Pacific Road Centre Birkenhead peppercorn rent

John Jones made this Freedom of Information request to Wirral Metropolitan Borough Council Automatic anti-spam measures are in place for this older request. Please let us know if a further response is expected or if you are having trouble responding.

The request was partially successful.

Dear Wirral Metropolitan Borough Council,

In response to another request of mine you provided the lease for pacific road centre in birkenhead
https://www.whatdotheyknow.com/request/p...

That is for 25 years to wirral chamber of commerce and industry for a peppercorn rent.

Please provide all information on the decision to rent to that private company, for that period and for only a peppercorn rent, as well as all information on what other options were considered and the reasons why they were not chosen.

Please also confirm that full business rates are received from them for their use of this building the same as if any other private company rented it at full market rate. If not then please provide all information as to why.

Yours faithfully,

John Jones

InfoMgr, FinDMT,

 

Dear Mr Jones

 

In response to your request:

 

Please provide all information on the decision to rent to that private
company, for that period and for only a peppercorn rent, as well as all
information on what other options were considered and the reasons why they
were not chosen.

 

Please also confirm that full business rates are received from them for
their use of this building the same as if any other private company rented
it at full market rate.  If not then please provide all information as to
why.

 

All information and rationale behind the lease decision are set out in the
committee report which approved the transaction.  See

[1]https://democracy.wirral.gov.uk/ieDecisi...

 

As for business rates, the Wirral Chamber is treated like every other
ratepayer, so will pay the full occupied rate on any offices they occupy,
and empty property rates on any unoccupied units that they own.

 

Yours sincerely

 

 

Lynette Paterson

Principal Information Management Officer

Finance – Digital and Improvement

Wirral Council

PO Box 290
Brighton Street
Wallasey
CH27 9FQ

 

Email: [2][Wirral Borough Council request email]

 

Visit our website: [3]www.wirral.gov.uk

 

 

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1. https://democracy.wirral.gov.uk/ieDecisi...
2. mailto:[Wirral Borough Council request email]
3. http://www.wirral.gov.uk/

Dear InfoMgr, FinDMT,

In your response of 31/01/2024 you say
‘As for business rates, the Wirral Chamber is treated like every other ratepayer, so will pay the full occupied rate on any offices they occupy, and empty property rates on any unoccupied units that they own.’

However based on the information you have so far provided the Chamber rents rather than owns the property, and as a business centre presumably others the Chamber sub lets, licenses or permits occupy any units rather than the Chamber itself. Please clarify the liability for and payment of business rates of and by the Chamber at this property.

Yours sincerely,

John Jones

InfoMgr, FinDMT,

Dear Mr Jones

 

 

We write in response to your clarification request in which you asked:

 

‘Please clarify the liability for and payment of business rates of and by
the Chamber at this property.’

 

Wirral Council can confirm Pacific road will have a number of businesses
holding licences at any one time, but as they don’t have exclusive
occupation,  it is treated as a single rating assessment and the Chamber
are liable and pay the rates.

There are also a couple of empty units, and as the leaseholder the Chamber
is liable & pays the rates on these also.

 

 

We trust this clarifies this matter.

 

Yours sincerely

 

 

Tracy O'Hare

Information Management Officer

Wirral Council

PO Box 290

Brighton Street

Wallasey

CH27 9FQ

Email:[1][Wirral Borough Council request email]

Visit our website: [2]www.wirral.gov.uk

 

 

 

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InfoMgr, FinDMT,

 

Dear Mr Jones

 

In your email of 15 March 2024 you state:

 

Pacific Road Centre Birkenhead

‘In your response of 31/01/2024 you say

‘As for business rates, the Wirral Chamber is treated like every other
ratepayer, so will pay the full occupied rate on any offices they occupy,
and empty property rates on any unoccupied units that they own.’

 

However based on the information you have so far provided the Chamber
rents rather than owns the property, and as a business centre presumably
others the Chamber sub lets, licenses or permits occupy any units rather
than the Chamber itself.  Please clarify the liability for and payment of
business rates of and by the Chamber at this property.’

 

The wording of your email “and as a business centre presumably others the
Chamber sub lets, licenses or permits occupy any units rather than the
Chamber itself” is not clear as to what your issue is. If we have
correctly interpreted your comment we would advise that the largest rating
assessment in Pacific road is “The Sheds”,  which have a number of
businesses holding licences at any one time. However as they do not have
exclusive occupation,  it is treated as a single rating assessment and the
Chamber are liable to pay the rates. There are also a couple of empty
units and as leaseholder, the Chamber is liable & pays the rates on these
also.

 

If this does not answer your query, please provide a clearer request so we
can address it without the need for interpretation.

 

Yours sincerely

 

 

Lynette Paterson

Principal Information Management Officer

Finance – Digital and Improvement

Wirral Council

PO Box 290
Brighton Street
Wallasey
CH27 9FQ

 

Email: [1][Wirral Borough Council request email]

 

Visit our website: [2]www.wirral.gov.uk

 

 

This email and any files transmitted with it are confidential and intended
solely for the use of the individual or entity to whom they are addressed.
If you have received this email in error please notify the system manager.

References

Visible links
1. mailto:[Wirral Borough Council request email]
2. http://www.wirral.gov.uk/