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 14 October 2019. Questions will be submitted in the order in which they were received.

A questioner will have a maximum of 1 minute to ask a question and the answer shall not exceed 3 minutes. Any questioner may put one supplementary question without notice within a maximum time of 1 minute and the answer may not exceed 2 minutes.

a)  Question from Mr R Colomb to the Cabinet Member for Community

When I left the Council in May 2015 plans were progressing smoothly to utilise the S106 funds available from the Wellesbourne Development to create a Community Centre for the residents of Terriers and Amersham Hill Ward on the site of the Sports Pavilion at the Recreation Ground off Walton Drive.

Why does there appear to have been no progress in bringing this much needed project to fruition in the last four and a half years?

Verbal reply given by Councillor G Peart BEM (Cabinet Member for Community).

Following two community consultation workshops undertaken in 2016 residents’ preferences for improved community and open space facilities led to a significant programme of improvements to the range of open space facilities at Totteridge Recreation Ground. This project, investing  £399k in the site was completed in February 2019 and incorporated 7 of the 10 suggestions from residents including  a new cricket square , a perimeter pathway with new fitness trim trail of gym equipment , outdoor all weather table tennis tables , rebound ball wall, new seating and benches and an in-ground trampoline . This has seen a real improvement to the site with the fitness trail proving a very popular addition. Totteridge Rec is one of Wycombe’s hidden gems. 

A new community building was also suggested, however as the Council does not embark on community building projects without a partner to take on the operation of the facility Council Officers pursued this with further meetings at the time. Meetings were held with 2 potentially interested groups, Widmer End Football Club and Terriers Playgroup and at that time 2016/17 neither felt in a position to take on such a commitment and responsibility or that the scale of a modest community building would actually be able to meet their respective needs. The project paused at that point. 

Officers will now revisit the potential for this facility with any interested parties from the community or an alternative which would still meet the Section 106 conditions.

Supplementary Question

Can I take it that the Section 106 monies will not be lost?

Are they time limited?

50% of the public houses in the area have closed and been replaced by residential units, there are now a thousand plus more housing units as whole in the area, community facilities for this larger population will be vital.

Supplementary Response

The Section 106 monies are secure at the present time. We hope to have a viable management plan in due course in respect of proposed community facilities.

b)  Question from Mr A Thompson to the Leader of the Council.

Closed for some four years, the King William IV public house is a Grade II listed building, within the Conservation Area of Speen.  

Like many pubs, the King William was a valued community asset and a focal point of social activity and cohesion for the village.  The pub is currently an unkempt eyesore in the centre of the village.  

The community have made several funded offers to buy the pub, at above open market value, however these have all been rejected by the owner.  The community of Speen have grave concerns that our pub could be lost forever.

Several local authorities have been proactive in protecting important community assets such as village pubs by making or threatening a Compulsory Purchase Order and through a back to back agreement, transfer ownership to a community group. 

Would Wycombe District Council be prepared to use its CPO powers to facilitate the reopening of village pubs where all other means have failed?

Verbal reply given by Councillor Ms K Wood (Leader of the Council).

In 2015, Government tightened the statutory powers for local authorities to acquire specifically Assets of Community Value ‘where there is a compelling public interest’ to do so.

Compulsory Purchase Powers may also apply to listed buildings and important buildings in Conservation Areas if they have been deliberately damaged or allowed to deteriorate.

It is also worth noting that any change in a pub's planning use class, or if there is a desire to demolish it, requires planning permission and this will afford an opportunity for the community to comment.

The number of community pubs in the UK continues to decline and the government has responded to this by strengthening the tools and powers available to protect them. In general, the Council is prepared to consider making use of the powers available to it and furthermore it is willing to work with any community group to protect assets of community value, and it will consider cooperating with groups that have developed strong business cases to facilitate the reopening of any community, or village pubs.

Mr Thompson did not have a Supplementary Question.