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MAIDSTONE BOROUGH COUNCIL
RECORD OF DECISION OF THE Cobtree Manor
Estate Charity Committee
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Decision Made: |
26 February 2010 |
COBTREE MANOR PARK - MASTER PLAN
Issue for Decision
To consider the final draft of the proposed master plan for the Cobtree Manor Park and, if appropriate, to sanction its use for consultation with the general public and other interested parties.
Decision Made
1.
That
the draft master plan, for use in consultation with the general public and
other interested parties, be agreed in principle.
2. That the proposed format for the public consultation, as detailed in the Report of the Cobtree Officer, be further developed to ensure wide publicity and engagement.
Reasons for Decision
With a view to working towards an early start on
implementing elements of the scheme where funding can be made available, and to
be in a position to seek the views of the Charity Commission on the use of the
Charity’s permanent endowment fund, Members asked that the final draft of the
proposed master plan be submitted to an early meeting prior to it being subject
to public consultation and comment from other interested parties.
Over the Christmas and New Year period the consultant had
difficulty in obtaining the information requested by Members prior to the
despatch of the agenda for the meeting held on 15 January 2010. Members
expressed their concern at the delay and requested that the consultant be
required to submit his proposals by the 7th February 2010 and that a
further meeting be set as soon as possible after this date. The information
attached to the report of the Cobtree Officer was received by the required date
and an early copy distributed to the Members of the Committee.
The draft master plan, design specification and estimated
project costs were attached at Appendix A to the report of the Cobtree Officer.
Following consideration of the material by Members at this
meeting it is intended that the draft proposals be subject to consultation with
the general public and other interested parties before final acceptance by this
Committee.
Public Consultation
For the proposed public consultation it is suggested that
the master plan and brief explanation be placed on display in the Council’s
“Gateway” and on-site at Cobtree Manor Park. It was proposed that each should
be staffed for one half day; for those members of the public wishing to seek
further information.
It was proposed that response “cards” be made available at
each site for people to record their comments. The “cards” will be designed to
seek responses to specific proposals as well as general comments. The displays
and a contact telephone number will be advertised through a Council press
release.
It was also proposed that individual copies of the draft
master plan should be forwarded to the following interested parties for their
specific comment: Cobtree Charity Trust Limited, Kent County Council, Boxley
Parish Council, Medway Valley Countryside Partnership, Kent Wildlife Trust and
the Museum of Kent Life.
A report on the results of the consultation will be collated and submitted to the proposed meeting in March 2010.
The Committee emphasised the importance of the public consultation
and that it must be well advertised and felt that the proposed consultation
required expanding and developing further. The Committee felt that the Head of
Communications could help develop the consultation proposals.
The Master Plan
Members were reminded that the essential objective of the
proposals is to increase the number of visitors to the site. Although the
proposals have essentially evolved from earlier studies carried out by
consultants PMP and W.S.Atkins, the consultant was allowed freedom to introduce
his own ideas.
The proposals are broadly in line with the requirements set
out by Members. One area where the plan does not perhaps achieve this fully
relates to the children’s play area which is not “significantly different from
similar facilities found in the area.”
Other areas which Members might feel warrant further
consideration are:
(i) The
northwest corner of the site (shown on sheet CPO6) where the bridle path is not
shown to link with the path which goes around the perimeter of the golf course.
(ii) The
animal cemetery (the site of which is shown on sheet CPO2) no proposals are
indicated for this area.
(iii) The possibility
of a “tree top walk” which was a suggestion by previous consultants; this is
not shown.
(iv) Reference to the previous use of the site as a zoo; there appears to be no reference, but this may be covered in the proposed information boards; this needs to be confirmed.
At the meeting, the Consultant gave a presentation to Members on the proposed Master Plan and, in principle, the Committee felt it was ready for public consultation. Members raised a number of points with regard to the plan, but it was felt that the consultation would bring out these points and more. The Committee felt strongly that the consultation had to be well advertised and good use made of our website, the press and perhaps having a stand in The Mall Chequers, as well as the Gateway and Cobtree Manor Park itself.
Alternatives considered and why rejected
The alternative course of action is to reject the proposals and seek further revisions; this is not recommended as Members have already given tacit agreement to the outline proposals underpinning the draft plan presented for consideration.
Background Papers
None
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Should you be concerned about this decision and wish to call it in, please submit a call in form signed by any two Non-Executive Members to the Head of Scrutiny and Policy by: 8 March 2010 |