MAIDSTONE BOROUGH COUNCIL
COBTREE MANOR ESTATE CHARITY COMMITTEE
Minutes of the meeting held on Wednesday 9 March 2011
Present: |
Councillor J.A. Wilson (Chairman), and Councillors Garland, Greer and Mrs Ring |
38. Apologies for Absence
There were no apologies for absence
39. Notification of Visiting Members
There were no visiting members
40. Disclosures by Members and Officers
Mr Brian Latimer disclosed a prejudicial interest in the report of the Assistant Director of Environment and Regulatory Services on Cobtree Officer and he left the meeting whist the item was discussed.
41. Disclosures of Lobbying
There were no disclosures of lobbying.
42. Exempt Items
RESOLVED: That the items on Part II of the agenda be taken in private as proposed.
43. Minutes of the meeting held on 20 December 2010
RESOLVED: That the minutes of the meeting held on 20 December 2010 be approved as a correct record and signed.
44. Report of the Head of Finance and Customer Services - Financial Position 2010/11
The Committee considered the report of the Head of Finance and Customer Services on the Financial Position 2010/11.
RESOLVED: That the current financial position of the Golf course and Manor Park as at 31 January 2011 be noted.
45. Park Ranger Progress Report
DECISION MADE
1. That the work undertaken by the Park Ranger, as set out in
Appendix A to the report of the Cobtree Officer, be noted.
2. That the proposed programme of events for the coming year be
endorsed and that the sum of £1,500 be included in the estimates for 2011/12 to cover the cost of engaging external event leaders.
For full details of this Record of Decision, please follow this link:-
http://meetings.maidstone.gov.uk/ieDecisionDetails.aspx?ID=425
46. Clearance of Drainage Ditch
DECISION MADE
That the action taken by Officers in instructing the clearance of the drainage ditch alongside the access road to Stream Cottages be endorsed.
For full details of this Record of Decision, please follow this link:-
http://meetings.maidstone.gov.uk/ieDecisionDetails.aspx?ID=421
47. Report of the Cobtree Officer - Meeting Dates
The Committee considered the report of the Cobtree Officer regarding meeting dates.
RESOLVED: That the programme of meeting dates set out below be approved:-
13 April 2011
8 June 2011
14 September 2011
9 November 2011
11 January 2012
14 March 2012.
48. Master Plan - Cobtree Manor Park
DECISION MADE
That the Cobtree Manor Estate Charity Committee agree:-
i) the revised master plan as shown in Appendix A of the joint report of the Assistant Director of Environment and Regulatory Services and the Cobtree Officer
ii) the budget assessment
iii) the indicative project plan for the scheme
iv) the design elements for the various works
v) the preferred scheme for the play area be accepted and delegated authority be given to the Head of Legal Services to enter into the appropriate contract with the preferred contractor, Eibe, once the release of permanent endowment funding has been agreed with the Charity Commission
vi) that the play area be funded from a loan from the permanent endowment and that this be repaid over a minimum ten year period, subject to the views of the charity’s auditors and the Charity Commission
vii) that the remainder of the improvement scheme be the subject to further discussion regarding funding with the heritage lottery officers and the Charity Commission and that a further report be made to the Committee at the earliest opportunity.
For full details of this Record of Decision, please follow this link:-
http://meetings.maidstone.gov.uk/ieDecisionDetails.aspx?ID=426
49. Funding Proposals for the Master Plan - Cobtree Manor Park
DECISION MADE
That the Cobtree Manor Estate Charity Committee agrees approves and resolves to pass the following:-
(i) To approach the Charity Commission using either the Charity’s statutory powers under Section 75A of the Charities Act 1993, as amended by the Charities Act 2006, or other appropriate powers, seeking the release of up to £275,000 of the permanent endowment in the following terms:
That the Committee acting as the Trustee to the registered charity known as “Cobtree Manor Estate” resolves to release from its permanent endowment funds to install a children’s play area within Cobtree Manor Park; such facility being in full compliance with the objects of the charity and seen in its best interests to encourage greater use of the Park by the general public. |
(ii) Should the Charity Commission give its approval for the releasing of part of the permanent endowment as outlined in (i) above, to spend that released sum on completing one part of the scheme; namely the supply and construction of a play area.
(iii) To allocate not less than £ 25,000 per annum of the future yearly revenue stream over a minimum period of ten years to a separate account, which account shall then be used towards the costs of the proposals outlined in the scheme.
(iv) To agree and authorise Officers to discuss further with heritage Lottery Officers, other grant making organisations and the Charity Commission proposals for the future funding of the remainder of the scheme, and to bring a further report or reports to the Committee at the earliest available opportunity.
For full details of this Record of Decision, please follow this link:-
http://meetings.maidstone.gov.uk/ieDecisionDetails.aspx?ID=423
50. Exclusion of the Public from the Meeting
RESOLVED: That the public be excluded for the items set out in Part II of the Agenda because of the likely disclosure of exempt information for the reasons specified having applied the Public Interest Test.
Head of Schedule
12A and Brief
Description
Exempt Report of the Cobtree Officer – 5 – Legal Proffessional
1 Stream Cottages Privilege/Legal Proceedings
Exempt Report of the Cobtree Officer – 3 – Financial/Business
Garden Cottage – Additional Costs Affairs
Exempt Report of the Assistant Director of 3 – Financial/Business Environment and Regulatory Services - Affairs
Exempt Appendix to the Joint Report of the 3 – Financial/Business Assistant Director of Environment and Affairs
Regulatory Services and the Cobtree
Officer – Play Area Cobtree manor Park
51. 1 STREAM COTTAGES
The Committee considered the report of the Cobtree Officer and agreed a number of decisions relating to this matter.
52. GARDEN COTTAGE - ADDITIONAL COSTS
The Committee considered the report of the Cobtree Officer and agreed a number of decisions relating to this matter.
53. COBTREE OFFICER
The Committee considered the report of the Assistant Director of Environment and Regulatory Services and agreed a number of decisions relating to this matter.
54. EXEMPT APPENDIX TO THE JOINT REPORT OF THE ASSISTANT DIRECTOR OF ENVIRONMENT AND REGULATORY SERVICES AND THE COBTREE OFFICER - PLAY AREA COBTREE MANOR PARK
RESOLVED: That the exempt appendix be noted.
55. Duration of Meeting
5.00pm to 5.52pm