A NEW working group for Shambles Market traders and Make It York "needs to rebuild trust" - according to a councillor.

The terms and make up of the group were discussed at a City of York Council meeting - after business owners in the market criticised Make It York and the organisation was told it needs to get better at engaging with residents, traders and businesses.

Speaking at the meeting on Monday, Cllr Claire Douglas said there has been a "breakdown of trust" between the market traders and Make It York.

She said: "This working group needs to rebuild both trust and the working relationship.

"I'd ask you to take a critical look at the make up of the working group. The weighting of the working group is too heavily skewed towards Make It York."

She called for an independent chair with a casting vote for the group.

Traders at the meeting called for the group to have a clear purpose and to champion the market.

Rupert Harrison, who runs Black Yak, told the meeting: "We are all extremely worried about our future.

"We are told Make It York wants to keep the good and therefore by assumption get rid of the bad.

"I dare not order summer stock, because I don't know if I will still have a business in York. This is not a Saturday job for me - this is my business, this is how I pay my staff."

But Sean Bullick, managing director of Make It York, said there are no "preconceived ideas" about what will happen at the market.

He said: "The best way to take things forward is through working group and so that's what we're looking to do.

"The purpose of the exercise is to is to best develop the market as a community asset, which it currently is and as a destination.

"There's a balance to be struck here between taking things forward and the responsibility of managing the market. My sense is an independent chair would not be useful in that regard."

Cllr Andrew Waller: "It will be counterproductive to come out of the process with a strategy that the majority of market traders disagree with."