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