Cheltenham Borough Council (Markets) Bill

The Unopposed Bill Committee considered Cheltenham Borough Council (Markets) Bill, which repeals the 1852 prohibition on street markets (Section 83) to enable markets to be run under the Food Act 1984 (Part III) with a single operator licence, replacing thousands of individual consents. The Bill would create byelaws and fixed penalties for breaches, with enforcement by council officers, under a cost-neutral fee model funded by the market operator rather than individual traders; the council estimates substantial admin savings (about £3,500 per market per year). The committee heard broad local support and decided to allow the Bill to proceed.

The Unopposed Bill Committee discussed Cheltenham Borough Council (Markets) Bill, which would repeal the 1852 prohibition on on‑street markets and enable Cheltenham to operate markets under the Food Act 1984. It would replace dozens of individual street-trading consents with a single market licence, complemented by byelaws and fixed penalties enforced by authorised council officers. The Committee decided the Bill can proceed, emphasising its aim to simplify administration and reduce costs while maintaining safeguards and enforcement.

The Cheltenham Borough Council (Markets) Bill would repeal the 1852 ban on markets in Cheltenham’s streets to enable street markets to be run under the Food Act 1984 and Schedule 4 of the Local Government (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1982, reducing administrative burdens on the council and traders. It also introduces fixed penalties for byelaws breaches and powers for authorised officers to require name and address for enforcement. The promoter argues street markets benefit the local economy and culture and notes the Norwich Livestock Market Act 2025 as a precedent.

Under Standing Order 169A, the government confirms that the promoters of the Cheltenham Borough Council (Markets) Bill have carried out a proper assessment of its compatibility with the European Convention on Human Rights, and the minister has no reason to dispute their conclusions.

The Cheltenham Borough Council (Markets) Bill would repeal section 83 of the Cheltenham Improvement Act 1852, removing the prohibition on market activity on the High Street and other streets in Cheltenham. It introduces modern enforcement powers, allowing the Council to regulate markets by byelaws under the Food Act 1984, including fixed penalties and the power to require people to provide their name and address for enforcement. The Act would come into force 28 days after royal assent, and the Council says the provisions are compatible with the European Convention on Human Rights.

This guidance explains how to petition against a private bill (such as the Cheltenham Borough Council (Markets) Bill), who may petition (those directly and specially affected), and that petitions can oppose the whole bill or its Additional Provisions. It covers how to submit, the deadline (5pm on Friday 30 January 2026 for this bill), the £20 fee, and how petitions are heard by an opposed bill committee with options to appear or be represented; it notes withdrawal rules and that Lords have separate procedures.

The Cheltenham Borough Council (Markets) Bill aims to repeal part of the 1852 Act to allow a street market and to give an authorised person power to issue fixed penalties for certain byelaw offences under the Food Act, with Clause 5 requiring name and address details. The examination concluded that the Bill complies with applicable Standing Orders, with notices and deposits correctly made, allowing the Bill to proceed.

The Cheltenham Borough Council (Markets) Bill repeals the 1852 ban on market activity on Cheltenham’s High Street and other streets, allowing markets to operate. It introduces an enforcement framework for market byelaws under the Food Act 1984, with fixed penalties set by the Council, a 14-day window before actions or prosecutions, and powers for authorised officers to require names and addresses. It also defines key terms and states the Act will come into force 28 days after passage.

The notes explain what private bills are (draft laws that only affect a specific person, group or organisation) and outline the private-bill process and timeline, including examination by Examiners, possible dispensing with Standing Orders, petitioning periods, committee scrutiny, and eventual passage through both Houses for Royal Assent. It confirms Cheltenham Borough Council (Markets) Bill has been deposited and provides practical guidance on how to view the bill, how to petition (who may petition, what to include, how to submit, and fees), and where to find more information.