Cobtree Manor Estate Charity Committee

17th October 2017

 

Cobtree Manor Park Visitor Centre/Café Update. October 2017

 

Final Decision-Maker

Cobtree Manor Estate Charity Committee

 

Lead Head of Service/Lead Director

Head of Regeneration and Economic Development

Lead Officer and Report Author

Jason Taylor –  Leisure Manager

Classification

Public

 

Wards affected

Boxley

 

 

Executive Summary

 

The information in this report is to update the committee on the performance of the Cobtree Manor Park Visitor Centre/Cafe as agreed at the Committee Meeting on 3rd August 2016 meeting.

 

 

 

This report makes the following recommendations to this Committee:

1.   That it notes the contents of this Visitor Centre/Café Update.

 

 

 

Timetable

Meeting

Date

Cobtree Manor Estate Charity Committee

17th October 2017



Cobtree Manor Park Visitor Centre/Café Update. October 2017

 

 

 

1.      INTRODUCTION AND BACKGROUND

 

1.1        The Cobtree Manor Visitor Centre/ Café first opened in August 2015.

1.2              Below is a breakdown of the month on month costs and income from opening to 30 September 2017.


1.3         

1.4        For clarity in the total column in the right hand column of the table positive figures are shown in black and negatives in red.

1.5        The café was busy throughout the school summer holiday period taking an average of £1,599 per day over 45 days.

1.6        Lizzie, Helen and the team have worked extremely hard to keep the café running effectively, without their passion and dedication the café could not have performed anywhere near the level that it has.

1.7        Refinements to operations saw queuing times minimised so that the second point of sale did not have to be operated frequently.

1.8        Staffing levels were strictly managed with a maximum of 5 staff even at busy times.

Health and Safety

1.9        On 8th August the café received an inspection by the Environmental Health Food and Safety team. Food hygiene and safety practices and procedures, good order of the building and equipment, management procedures and compliance were all assessed and the café received the highest 5* rating.

Café Contractor

 

1.10    As the Committee is aware the catering at Cobtree Manor Park is being externalised from 30th October 2017 to DAGT, along with Mote Park and Maidstone Museum Cafes.

1.11    The handover is going well and officers recently visited the café at Alice Holt in Hampshire, which is a Forestry Commission site where DAGT operate the catering offer. The whole catering operation was very well set up and extremely efficiently run.

1.12    There will be a delay with the TUPE transfer of staff which cannot take place until February 2018 as this is the earliest that DAGT can be admitted to the KCC pension scheme. Arrangements have been made for the staff affected to remain as MBC employees, seconded to DAGT until this time.

 

1.13    Regular meetings with the staff at all of the cafes are taking place to ensure they are kept updated on the transition arrangements.

 

 

2.           AVAILABLE OPTIONS

 

2.1    The report is to note only.

 

3.           PREFERRED OPTION AND REASONS FOR RECOMMENDATIONS

 

3.1        It is recommended that the information in this report regarding the performance of the Café/ Visitor Centre is noted.

 

 

 

4.           RISK

4.1        This report is presented for information only and has no risk management implications.

 

 

 

5.           CONSULTATION RESULTS AND PREVIOUS COMMITTEE FEEDBACK

 

5.1        The committee has previously resolved to receive regular updates on performance of the Café/ Visitor Centre.

 

 

6.           NEXT STEPS: COMMUNICATION AND IMPLEMENTATION OF THE DECISION

 

6.1    Any comments from the Committee will be passed on to the relevant parties.

 

 

7.       CROSS-CUTTING ISSUES AND IMPLICATIONS

 

 

Issue

Implications

Sign-off

Impact on Corporate Priorities

The work of the charity links directly to its charitable objects and the corporate priorities of the Council.

Head of

Regeneration

and Economic

Development

Risk Management

Risks to running the estate are

dealt with in the annual Estate

Risk Management Report.

Head of

Regeneration

and Economic

Development

Financial

Financial risks are considered in

the ongoing finance updates.

 

Senior Finance Manager (Client)

Equalities

No Implications

 

 

8.        REPORT APPENDICES

 

None

 

 

9.        BACKGROUND PAPERS

 

None