This is the email I have sent to Martin Tett, Buckinghamshire Council Leader about the allocation of the £11.8m Future High Streets Fund.
Dear Martin,
Thank you for your letter outlining how the Future High Streets Fund has been allocated. I have a number of urgent questions for clarification.
- How did the Council arrive at the decision to spend the £11.8m Future High Streets Fund in the ways outlined in your letter?
- Were elected Wycombe councillors and the High Wycombe Town Committee meaningfully consulted on these plans prior to final decisions being made?
- Was there any attempt by the Council to seek views from the public about how to most effectively spend £11.8 million of public money on our high street?
- Can you clarify please how much taxpayer money has been given to Primark and Tesco for the purposes outlined in your letter?
- How much taxpayer money is being spent on re-allocating the archives? How does this align with the stated purpose of the Future High Streets Fund to renew and reshape town centres and high streets to drive growth?
- I note that a considerable amount of money has been spent on purchasing properties on the high street. How will rental income derived from these properties be spent and will it be reinvested in the high street in High Wycombe? What will happen to the proceeds of this property when it is sold by the Council? Will it be reinvested in the high street in High Wycombe?
- Thank you for your offer to meet. Will you come to High Wycombe at the earliest opportunity to meet with me, elected Councillors and the Town Committee to discuss the allocation of the funding and the consultation processes around this use of taxpayers’ money?
Yours sincerely
Emma Reynolds MP