Decision

There are confidential appendices to this report, which are exempt by virtue of paragraph 3 of Schedule 12A of Part 1 of Schedule 12a of the Local Government Act 1972 because they contain information relating to the financial or business affairs of any particular person (including the authority holding that information).

To grant a 5 year lease to Wycombe Arts Heritage Trust (Wycombe Museum)

Reasons for the decision

The premises forms part of the Future High Streets’ (FHS) 100% grant funded refurbishment/conversion/extension of the Ex Liberal Club, which has recently been completed. The freehold was acquired using FHS funding in 2023, subject to a leaseback of the ground floor to High Wycombe Social Club, obligating them to invest in modernisation of their space (which has been completed). The first floor comprised a semi-derelict former ballroom and flat. The ballroom has been self-contained, by the addition of a new side entrance on St Mary Street, to provide a purpose-made storage/gallery for the Town’s ‘Chair Collection’. This is owned by the Council and under a Loan Agreement, is looked after by the Wycombe Museum.
To facilitate it as self-financing storage, managed by the Museum as custodians of the Collection, the Museum are to enter into an internal repairing lease of the premises (the terms of which are set out in the Confidential Annex). This enables the Museum, as a charity, to claim Business Rates relief.
The lease will allow for the flat to be sub-let to allow the Museum to generate income to cover the running costs of the premises (that would otherwise fall to the Council) which in turn means that Right to Buy does not apply.
The Collection was previously stored in the basement of Court Garden, Marlow and the leisure operator of Court Garden required the basement space back and therefore the Chair Collection has been temporarily is stored in Albert House.

Alternative options considered

Wycombe Museum will operate the premises as ‘Wycombe Chair Discovery Centre’, providing a new visitor attraction within the town centre. Commercially letting what is a converted former ballroom would prove difficult. There are no other comparable storage/display premises available.