BUCKHURST HILL: Calls for parish council to let out offices to cover compensation costs (From East London and West Essex Guardian Series)

BUCKHURST HILL: Calls for parish council to let out offices to cover compensation costs

8:00am Thursday 2nd February 2012 in Epping Forest News By Tom Porter

A CAMPAIGN has been launched for a parish council that has already been forced to pay out £75,000 to unfairly dismissed employees to let out its prime location offices and prevent residents bearing the cost of its mistakes.

Earlier this year the authority in Buckhurst Hill were made to pay former caretaker John Lockhart, 63, almost £75,000 in compensation after an employment tribunal ruled that they had unfairly dismissed him.

In March the authority could face another hefty payout when a judgement is expected in the tribunal of another employee who alleges she was also unfairly sacked by the council.

The authority’s precept is already set for this year, but should they be found guilty again there are fears that residents and traders will be left to pick up the bill and they are now calling for the council to cover its costs by renting out its Queen’s Road offices.

It is estimated that the authority could charge up to £15,000 a year for renting out the ground floor space in the fashionable arcade.

Peter Angel is chairman of the Buckhurst Hill Town Centre Partnership and also runs Peter Angel & Co Chartered Accountants in Queen’s Road.

He said: “There is a little bit of resentment on the high street here. People are saying ‘why do they need such prestigious offices?’ “

“They have their own parking spaces at the back and do not contribute anything to the shopping on the road.

“There is a feeling that the parish council have got in to such trouble financially that there is not much point in them and they are a bit of an extravagance.

“They should do what they can to pay their bills themselves.”

Michele Davies, 63, of Cascade Road in Buckhurst Hill, said: “They are going to have to do what they are going to have to do to make the money back.

“My view is that the offices are just a vanity project anyway. I often wonder what it is for apart from picking up recycling bags.

“One is looking for them to use all of the assets at their disposal. The offices are the only assets they have that do not currently make money.

“They could use their halls for public meetings when they are not being used for other functions.”

Sandra Burn, 28, works at One Six Queens florist in Queen’s Road.

She said: “I think if they can find somewhere a bit cheaper they should take it.

“I do not see why people who live here should have to pay for their mistakes.”

The issue will be discussed by the Town Centre Partnership in their meeting next Tuesday in the offices of Waitrose in Queen's Road.

Buckhurst Hill parish Council has been asked to comment.

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