Cllr Marlene Haworth was in Accrington’s historic market today to see the last of the old market stalls go to be replaced by new ones.This represents the beginning of the final stage of refurbishment in this exciting project...

On 22nd June Chancellor George Osborne presented his emergency budget and staked his career on slashing the bloated public sector and incentivising private business to grow the economy out of the largest fiscal deficit in the EU. His confident delivery was a remarkable achievement for a Chancellor in office for less than 7 weeks and the inheritor of the “worst economic crisis for 60 years” according to his predecessor. Hopefully, the not-so-funny note left by Liam Byrne, outgoing Chief Secretary to the Treasury, which sniggered: “I’m afraid to tell you there’s no money left” – will come back to haunt him. Observers in the Markets industry breathed a sigh of relief when scare stories such as VAT on food never came to pass and shrugged-off the inevitable hike in VAT as some 2.5% less than they could afford to absorb. Lower Corporation tax is of course welcome to private Market Operators but Traders received the budget with either indifference as an unincorporated sole proprietorship, or relief when easy-to-administer targets like duty on van fuel were overlooked. So far so good, but in a cash industry where undeclared earnings are the norm Traders can expect a lot more attention from a tax-hungry HMRC in future...

Accrington’s historic market hall has been re-launched at an opening ceremony following it’s £2million makeover by owners Hyndburn Borough Council. The market hall originally opened in 1869 at a cost of £19,000 and was applauded as “a living treasure of art”. 150 years later it’s ornate Victorian interior has been restored in a 12-month, £2 million refurbishment. It’s restored glories were revealed on 26th June when it was formally handed back to Hyndburn Council by contractors PEC Building Services of Bradford. For the occasion the market was decked-out with bunting and banners and a swing band added to the party atmosphere as a commemorative plaque was unveiled. Councillor Peter Britcliffe, Leader of Hyndburn Borough Council announced: “This really is a great day. I’ve always said the Market Hall has a Queen Anne front and Mary-Anne inside, so it’s absolutely wonderful that the interior at long last matches the impressive exterior. Today is the culmination of a lot of planning and sheer hard work to preserve a wonderful asset for the borough and a legacy for future generations.”

BythetimeyoureadthistheChancellor, George Osborne will have served up the bad news of his emergency budget. Unfortunately I don’t have a crystal ball so at the time of writing only he knows just how painful it will be, but I suspect he’ll be like a well-intentioned dentist, pulling out your teeth then charging you for the service. It might be painful and expensive but you know it makes sense.

These are interesting times for businesses in the UK to put it mildly so no apologies for the topic this month. Stick a couple of matchsticks between your eyelids and consider the prospects for your business over the next five years.

Is it possible the Government ban on airline flights, because of a bit of ash from a volcano, was a bit excessive? It’s certainly been pleasantly quiet in my vegetable patch sitting under the flight path to Luton, but I can’t believe this will go on for much longer. The effect of an Icelandic volcano with an unpronounceable name (Eyjafjallajokul) is being felt all over Europe whilst the volcano itself shows no sign of co-operating and shutting down.

Whitehall whisperings suggest a sacred cow is in danger. Civil Servants are believed to be investigating whether VAT should be levied on groceries which, together with books newspapers and children’s clothes are currently exempt. A levy of between 3 and 5 percent is being (very) quietly discussed as one way to help HM Government finance a budget deficit and borrowings expected to hit £180 billion in 2010/11.

In the 1700’s Benjamin Franklin said “Nothing can be said to be certain, except death and taxes”. That can’t be far from the mind of whichever Chancellor of the Exchequer occupies No.11 Downing Street after May.

Two rival conferences in snowbound Oxford last month highlighted the dilemmas the Government faces about food production and how it gets onto our dinner tables...

I hope you had a profitable Christmas and your mattress is bulging with £10 notes. Don’t forget to declare all your takings to HM Revenue and Customs as they need your support...

Accrington’s Market hall exudes Victorian civic pride and confidence in the benefits of commerce. Originally opened in 1869 the stone-built Grade 2-listed building boasts an elaborate decorated facade topped by a statue of Ceres - the Greek God of agriculture - and houses some 40 independent retailers with as many again trading as “casuals” on the adjacent 6-day open market

Hyndburn Council have taken handover of their new Enterprise Haven in Accrington Market Hall enabling Tenants Hyndburn Enterprise Trust to open for business this Spring.

Over the years I’ve organized a fair few building contracts to refurbish or redevelop markets, so the recent OFT inquiry into the alleged price-fixing of Council contracts was a bit close to home. I’m pleased to say it has taken the Office of Fair Trading four years to find out the system of bidding for Council contracts is working but they still fined 103 contractors for ‘anti-competitive practices’. Given the seriousness of the original allegations, I think that’s a pretty good result for Council Project Managers so I’m rewarding myself with the afternoon off.

Running any sort of retail business isn’t that difficult - buy something cheap, add value by tarting it up, then sell it on as expensively as you can whilst keeping your costs down. What is difficult is to increase sales turnover i.e. attract more customers and stop your existing ones from drifting off to the competition.

Last month saw some interesting ‘positioning’ by John Lewis plc, one of the UK’s most-respected retailers. JL has always been considered a safe bet for investors because of a reputation for cautious management and middle- England customers. Although sales fell 2.9 % in its department stores due to the ‘challenging economy’, its groceries arm, Waitrose, reported a 7.4% rise, largely due to online sales.

As you’ll see from the front page news story, several people (including myself) were more than a bit miffed recently to receive a letter telling us the National Association of British Market Authorities is no longer interested in endorsing ‘approved consultants’ to any council needing advice and assistance.