AT A MEETING of the SIR GEORGE STAUNTON COUNTRY PARK JOINT MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE held in the Council Chamber, Havant Borough Council, Havant on 16 July 2004.

PRESENT:

Hampshire County Council

Councillors E.F. Gale (Chairman); Mrs E.M. Byrom; Mrs V. Steel; J. Waddington.

East Hampshire Borough Council

Councillor Mrs. D.K. Denston

Havant District Council

Councillor K. Moss

21 DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST

Members were mindful that, where they believed they had a personal or personal prejudicial interest in any matter to be considered at the meeting, they should, normally at the time of the debate, declare their interest and, having regard to the circumstances described in paragraphs 9, 10, 11 and 12 of the County Council's Code of Conduct, consider whether to leave the meeting whilst the matter was discussed.

22 COUNCILLOR D.W. CLEGG

The meeting stood in silence to the memory of the late Councillor D.W. Clegg.

23 MINUTES

The Minutes of the meeting held on 5 December 2003 were agreed as a correct record, with the following amendment, was signed by the Chairman.

Minute 14 Chairman's Communications

Line 4 : delete Staunton Park School
insert Hayling Island

24 PARK MANAGER'S REPORT

The JMC considered the report of the Park Manager (Item 5 in the Minute Book) on development at the Park since the last meeting.

A Project Planning Grant of £38,000 had been obtained from the Heritage Lottery fund and a further application had been submitted.

Visitor figures had increased over Easter despite the restoration work disruption. There had been over 1,500 volunteer days donated to the Park. The Park had recently undertaken a review of prices, including membership fee reductions, to encourage an increase in members and secondary spend in the retail outlets. Season ticket holder numbers had increased by 50%.

The Park's educational activities were thriving including the establishment of an outdoor "woodland" classroom for the summer.

Good progress was being made with the renovation programme. The Ornamental Farm, tea rooms, barn, courtyard and farm buildings had been handed back to the Park in June, and the conference and educational facilities would be fully operational in September 2004.

A formal opening was planned for September 2004, when JMC and Stakeholder Members would be invited.

A number of successful events had been held, particularly the Maze Festival and Countryside Festival. Various methods of widening publicity were suggested including the local paid and free publications; Horndean and Clanfield Parish Councils.

The Head of the Countryside Service announced that the Portsmouth Water Company (PWC) were to sponsor the fitting out and staffing of the education building in exchange for making the facility and tuition available to PWC staff.

RESOLVED:

That the report be noted.

25 FINANCIAL OUTTURN 2003/04

The JMC considered the report of the County Treasurer (Item 6 in the Minute Book) regarding the financial outturn for 2003/04.

Overall the Park had made a larger than expected deficit in 2003/04, resulting in a deficit on the Park's reserves. This was down to one off factors associated with the restoration works. It was unlikely that the deficit would be eliminated during the current financial year (2004/05).

The officer group would work on the Business Plan, but if additional approvals were required the Chairman would be contacted. The new Business Plan would seek to break even in 2004/05 and would outline how the deficit would be eliminated in future years.

RESOLVED:

(i) That the financial outturn for 2003/04 be approved.


(ii) That the Officer Group be instructed to present proposals to the next meeting of the JMC on a business plan for the Park, which included eliminating the deficit in the Park's accounts.

26 MINUTES OF THE STAKEHOLDER FORUM

The Minutes of the meeting held on 30 April 2004 at Havant were received and noted.

27 EXPANSION OF STAKEHOLDER FORUM MEMBERSHIP

The JMC considered the report of the Park Manager (Item 8 in the Minute Book).

The Park Manager explained that it was considered necessary to increase the diversity of the Stakeholder Forum membership in order to gain a better perspective of all issues effecting the Country Park.

The Chief Executive explained that under the joint arrangements that had been agreed between the three Partner local authorities and the various Stakeholder parties, the position is that the Stakeholder Forum comprises one representative of each of the Stakeholders (i.e. Forestry Commission, Gardens Trust, Horndean and Rowlands Castle Parish Councils, Portsmouth City Council and Portsmouth Water Ltd) and the members of the Joint Committee. In addition the Forum itself may nominate up to two other individuals to be members, representing other stakeholder interests in the Park. These post had already been filled.

The intention in limiting it to two extra nominations was to avoid the Forum becoming unwieldy in size and to ensure that those Stakeholders referred to above continued to have a clear voice as advisers to the Joint Committee.

It would be possible to increase the overall number of representatives on the Forum but this would require a formal amendment to the arrangements, which we would need to seek agreement to from the three Partner Authorities and Stakeholders, a process which had not long concluded.

An alternative would be for the Forum to permit other individuals to attend its meetings and to speak with the permission of the Chair, but not vote. This arrangement would also include Clanfield Parish Council.

An alternative course of action would be for the Forum to permit other individuals to attend its meetings and to speak with the permission of the Chair, but not to vote. This would also include Clanfield Parish Council. Future amendment to the arrangements would need agreement of the three Partner Authorities and Stakeholders.

RESOLVED:

That the two Stakeholder representative positions set out in the Constitution for the Sir George Staunton Country Park Joint Management Committee having been filled:

(a) the Stakeholder Forum permit other relevant individuals to attend its meetings, with the permission of the Chairman;


(b) Clanfield Parish Council be invited to attend the Stakeholder Forum, in the same conditions; and


(c) the membership of the Stakeholder Forum as set out in the Constitution, be reviewed at a later date, if it be considered appropriate.

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