evening working hours as appropriate.
• To drive and to travel unaccompanied for work in the most efficient manner.
• Be responsible for recruitment, employment, and retention of staff within the framework of the Council’s Employment Procedures and Policies, and for the development and maintenance of good employer relations.
• To ensure that all work undertaken actively promotes the council’s equal opportunities, customer care and environmental policies in relation to service delivery and staff management.
• In carrying out the duties of the post, have due regard to the health and Safety at Work legislation, directorate guidance and procedures and to the safety of the public.
• To deputise for the Head of Business, Markets and Town Centres as required.
• Willingness to undertake a Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check.
• To undertake, from time to time, additional or other duties which are within the skills and competence of the post holder and appropriate to the post holder’s grade and responsibilities.