Venue: the Wren Room, Countryside Centre, Hinchingbrooke Countryside Park
Contact: Helen Taylor, Senior Democratic Services Officer, 01480 388008 or email Helen.Taylor@huntingdonshire.gov.uk
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election of chairman To elect a Chairman of the Group for the ensuing Municipal Year. Minutes: 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. |
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To approve as a correct record the Minutes of the meeting held on 25th March 2011. Contact: Mrs H Taylor 388008 Minutes: The Minutes of the meeting held on 25 March 2011 were approved as a correct record and signed by the Chairman. |
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Members' Interests 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. Minutes: No declarations of interest were received. |
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appointment of vice chairman To appoint a Vice-Chairman of the Group for the ensuing Municipal Year. Minutes: RESOLVED
that County Councillor Mrs L Kadic be appointed Vice-Chairman of the Group for the ensuing Municipal Year. |
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Membership of the Group To note the Membership of the Group for 2011/12 as follows:-
(a) Cambridgeshire County Council
Councillor Mrs E Kadic
(b) Huntingdonshire District Council
Councillors M G Baker, Mrs M Banerjee, N J Guyatt and R J West. Minutes: The membership of the Hinchingbrooke Country Park Joint Group for 2011/2012 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, N J Guyatt and R J West.
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2010/11 final accounts PDF 28 KB To consider a report by the Treasurer regarding the final accounts for Hinchingbrooke Country Park for 2010/11. Contact: Mrs S Martin 388107 Minutes: 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 for the 2010/11 financial year.
In noting that net expenditure for the Country Park was below the budgeted figure, Members were advised that employee costs had increased as staffing levels in the café had been higher than anticipated, however these costs had been mostly offset by savings on premises including a refund of £46k on National Non Domestic Rates for the park.
Members were reminded that the 2011/12 Medium Term Plan had set the Countryside Services a target of £199 k savings to be achieved by 2013/14. It was reported that savings of £101K were expected in the current year due in the main to the deletion of the Countryside Services Manager post.
The Treasurer reported that during a recent review of working practises in the Accountancy division it had been decided that, in view of the timescales involved, the final accounts would no longer be reported to this meeting and that an outturn for the following year would be incorporated into the Senior Ranger’s report.
RESOLVED
that the contents of the report be noted. |
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Senior ranger's report PDF 34 KB To receive a report by the Senior Ranger on park activities for the period April to October 2011. Contact: Mrs J Arnold 451568 Minutes: In receiving and noting the contents of the Senior Ranger’s report, comment was made as follows:
(a) Staffing
Members’ attention was drawn to recent staff changes including the release of Pat Knight, Countryside Services Manager and Roland Fletcher, Ranger at Paxton Pits, under the District Council’s voluntary release scheme.
(b) Volunteers
The Group noted that the number of volunteer days worked currently stood at over 900.
(c) Countryside Centre
Details of the number of users of the Countryside Centre for the period April to September 2011 compared to previous years were presented. Members noted that fewer lunches were being booked which was attributed to organisations/businesses cutting back during the economic downturn.
(d) Café
Members were advised that trade in the café was heavily weather dependant, however £1000 profit had been made through the sale of a small range of goods. The Senior Ranger reported that from 1st April, staff in the café had agreed to reduce their hours to 4 days a week, subsequently a member of staff had left which had resulted in the Senior Ranger covering in the café for holiday and sickness cover.
(e) Events and Activities
The Senior Ranger informed the group of the various events/activities that had been held since the last meeting. A highlight of that period had been the Sports Day which had attracted 570 people partaking in 15 different sports. Members were advised that, in order to save money, an events leaflet had not been produced this year however in response to a number of complaints/comments it has been agreed to produce a scaled down publication, using paper formats rather than glossy brochure, next year.
(f) Wider District
Members noted that a range of work had been undertaken in other parts of the District under the countryside services remit. Particular mention was made of the partnership work with Urban & Civic and Godmanchester nursery to grow plants for their Alconbury site.
In response to a question by a Member, the Senior Ranger explained that Rangers continued to work with volunteers and community groups to improve Coneygear Park and Oxmoor estates, however the Community Gardens scheme had not been successful in these areas. Members were pleased to noted that Moor in bloom had gained silver for Best Urban Community in Anglia in Bloom and Huntingdonshire Community Nursery Rangers had been awarded best special needs garden.
(g) Park Management
The Senior Ranger informed the Group of the various work being undertaken at the Country Park including tree surveys, construction of fences around the Wash and a new bird hide on the Spit.
(h) Friends of Hinchingbrooke Country Park
It was reported that the Friends of Hinchingbrooke Country Park would be holding a Christmas Shopping day in the Visitors Centre on 20th November 2011.
(i) British Open Water Swimming Society
In response to a question by the Chairman, the Senior Ranger advised the Group that the British Open Water Swimming Society held regular sessions at the Country Park. Those attending had to ... view the full minutes text for item 15. |
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Date of next meeting To note that the next meeting of the Group will be held on Friday 30th March 2012. Minutes: The Group noted that their next meeting would be held on 30th March 2012. |