Agenda item

Cobtree Manor Estate Update Report

Minutes:

The Cobtree Manager presented her report providing an update on activities at the Cobtree Manor Estate during the period April-July 2019.

 

Cobtree Manor Park

 

The Cobtree Manager advised the Committee that:

 

·  Works at the Manor Park included planting and fencing of the car park beds and further tree works following survey recommendations.

 

·  The second Ranger had been in post since 29 March 2019 leading and supervising volunteers and students, introducing monthly nature notes and carrying out habitat surveys in addition to routine tasks.

 

·  An events programme for the summer of 2019 had been drawn up including two performances of Shakespeare’s Much Ado about Nothing.

 

·  The Pollinator Party had been affected by poor weather with the event attracting only about 30 participants.

 

·  Cobtree Manor Park continued to support students on work placements and to welcome volunteers.

 

·  The new car park was functioning well with visitors generally parking in the designated bays, thus increasing car park capacity, and more consistently observing the one way system.  The drainage system had functioned well during periods of heavy rain and there had been a reduction in dust on dry days.

 

In response to a question, the Cobtree Manager confirmed that the car park beds were being watered by hand whilst the plants and trees become established.  It was agreed that the Cobtree Manager be requested to review these arrangements and report back to the next meeting with proposals for a more effective watering regime including possible investment in a bowser.

 

Arising from the discussion it was agreed that details of Park visitor numbers should be circulated to all Members of the Committee.  The figures were being analysed for accuracy as there had been problems with the counter.

 

Cobtree Manor Park Golf Course

 

The Cobtree Manager advised the Committee that:

 

·  The month of June had been challenging for the team at the Golf Course.  MyTime Active, the Golf Course operators, had experienced a decline in golf use not only at Cobtree but at other courses managed by the company.  Heavy rainfall in June had resulted in a drop in rounds played and green fees.  Nearly 2,000 fewer people had played golf at Cobtree during this quarter compared to the same period in 2018.

 

·  Foot golf was no longer offered at Cobtree as the associated costs were rising too quickly to make it economically viable.

 

·  In terms of the Cobtree Wellbeing Programme, a delivery plan had been developed which included running another dementia golf programme which would start in August.

 

Kent Life

 

The Cobtree Manager advised the Committee that:

 

·  Wet weather at the beginning of June had reversed the trend of improvements in visitor numbers over the previous year.

 

·  The operators had continued to experience problems with sewage removal from the site and had arranged for a specialist contractor to visit and assess the current system and pump sizes.

 

Arising from the discussion, it was agreed that an update be provided for all Members of the Committee on where responsibility lies for maintenance of the pumping system at Kent Life, and any action to be taken, and that a report be submitted to the next meeting of the Committee if necessary.

 

RESOLVED:

 

1.  That the report be noted.

 

2.  That the Cobtree Manager be requested to review the arrangements for watering the car park beds at Cobtree Manor Park and to report back to the next meeting with proposals for a more effective watering regime including possible investment in a bowser.

 

3.  That details of visitor numbers at Cobtree Manor Park be circulated to all Members of the Committee. 

 

4.  That an update be provided for all Members of the Committee on where responsibility lies for maintenance of the pumping system at Kent Life, and any action to be taken, and that a report be submitted to the next meeting of the Committee if necessary.