Meeting documents

Written questions may be asked of the Leader or any Cabinet Member if submitted to the Head of Democratic, Legal and Policy Services no later than 12 noon on Monday 9 July 2018. Questions will be submitted in the order in which they were received.

a)        Question from Mr R B Colomb to the Leader of the Council

Will the closure in 2019 of the House of Fraser anchor store in Eden seriously affect the Councils share of the Eden rents and thus lead to a Council Tax increase for our residents?

Response from Councillor Ms K Wood (Leader of the Council)

The Council receives a ground rent from Eden based on a percentage of net income.  The impact of the loss of the HoF rent is estimated to be approx. £80,000 p.a., excluding any Empty Property Rates liability. 

‘Anchor stores’ rents tend to be relatively low, so the potential exists for Eden to ‘re-purpose’ the HoF building and in due course, increase the rental that the building generates.  The Council is in discussion with Eden’s owners, on their ‘re-purposing’ plans.

The impact of any loss of rental income will be assessed as part of the routine annual budget setting process when all material risks and opportunities are considered along with any mitigating actions to manage the impact on the Council Tax requirement for the District. The Council Tax requirement will be considered after taking into account all changes to the budget as part of this process and will allow for more time for Eden to assess all the options. 

Although footfall is likely to remain strong post the closure of House of Fraser, the Council analysed the loss of footfall that could follow the closure and its potential impact on rents.

Supplementary Question

Eden as a whole will suffer other drops in rental income with other tenants and new tenants negotiating tenancies.  Whilst existing tenants will take the opportunity to force down rents. Will all of this be taken into account?

Supplementary Response

All such factors and mitigating factors will be fully taken into account in the Council tax setting process.

b)        Question from Mr T Snaith to the Leader of the Council

I was pleased to see that on the Regulatory and Appeals (R&A) agenda of 2^nd July a community Governance review of the unparished wards was to be discussed. This was instigated by the Chairman of High Wycombe Town Committee. I was disappointed to then find that the Chairman of R&A had removed the item giving reasons as "further work is needed and further review of the matter is needed"

Every part of Bucks has a Parish or Town Council except High Wycombe. What importance and urgency does this Council put on delivering a Community Governance review, for the unparished wards, which could lead to a town council for High Wycombe?

Response from Councillor Ms K Wood (Leader of the Council)

Thank you for the question Mr Snaith. This initiative has not been generated by the Executive, and I therefore feel it would be inappropriate for me to comment. You stated in your question that this is an initiative which has been instigated by the Chairman of High Wycombe Town Committee, and so I suggest you refer your question to him outside of this forum.

Supplementary Question

When I highlighted to the Chairman of High Wycombe Town Committee that the High Wycombe Community Governance Review item had been withdrawn from the Regulatory & Appeals Committee Agenda, he did not know.

Would you not agreed that the High Wycombe Community Governance Review and the discussion of a town council needs to be on the next Regulatory & Appeals Committee Agenda, so that the people of the town are offered a Town Council should Unitary plans be effected or not?

Supplementary Response

I do not want anyone to fall under the misapprehension that I lead or influence the thoughts and deliberations of those bodies of the Council which work entirely independently of the Executive, therefore I reiterate that I will not comment on work in progress of either the Chairman of the High Wycombe Town Committee or the Regulatory & Appeals Committee.

I would also like to remind you that the High Wycombe Town Committee always does an outstanding job representing the unparished areas of High Wycombe, and has kept taxes for those residents low, whilst ensuring that they are put to good and cost-efficient use.