Meeting documents

For the Committee to receive an update on progress in developing a long-term business strategy for the Country Parks Delivery Unit

Mr Warren Whyte, Cabinet Member for Planning and Environment.

Mr Andrew Fowler, Head of Country Parks and Green Spaces

Mrs Gill Harding, Director of TEE

The Chairman welcomed Mr Warren Whyte, Cabinet Member for Environment; and Mr Andrew Fowler, Head of Country Parks and Green Spaces.

Mr Whyte, provided the Committee with an update on the business planning strategy for the County’s Country Parks. Key areas covered were:

·         Country Parks were now self-sufficient and were a contributor to the revenue of the service.

·         The decision from 18 months ago to keep the team in-house was key to its success and allowed the business plan work to flourish.

·         Maintaining the distinctive character of the different parks was essential in order to provide different options for residents.

·         93% of visitors to Langley Park lived within a 30 minute drive and many were dog walkers.  The demographic of Black Park visitors was very different

·         Over 23,894 visitors taken part in Park Run at Black Park over the previous 9 months.

·         In response to a question regarding what improvements the additional staff members had provided, Mr Fowler explained that the staff members had been essential to the delivery of commercial activities and in improvements in marketing and publicity.

·         Discussions were ongoing between Mr Fowler and Mrs Wileman regarding the most appropriate location for a new Country Park within the County; and a strategic needs analysis would also utilise population data to provide further insight on this matter.

·         The Thames Side Preservation Trust had been working with Wycombe Rangers to investigate the potential development of Marlow Pits.

·         In response to a question regarding a new facility being built at Black Park; Mr Fowler explained that a feasibility study had been conducted and found that the cost of the building would exceed £4,000,000 therefore this had been put on hold. However, the provision of indoor facilities was still being investigated in order to maintain high visitor numbers across all seasons. Mr Fowler explained that he would be holding discussions with Mr Whyte around the aesthetics of such a building.

·         In response to a question from Mrs Davies, Mr Fowler explained that the targeted income revenue for this year from film locations was £130,000 and it was likely that £110,000 would be achieved – however in a good year, income of £300,000 was possible.

·         Mr Whyte explained that as the Country Parks were free to enter, the revenue generated from the car parking charges were the main revenue stream for the parks; and that all revenue generated from these charges was invested directly back into the Parks themselves. Signs would soon be erected in the Parks to inform visitors of this. The Parks currently operate a fixed daily tariff: £3.50 at peak times (weekends and bank holidays) and £2.50 per day off-peak; although the implementation of a variable tariff was also being investigated.

·         Mr Whyte explained that another trip to the Country Parks would be organised for the Members as part of their induction after the County Council Elections in May 2017.

ACTION: Mr Whyte

·         In response to a question, Mr Fowler explained that the lowest score they had received from a recent customer satisfaction survey was 67%; and that the reason for this was a perceived lack of dog and litter bins in Langley Park. Mr Fowler advised that the average customer satisfaction rating stood at 97%.

The Chairman thanked both Mr Whyte and Mr Fowler for attending the Committee and for the information they had provided.