Hampshire County Council

Executive Member - Recreation and Heritage Item 2

22 October 2002

Blackwater Valley Recreation and Countryside Management Service - Support Trust

Joint Report by the Chief Executive and Director of Recreation and Heritage

Contact: Kevin Gardner, Head of Legal Practice Ext: 7381

John Tickle, Head of the Countryside Service 6000

1. Summary

The following decision is sought:

That a Support Trust be established to complement work undertaken by the Blackwater Valley Recreation and Countryside Management Service, and the Chief Executive be authorised to draft a constitution to enable the appointment of Trustees as soon as possible.

2. Reasons for the Recommendation

To maximise opportunities for investment in environmental, community and access projects within the Blackwater Valley and to facilitate the creation of a supportive trust to achieve such benefits

3. Other options considered and rejected: Not applicable

4. Conflicts of interest declared by the decision maker, or a member or officer consulted

Not applicable

5. Dispensation granted by the Standards Committee: Not applicable

6. Reasons for matter being dealt with, if urgent: Not applicable

Approved by: (Signature) Date: (of decision)

................................. .........................

Councillor J. Waddington

Contact: Kevin Gardner, Head of Legal Practice Ext: 7381

John Tickle, Head of Countryside Service Ext: 6000

1 Introduction

1.1 This paper requests approval to set up a support trust to further the work of the Blackwater Valley Recreation and Countryside Management Service (BVRCMS).

1 Background

1.1 BVRCMS is a local authority partnership with the aims to carry out landscape, recreational and conservation improvements along the Blackwater Valley.

1.2 Funding for the service is received from all the local authorities that border the River Blackwater. In recent years some authorities have not contributed or not fully contributed their share. This reduction in funding has been overcome by a combination of generating external income and cost/service cutting.

1.3 The Service is answerable to the Blackwater Valley Recreation and Countryside Management Committee attended by members of the partner authorities and which meets annually. Officers of the partner authorities meet quarterly.

1.4 In 2000, the Blackwater Valley Joint Officers Group commissioned an external consultant (Goodger Design Associates) to evaluate options for future service provision. One of the recommendations of the report was that the viability of setting up a support trust be explored.

1.5 The objective behind setting up such a support trust is to allow greater and easier fundraising opportunities than is possible for the existing BVRCMS. The funds raised would be spent on environmental activity in the Blackwater Valley in line with the objectives of the BVRCMS. They could, but would not necessarily have to be, given to the BVRCMS.

1.6 The support trust would neither replace the existing local authority funded service nor remove the need for local authority contributions. It would however enable further environmental improvement and education activity in the Blackwater Valley without increasing local authority contributions.

2 Progress to date

2.1 The County Treasurer (Financial Consultancy Team) was asked to investigate the viability of setting up a support trust. They concluded that:

· Creation of a support trust would enable greater income generation possibilities to be explored.

· A support trust would need to be self-financing and so income generated would need to exceed running costs.

· The best format for the trust would be a registered company with charitable status. Such a body could tender for work from existing BVRCMS partners and other organisations and use surpluses generated to fund improvements to the Blackwater Valley.

· The constitution of the charity would need to ensure local authority interests were represented and also allow for scope to change the geographical or functional boundaries of the body in the future.

· Selection of appropriate trustees that contribute skills and experience to the charity would be crucial to its success.

2.2 At their last meeting on 13 November 2001 the Management Committee resolved to support the creation of a trust. They mandated the Joint Officers Group to seek nominations for trustees and to devise a method of appointment and selection. Potential trustees have been identified but a clear constitution outlining duties and responsibilities is required before any approach can be made.

2.3 The next stage is therefore for a constitution to be drafted by the Chief Executive in preparation for forming the trust. For this, authority is requested. The proposed basis for the constitution (based on conclusions of the Joint Officers Group) is set out in Appendix A. This is subject to amendment at the drafting stage, if considered necessary by the Chief Executive.

3 Role/organisation of new body

3.1 As outlined above the new body would be a registered company with charitable status. It could raise funds and provide services, and use the proceeds to benefit the area in line with its aim.

3.2 Inevitably the charity would start out on a small scale employing no staff of its own to minimise costs, but possibly having one member of BVRCMS staff seconded part-time in a supporting role.

3.3 It is impossible to firmly estimate likely income because sources cannot be guaranteed. Informal indications from the likely main sources (local companies and landfill operators) indicate it will be worthwhile. Even if income is low in its early years, it will be beneficial as long as costs and disruption to the service are minimal.

4 Recommendation

4.1 The Executive Member for Recreation and Heritage authorise the Chief Executive to draft a constitution for a Blackwater Valley Support Trust.

Section 100 D - Local Government Act 1972 - background papers

The following documents disclose facts or matters on which this report, or an important part of it, is based and has been relied upon to a material extent in the preparation of this report.

NB the list excludes:

1. Published works.

2. Documents which disclose exempt or confidential information as defined in the Act.

TITLE FILE

Appendix A - Proposed basis for constitution