Venue: Countryside Centre, Hinchingbrooke Countryside Park
Contact: Democratic Services Team, Tel No. 01480 388169/e-mail Adam.Green@huntingdonshire.gov.uk
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ELECTION OF CHAIRMAN To elect a Chairman of the Joint Group for the ensuing Municipal Year. Minutes: resolved
that District Councillor R J West be elected Chairman of the Group for the Municipal Year 2014/15.
COUNCILLOR R J WEST IN THE CHAIR.
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To approve as a correct record the Minutes of the meeting of the Joint Group held on 21st March 2014. Minutes: The Minutes of the meeting held on 21st March 2014 were approved as a correct record and signed by the Chairman. |
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To receive the Notes of the meeting of the Joint Group held on 10th October 2014. Minutes: The Notes of the meeting held on 10th October 2014 were approved as a correct record and signed by the Chairman. |
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MEMBERS' INTERESTS To receive from Members declarations as to disclosable pecuniary, non-disclosable pecuniary or non-pecuniary interests in relation to any Agenda item. See Notes below. Minutes: No declarations were received. |
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APPOINTMENT OF VICE CHAIRMAN To appoint a Vice-Chairman of the Joint Group for the ensuing Municipal Year. Minutes: RESOLVED
that District Councillor T D Sanderson be appointed Vice- Chairman of the Group for the Municipal Year 2014/15.
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MEMBERSHIP OF THE GROUP To note the Membership of the Joint Group for 2014/15 as follows:
(a) Cambridgeshire County Council
Councillor Sir P Brown.
(b) Huntingdonshire District Council
Councillors T Hayward, B Hyland, T D Sanderson and R J West. Minutes: The membership of the Hinchingbrooke Country Park Joint Group for 2014/15 was noted as follows:-
(a) Cambridgeshire County Council
Councillor Sir P Brown.
(b) Huntingdonshire District Council
Councillors T Hayward, B Hyland, T D Sanderson and R J West.
District Councillors expressed concern with the low attendance record of the County Councillor representative. The Chairman is to write to the Leader of the County Council in regards to the County Council representation.
(At 10:05am, during the discussion of the item, Councillor B Hyland entered the meeting.)
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SENIOR RANGER'S REPORT PDF 298 KB To receive a report by the Senior Ranger on park activities for the period October 2014 to March 2015. Minutes: In receiving and noting the content of the Senior Ranger’s report, comment was made as follows:-
(a) Staffing
Members were informed that the Senior Ranger has now retired. The post has not been advertised as there is a freeze on recruitment due to a departmental review. This has left the service short of staff which is not sustainable in the long term. Councillor T D Sanderson is to speak with the Executive Leader and relevant Executive Portfolio Holder regarding the situation.
Jamie Gillies has been appointed as the Café Supervisor and a café assistant has also been appointed both for 18 months. The Country Park has been asked if the café service is able to work more closely with the leisure team in order to find efficiency savings.
The post of Countryside Centre Assistant is currently occupied by a temporary member of staff.
(b) Volunteers
The Joint Group noted that the number of volunteer days worked in the last five months was 486 days.
(c) Countryside Centre
Details of the number of users of the Countryside Centre for the period October 2014 to March 2015 compared to the previous years were presented. It was reported that income for the Centre was up 18.5% for the period. Members were advised that the Country Park is looking at ways to better advertise the Centre’s conference facilities in order to increase income.
(d) Café
The Joint Group were informed that the income for the café is £14,000 up for the year to date. Members were told that economy savings such as changing suppliers have helped to reduce costs.
(e) Events and Activities
Members were informed that the Bear Hunt is a popular event and currently there are 15 children on the waiting list. The August hunt is fully booked however the Country Park staff have provided an additional afternoon hunt. Members thought this was very bearable.
(f) Wider District
Members noted a wide range of work that had been undertaken on other parts of the District.
(g) Park Management
The Joint Group were informed that the Country Park will soon be taking delivery of two new outdoor shelters. Members expressed concern that the shelters could led to an increase in litter however the Country Park staff hope that any increase will be concentrated around the shelters.
(h) Friends of Hinchingbrooke Country Park
Members were told that several members of the friends committee are standing down. The committee are hoping to recruit at ‘Meet The Friends’ events on 29th March and 21st April. The Friends Annual General Meeting is taking place on 21st May.
(i) Financial Position
Members’ attention was drawn to the Country Park’s controllable budget and forecast for 2014/15. Members were advised that the financial position of the Country Park is good.
It was noted that Mr C Moss is the Country Park’s accountant now that Mr N Green has left the Council.
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DATE OF NEXT MEETING To note that the next meeting of the Joint Group will be held on Friday 16th October 2015. Minutes: The Group noted that their next meeting would be held on Friday 16th October 2015.
Members queried whether the Joint Group should meet on a more frequent basis however it was agreed that more informal meeting would be more appropriate. |