Agenda and draft minutes

There were no apologies.

There were no Substitute Members.

The Chairman stated that there were urgent updates to Item 13 – Cobtree Manor Estate Annual Accounts 2023/24 because it included Appendix 2, the Letter of Representation, which was not available at the agenda publication. Appendix 1 and 3, 2024 Accounts and 2024 Audit Findings, were also updated with additional information.

There were no Visiting Members.

Councillor Cox stated that she was involved with a Community Interest Company that had received the receipt of a grant from the Cobtree Charity Trust but she did not consider this to represent a interest, and intended to speak on items when considered

There were no disclosures of lobbying.

RESOLVED: That all items on the agenda be taken in public as proposed.

RESOLVED: That the Minutes of the meeting held on 30 October 2024 be approved as a correct record and signed.

There were no petitions.

There were no questions from members of the public.

There were no questions from Members to the Chairman.

The Leisure Contracts Manager introduced the report providing an update on activities at the Cobtree Manor Estate including the following points:

·  The number of paid-for car park vehicle visits to the part had reduced again in the last quarter compared to the same quarter last year, by around 10%. There had however been an increase in the number of parking permits sold to members of the public.

·  The main café building had reopened to the public after its refurbishment by the new operator.

·  The play area is approaching the end of its life and would soon require extensive replacement works. Provision had been made for this in the cashflow forecast and plans would be developed for these works to be completed in 2025/26.

·  The new Golf Course operator continues to deliver increased roundage numbers compared with the previous operator.

·  Day visitor numbers at Kent Life had dropped slightly by 4% from the previous year. Some of the reduced numbers were due to less people attending the fireworks event than in previous years and that the timing of fireworks led to the loss of the last weekend of half-term for event preparation. The timing of the Winter Wonderland event also meant there was one less weekend for Santa’s Grotto this year.

The Committee expressed an interest in enhancing the ponds and grasslands on the golf course, and consequently the landscape and biodiversity of the site. A report on the estate management plan regarding these issues was subsequently requested.

In response to a question from the Committee, the Leisure Contracts Manager stated that car parking enforcement at the site was difficult as Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) cameras could not be used.

RESOLVED: That

1.  The Cobtree Estate Update be noted.

2.  The play area improvements project be added to the Forward Plan.

3.  A report on the estate management plan be brought to the Committee at its next meeting.

4.  The Cobtree Estate reviewed its activities to enhance landscaping and biodiversity benefits.

That:

1.  The Report and Financial Statement for 2023/24 are approved and submitted to the Charity Commission.

2.  The Letter of Representation be approved.

3.  The contents of the Audit Findings Report be noted.

4.  The Finance Team be thanked for their work on the Cobtree accounts.

(See Record of Decision)

That:

1.  The current financial position and updated cashflow projection be noted.

2.  The proposed budgets for 2025/26 are agreed.

(See Record of Decision)

5.30 p.m. to 6.03 p.m.