Market traders in South Holland will not have to pay any fees until April next year.
In a surprise move, members of the district council’s cabinet voted unanimously to delay the reintroduction of charges.
Tuesday’s meeting was due to discuss a range of options for scaling market stall charges but Coun Roger Gambba-Jones put forward a completely different option for members to vote on.
The agenda had recommended members of the cabinet back one of two proposals, both of which would have seen fees reintroduced from December 1 and one of which had previously been voted down.
But Coun Gambba-Jones told members he was putting forward ‘alternative proposals’ for discussion.
He said there had been a ‘dynamic and ever changing picture’ and the original proposals had been based on financial pressure to make savings.
The ending of stall provision by the council would save £80,000 a year, but the ‘careful plans’ laid to achieve that were derailed by the pandemic, he said.
“Trader fees have not been charged since the market re-opened. There was some concern from traders, particularly those who do not have their own stalls,” he said.
“I invite cabinet to defer charging to the end of March 2021 which will relieve traders of the need to pay over Christmas.”
The original recommendations would have seen fees based on neighbouring market towns which, said Coun Gambba-Jones, was not a popular idea with traders.
Coun Peter Coupland said the new option would give the council and traders time to fully consult and encourage new traders to come to South Holland towns.
