A Freedom of Information request has revealed how Peterborough City Council has gifted tens of thousands of pounds to a community radio station owned by the former Conservative leader Cllr Wayne Fitzgerald.
The arrangement has allowed Peterborough Community Radio Ltd – where Cllr Fitzgerald is shown on Companies House records as holding “significant influence or control” – as being allowed to operate rent free from city council owned premises at 23-24, Herlington Centre, Orton Malborne, Peterborough.
The radio station operates on a tenancy at will agreement which is considered a temporary right for a tenant to possess land or property with the consent of the landlord for an indefinite period of time.
On Companies House, a second director of Peterborough Community Radio Ltd is listed as Stephen Durham, both appointments made in December 2014.
Until February Dave King was listed as a director, but a notice filed to Companies House notes his directorship as having been terminated.
Despite its most recent accounts showing it employs 3 workers; the radio station has elected to adopt the totally legal procedure of not including a copy of the income and expenditure account within the financial statements.
The radio station has not only enjoyed rent free accommodation but between 2022 and 2024 it received £35,000 from the city council, which includes payments for promotional campaigns but the bulk – £31,000 – was for “live event programme and hosting of the Peterborough Christmas Lights Switch on”. In 2022 the council paid the radio station £9,000 rising to £12,000 the following year before slipping to £10,000 for last Christmas.
Here are the questions I (John Elworthy) posed to the city council and their responses:
1: Can you confirm that Peterborough City Council owns 23-24, Herlington Centre, Orton Malborne, Peterborough, England, PE2 5PN?
CITY COUNCIL: Yes.
2: Can you confirm the tenant is Peterborough Community Radio Ltd, and one of the two directors is Cllr Wayne Fitzgerald described on Companies House documents as having “significant influence or control”? The registered office address of the radio station is Peterborough, England, PE2 XXX which is, of course, the home address of Cllr Fitzgerald. Can you also confirm the terms of the lease and the date which it came into effect and list all conditions?
CITY COUNCIL: Yes, we can confirm that the tenant is Peterborough Community Radio Ltd. There is a tenancy at will in place which allows the organisation to use the building. The council are in negotiation with representatives from Peterborough Community Radio to put in place a formal lease agreement as soon as possible.
3: I am led to believe that the limited company enjoys a peppercorn or zero rent arrangement with the city council. Can you confirm this and from the date this agreement was put in force and was it authorised at council or officer level?
4: If not rent is paid for the premises, can you confirm for how many years this has been so?
CITY COUNCIL: In response to the above two questions, under the tenancy at will, Peterborough Community Radio does not pay rent for use of the unit.
This position was authorised in 2021 by the then Head of Growth & Regeneration under delegation from the Executive Director of Strategic Resources in accordance with the council’s constitution at the time. The occupation of the unit was intended to offer training facilities for potential radio station workers together with ancillary community use and as result the unit was leased rent-free.
Under a tenancy at will, the tenant will be responsible for payment of all outgoings, including business rates, which the council might otherwise have been liable for, which represents a saving to the council.
5: From filed accounts of the company it is hard to verify turn over – can you confirm if full accounts are provided to the city council showing turnover, payments, liabilities, income, etc,?
CITY COUNCIL: This information is not held by Peterborough City Council.
6: If Peterborough City Council is providing premises on favourable terms, can the city council state the community benefits they perceive from this arrangement and how are these verified?
CITY COUNCIL: As noted above, it was intended to offer training facilities for potential radio station workers together with ancillary community use
7: It appears the radio station is run very much on commercial terms, indeed has 2 (MOST RECENT ACCOUNTS SHOW 3) full time employees (according to the limited information provided by Companies House) but has the city council been provided with details of these payments and whether payments are to staff members or directors?
CITY COUNCIL: This information is not held by Peterborough City Council.
8: On the city council website there is a reference to Peterborough FM, but this is no longer trading. However, the radio station did operate at one stage from these premises and promised a full range of opportunities for training and involvement by the community.
https://fis.peterborough.gov.uk/kb5/peterborough/directory/service.page?id=53Zkw4POBMY
Can you confirm if Peterborough City Council has any agreements with Peterborough Community Radio Ltd for community opportunities of involvement?
CITY COUNCIL: There are no agreements between Peterborough City Council and Peterborough Community Radio Ltd for community opportunities.
9: Has Peterborough City Council committed any advertising or promotional spending to Peterborough Community Radio Ltd (this to include any departments of the city council or city council trading companies) and if so for what reason and for how much, going back say 10 years?
CITY COUNCIL:
2024 Advertising for a foster care campaign: £860
2022: Christmas lights: £9,000
2023: Christmas lights, £12,000
2024: Christmas lights, £10,000
2023: Private sector housing information campaign, £640
2023: Cost of living information campaign, £1,180
2024: Home energy efficiency upgrade information campaign, £1,340
FACT CHECK
To rent a commercial space at Herlington Centre in Peterborough, you’re looking at properties like Unit 71-72, which is 865 sq ft and priced at £12,500 per annum, according to Savills. Another option is Unit 26, which is 908 sq ft and available for rent.
Available Units:
- Unit 71 – 72: 865 sq ft, £12,500 per annum.
- Unit 26: 908 sq ft, available for rent.
Location:
- The Herlington Centre is located in Orton Malborne, Peterborough, PE2 5PW.
Other Details:
- Unit 71-72 is listed as high street retail property for lease.
- The property at 26 Herlington has laminated flooring, fluorescent lighting, a kitchenette, and WC facilities.
