Archived decisions

Item 10

Sir George Staunton Country Park

Stakeholder Forum

Minutes of meeting held on

Monday 18th April 2005 , at 10.00am

At Main Conference room, Staunton Country Park

PRESENT :

Hampshire County Council

Cllr Gale (Chairman)

Paul Thomson, Countryside Service Eastern Area Team Leader

John Tickle, Head of Countryside

Cllr John Waddington

Cllr Eunice Byrom

Rowland's Castle Parish Council

Cllr. Greg Leonard

East Hampshire District Council

Cllr.Mrs Dorothy Denston

Horndean Parish Council

Cllr.Mrs Margaret Walker

Havant Borough Council

Christine Dier, Tourism Manager

Havant Day Service

Mr Terry Hart Service DSO

Staunton Country Park

Dave Paterson, Senior Ranger

Lewis Paterson, Park Manager

    1. APOLOGIES:

Mrs J Parkinson, Hampshire Gardens Trust; Andy Neve, Portsmouth Water; Steve

Neal, Forest Enterprise; and Stephen d'Este Hoare, East Hampshire District Council.

    2. MINUTES

    The minutes of the meeting held on 29 October 2004 were agreed as a correct record

    and signed by the Chairman.

    3. MINUTES OF THE JOINT MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE

The minutes of the Joint Management Committee held on 2 December were

    considered, no comments were received.

    4. PARK MANAGERS UPDATE

    _ The Forum considered the report of the Park Manager (Item 4) updating members of the Forum on developments at the Park since October 2004.

    _ Easter was busy - all activities fully booked. The Countryside Live Event was a success. All teams seemed to be working well and now have cost centred budgets. Staunton has a new Education Officer - Kerry Bailey. Kerry takes over from Wendi, our previous Education Officer, who has done a excellent job in establishing the Education Service at Staunton. A new Senior Farm Ranger, Lee Abrahart, has also been appointed. Lee has been at the Park for a number of years and has a strong farming background. Vacancies currently exist at Staunton for a Countryside Ranger, Marketing Officer, and Administrator.

    _ The Education Officer, in conjunction with colleagues from Portsmouth Water

    Ltd, have developed a range of water related education topics. These will be

    delivered as part of the Parks Education Service.

    _ Staunton has a new schools membership scheme with seven out of twelve local schools invited taking part. The Park Manager agreed to check whether St.Johns Primary School, within Rowlands Castle, had been invited to join.

    _ Farm stock levels have increased, the pigs have a new breeding programme, we have re-introduced turkeys to the Park(Charles and Camilla), and we are also looking to introduce more rare breeds back to the Park. Visitor feedback has been very positive. Park staff are discussing leasing an area of land to the north west of Thicket Lawn from Portsmouth Water Ltd. This will increase our available grazing by a further 230 acres.

    _ A willow tunnel has been constructed within the ornamental farm which will form part of the new Dinosaur trail. Planned planting for the Walled garden includes the traditional vegetable and herb beds as well as a new planting scheme in the South Border. Staunton has received some new palms from Kew Gardens. The Jade Vine, planted last year, is becoming well established. A new MP3 sound system in the glasshouses is now operational and adds to the `rainforest' atmosphere.

    _ Archaeology students from King Alfred's College will be undertaking a project to identify the location of the Staunton Mansion turning circle and paths within the original pleasure grounds.

    _ Coppicing has been carried out in Hammonds Land Copse. New fencing in Wakefords copse has drastically reduced the illegal motorbike activity within this area. Fishing is still very popular Staunton's Senior Ranger is now a qualified coaching instructor. It is planned to offer coaching to potential junior club members.

    _ This seasons events have gone well, conference/meetings bookings remain steady and three wedding receptions have booked in the coming eighteen months.

    _ A bid for feasibility study funding had been made to the Portsmouth & South East Hampshire Partnership, under the Area Investment Framework, into the creation of a fully inclusive training and education centre within the Leigh Park Nursery site.

    Resolved:

    1. ) That the content of the report be noted.

    2. ) That the Stakeholder Forum supports the principle the development of a fully

    accessible training and educational centre on the Leigh Park Nursery site

      formerly occupied by the Beneficial Foundation)

    5. LEIGH PARK GARDENS

    Proposals for Restoration. The Forum received a verbal update on current and

    planned restoration works to Leigh Park Gardens from the Senior Ranger. This is summarised on the attached plan.

    Resolved :

    That the content of the update be noted.

    5. HERITAGE LOTTERY FUND

    Application - options paper. The Forum considered the report of the Eastern Area

    Team Leader (Item 6). Officers had met with the Heritage Lottery Fund during April to discuss the current bid. Whilst feedback on the Park was highly complimentary the HLF indicated that it would like to see future investment distributed more widely across the Park. Officers were encouraged to withdraw the current bid to be presented to the new dedicated lottery Parks Fund later in the year. Members of the Stakeholder Forum were disappointed that the bid would probably be further delayed.

    Resolved :

    That the content of the report be noted.

    6. GREEN FLAG AWARD

    An application has been submitted to the Civic Trust for Staunton to be awarded a

    Green Flag Award. Judging will be undertaken on Friday 27th May and the results announced on Thursday 28th July 2005.

    7. NEXT MEETING

    Monday 19th September 2005 at 10am.

    9.

    ANY OTHER BUSINESS

    As this was Cllr Waddington's last meeting prior to his retirement he said a few words and commented on Staunton's bright future.