Venue: Countryside Centre, Hinchingbrooke Countryside Park
Contact: Mrs Jessica Walker, Trainee Democratic Services Officer, Tel No 01480 387049/e-mail: Jessica.Walker@huntsdc.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 9th October 2009. Contact: Mrs H Taylor 388008 Minutes: The Minutes of the meeting held on 9th October 2009 were approved as a correct record and signed by the Chairman. |
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To receive the notes of the meeting held on 26th March and 8 October 2010. Contact: Mrs H Taylor 388008 Additional documents: Minutes: Members received the notes of the meetings held on 26th March and 8 October 2010. |
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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 overleaf. 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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Senior Ranger's report PDF 30 KB To receive a report by the Senior Ranger on park activities for the period October 2010 to March 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 conclusion of the future jobs fund employees scheme which had seen trainees undertaking six month appointments working as a ranger or in the café. Mention also was made of the implications for the Country Park of the District Council’s voluntary release scheme. The Group was informed that Pat Knight, Countryside Services Manager and Roland Fletcher, Ranger at Paxton Pits, had chosen to be released under the scheme and arrangements were in place to redistribute their workload.
(b) Volunteers
The Group noted that the 500 days had been worked by volunteers between October and March. The annual volunteers “thank you” day had been a great success with group games being played at the park.
(c) Countryside Centre
Details of the number of users of the Countryside Centre for the period September 2010 to February 2011 inclusive were presented. Members noted that the length of the average room booking had reduced and fewer lunches were being booked which was attributed to organisations/businesses cutting back during the economic downturn.
(d) Café
Members were pleased to note that the café continued to be busy and that a small range of goods had gone on sale as a way of increasing the café’s income.
(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 santa’s grotto which had proved to be extremely popular with a profit of £600 being made. The Senior Ranger thanked the Executive Councillor for Operational and Countryside Services who had helped on the day by serving refreshments.
(f) Wider District
Members noted that a range of work had been undertaken in other parts of the District under the countryside services remit. It was reported that the rangers hut at Coneygear Park had been the subject of a number of acts of vandalism.
(g) Park Management
The Senior Ranger informed the Group of the various work being undertaken at the Country Park, including repairs to the path around the lake and the planting of a hedge at the wildlife wood.
(h) Friends of Hinchingbrooke Country Park
It was reported that the Friends of Hinchingbrooke Country Park were planningto organise a number of events on Good Friday to raise funds for the park. Since the last meeting new interpretation boards had been funded by the Friends.
(i) Future Budget Position
Members’ attention was drawn to the proposed cuts identified for the countryside service over the next three years. Although it was hopeful that additional income would be generated in year 2, concerns were raised that some staff savings would be required in year 3.
(j) Pat knight
The Chairman paid tribute to the contribution made by Pat Knight, Countryside Services Manager, who was due to leave the Council’s service on 30th April 2011. ... view the full minutes text for item 7. |
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Date of next meeting To note the next meeting of the Group will be held on 14th October 2011 at 10.00am. Minutes: The Group noted that their next meeting would be held on 14th October 2011. |