Agenda and minutes

To elect a Chairman of the Group for the ensuing Municipal Year.

RESOLVED

  that District Councillor M G Baker be elected Chairman of the Group for the ensuing Municipal Year.

Councillor M G Baker in the Chair.

To approve as a correct record the Minutes of the meeting of the Group held on 14^th March 2008.

Subject to :-

Ø  the replacement of “2009” with “2008” in Minute No 12 (c) – Events & Activities; and

Ø  the removal of references to the Primary Care Trust in 12 (g) and its replacement with “the District Council’s leisure development service”,

The Minutes of the meeting of the Group held on 14^th March 2008 were approved as a correct record and signed by the Chairman.

To receive from Members declarations as to personal and/or prejudicial interests and the nature of those interests in relation to any Agenda Item.  Please see Notes 1 and 2 below.

No declarations of interest were received.

To appoint a Vice-Chairman of the Group for the ensuing Municipal Year.

RESOLVED

  that District Councillor Mrs M Banerjee be appointed Vice-Chairman of the Group for the ensuing Municipal Year.

To note the Membership of the Group for 2008/09 as follows:-

(a)  Cambridgeshire County Council

Councillor Mrs E Kadic

(b)  Huntingdonshire District Council

       Councillors M G Baker, Mrs M Banerjee, C R Hyams and Ms M J Thomas. 

The Membership of the Hinchingbrooke Country Park Joint Group for 2008/09 was noted as follows:-

(a)  Cambridgeshire County Council

  County Councillor Mrs L Kadic.

(b)  Huntingdonshire District Council

  District Councillors M G Baker, Mrs M Banerjee, C R Hyams and Mrs M J Thomas.

  It was suggested that future consideration could be given to the appointment of a District Council Member representing Huntingdon West to the Group.

To consider a report by the Head of Administration updating the Group on the Terms of Reference.

Further to Minute No. 08/11, the Group received a report (a copy of which is appended in the Minute Book) outlining recent developments with regard to their terms of reference and method of operation.  Members were informed that at their meeting on 15th May 2008, the Cabinet had agreed to reconstitute Hinchingbrooke Country Park Joint Group, with their original terms of reference. 

In discussing the report, the Countryside Services Manager explained that it would still be possible to incorporate a reference to other countryside services/facilities with future reports if Members expressed a wish to do so.  Members were also advised that Countryside Services was currently the responsibility of the Operations Division whose Executive Councillor was Councillor C R Hyams.  Discussion also took place concerning the arrangements with the County Council for the management of the Centre and the financial responsibilities of both District and County Councils. 

Having agreed there were a number of matters relating to their role and function which warranted further discussion, it was

RESOLVED

that an informal meeting of the Group be held on 5th November 2008, at Pathfinder House to discuss the role and remit of the Group with a view to presenting a future statement to the Cabinet.

To consider a report by the Treasurer regarding the final accounts for HinchingbrookeCountry Park for 2007/8 and other countryside sites across the District.

The Group received and noted a report by the Treasurer (a copy of which is appended in the minute book) reflecting the final accounts for the Country Park and other countryside sites across the District for the 2007/08 financial year. 

In noting that net expenditure for the Country Park was below the budgeted figure, Members were advised that the majority of variations reflected the use of Section 106 monies in 2007/08.  In commenting more specifically on figures in the report, Members were advised of the reasons for an increase in revenue from refreshments and a decrease in revenue from room hire, together with the reasons for the discrepancy between the two.  The increased expenses on premises were attributed to the use of Section 106 monies which had provided the Chestnut Avenue footpath improvements.

To receive a report by the Senior Ranger on park activities for the Period April to October 2008.

In receiving and noting the contents of the Senior Ranger’s report comment was made as follows:-

(a)  Volunteers and Staffing

  Members were informed of recent staffing changes and were pleased to note that the number of volunteers continued to grow and currently stood at 579. 

(b)  Countryside Centre

  Details of the number of users of the Countryside Centre for the period April to September 2008 inclusive were presented.  Members were pleased to note that bookings continued to be received from both new and repeat customers.

(c)  Café

  Members noted that plans to extend the Café had been approved.  Building work was expected to start in November and be completed by April 2009, during which time alternative forms of refreshment would be available.

(d)  Events and Activities

  The Senior Ranger presented the Group with details of the events and activities over the spring/summer period. Members were pleased to note that the popular activities such as angling and pond dipping continued to be over subscribed.

(e)  Wider District

  Members noted a range of work being undertaken in other parts of the District. Particular attention was drawn to the footpath and access work at Holt Island.

(f)  Park Management

The Senior Ranger informed the Group of the various work being undertaken at the Country Park. Particular mention was made of the work on the new orchard, which had been funded by the Friends of Hinchingbrooke Country Park.

(g)  Friends of HinchingbrookeCountryPark

  Members were pleased to note that the membership of the Friends of  HinchingbrookeCountry Park continued to increase. There had also been a growth in the number of younger volunteers.

(h)  Miscellaneous

  Members were encouraged to note that the amount of damage, litter  and drunken behaviour over the summer had been limited and this  was attributed to the work of the Police, CCTV and PCSOs who had  worked alongside the rangers to tackle the problem.

  Members were informed that the damage to the leaves of the  Chestnut trees within the Park was the result of a moth.

  Members questioned to what extent facilities are provided to enable particular students to undertake scientific research. The Senior Ranger informed the Group scientific research tended to be concentrated on Paxton Pits, whilst HinchingbrookeCountry Park was more suited to  family groups and primary education.

  The Countryside Services Manager informed the Group that following  complaints of noise nuisance, it had been suggested that a barrier beinstalled to prevent cars using the car park late in the evening. Whilst  there were a number of issues which would need to be considered,  the complainant had been asked to monitor the number of occasions  on which noise nuisance had occurred and it was suggested that the  Police Community Support Officers could provide some assistance.

  With respect to other sites within the District, the Group noted:-

Ø  that outdoor gym equipment and a trim trail have been installed at ConeygearPark. It was hoped to install a zip wire in the Autumn  ...  view the full minutes text for item 8.

To note that the next meeting of the group will be held on Friday 27^th March 2009.

The Group noted that their next meeting would be held on Friday 27^th March 2009.