Issue - meetings

The Head of Property and Leisure introduced the report providing an update on activities at the Cobtree Manor Estate including the following points:

·  The new café operators had completed their internal fit-outs and redecoration of the toilets. They had also taken over cleaning responsibilities which were more regular and had received positive feedback from visitors. Visitors were comparable to previous years;

·  One of the Elmer the Elephant sculptures themed on Maidstone Zoo and Cobtree Manor Park was kindly gifted by the charity to the Cobtree Estate and would have a permanent home there after being part of an exhibition on the history of the zoo at the Mote Park Visitor Centre in April;

·  There had been a slight decrease in rounds at the golf course in comparison to previous years but the numbers were still positive considering a particularly wet Winter. The new operators were in situ and working on improvements;

·  Kent Life were maintaining visitor numbers and providing a good service.

It was noted positively that the first collection of the new cardboard recycling bins had taken place, with 4.2 tonnes of cardboard removed from the site.

RESOLVED: That the Cobtree Estate update be noted.