10(A) - 1

Report Number: 050804/CAB003 Date: 4 August 2005

TUNBRIDGE WELLS BOROUGH COUNCIL

REQUEST FOR DECISION BY CABINET

Part II Report Non Exempt

Title and Executive Summary:

PROPOSED ENHANCEMENT OF COMMEMORATIVE GROVE, DUNORLAN PARK

This report recommends that the Victoria Cross commemorative grove located in Dunorlan Park be enhanced and that the enhancement project be completed in time for the 400th Anniversary year, 2006. It recommends that a budget of £28,000 be approved for the project and recommends that executive authority for authorising expenditure and action on the project be delegated to a Design Panel comprising the Leader of the Council and the Portfolio Holders for Economic Development & Leisure.

This decision cannot be delegated to a Portfolio Holder because it does not fall within the Budget and Policy Framework and therefore requires Cabinet approval.

WARD: N/A HEAD OF/DIRECTOR OF OPERATIONAL SERVICES

PORTFOLIO: (1) Environment, (2) Contact : John Haynes Extension: 3144 Leisure, (3) Economic Development

PRIORITY: (1) Environment, (2) Leisure.

RECOMMENDATION:

(1) That the Cabinet approve a Victoria Cross Grove (Dunorlan Park) enhancement project.; and

(2) That the Cabinet approve and authorise actions (a) to (f) inclusive in paragraph 14 of this report for the purpose of funding the enhancement project and implementing it.

Reasons: To authorise and fund the project and to enable its delivery.

(Items marked * will be the subject of recommendations by Cabinet to full Council; in the case of other items, Cabinet may make the decision, subject to call-in (Overview and Scrutiny Procedure Rule 13)) 10(A) - 2

Item No. 10 TUNBRIDGE WELLS BOROUGH COUNCIL

CABINET MEETING – 4 AUGUST 2005

REPORT OF DIRECTOR OF OPERATIONAL SERVICES

(A) PROPOSED ENHANCEMENT OF VICTORIA CROSS COMMEMORATIVE GROVE, DUNORLAN PARK

Executive Summary

1. This report (050804/CAB003) recommends that the Victoria Cross commemorative grove located in Dunorlan Park be enhanced and that the enhancement project be completed in time for the 400th Anniversary year, 2006.

2. The report recommends that a budget of £28,000 be approved for the project.

3. The report recommends that executive authority for authorising expenditure and action on the project, be delegated to a Design Panel comprising the Leader of the Council and the Portfolio Holders for Economic Development & Leisure.

FOR DECISION

Background

(1) In 1994/95 a grove of oak trees were planted in Dunorlan Park as a memorial for the 10 people who had been awarded the Victoria Cross for acts of significant bravery who have an association with the Borough of Tunbridge Wells. The origin of the grove is detailed in Appendix 1 of this report. Appendix 2 of this report details the individuals awarded the Victoria Cross and brief details of their connection with the Borough. At the site, a bronze plaque is mounted on a piece of oak tree laid on the ground. The plaque gives information with respect to the dedication of the grove, but does not provide any information on the Victoria Cross holders.

The Case For Enhancement

(2) The grove of trees is a fitting method of commemoration and when it was installed was in line with Council policy at that time which was to promote tree planting. The grove, located in the wilder part of Dunorlan Park is still a special place with a distinctive ambience, which harmonises with its commemorative purpose. However, the lack of any information on the Victoria Cross holders is considered to be detrimental to the “experience” of the place, particularly in an era where people have an ever increasing thirst for knowledge, information and detail. Therefore, an enhancement which in particular provides more detail on the Victoria Cross holders, is considered appropriate and would add value to the Grove and significantly add to the appreciation of the place and the acts of bravery which it commemorates.

(3) If this project is agreed and commenced immediately, there is a strong possibility that it can be completed during the 400th Anniversary year of the Town in 2006 and it would therefore provide, in a prominent Town location (Dunorlan Park), a fascinating insight into a key and rare component of the history of the Borough. 10(A) - 3

Report of Director of Operational Services (cont)

(4) One of the programmes of work that is in hand as part of the 400th Anniversary celebrations is the development of the Heritage Trail. Clearly the Trail will include reference to the Victoria Cross Grove and hence the Trail will be a more interesting and comprehensive product if more information is available on the places on it. The Heritage Trail will of course be a permanent feature of our Town and will therefore have a leisure/tourism role to play in future years.

(5) An enhancement of the Grove facility would compliment the significant enhancements recently undertaken on the Park generally.

(6) A number of people consider that the most desirable event in our 400th Anniversary celebration year would be a Royal visit. Given the extraordinary high demand for Royal visits in the and elsewhere, we have to accept that an exceptional case has to be made to justify a visit. It is considered that an enhanced facility for heroic members of Her Majesty’s forces would assist such a case, based around our 400th Anniversary and historical Royal connections.

Priority Context

(7) It is suggested that the Victoria Cross Grove enhancement project is appropriate in the context of the Council’s priorities. The Council’s Environment policy states “To improve and maintain the local, natural and built environments for the benefit of present and future generations”. The proposal will also contribute, albeit in a relatively small way, to our Leisure priority which requires us to maintain a range of leisure, sporting, cultural and educational activities, accessible to the Community.

Design Context and Budget Requirement

(8) The Victoria Cross Grove is located in the more natural/wilder part of Dunorlan Park and its form (the oak trees) is a very simple and natural form. Therefore, it is accepted that any information enhancement facility must recognise these constraints and must have a sympathetic design, use high quality materials and must be sited in a way which does not improperly intrude into the natural setting of the Grove and its surroundings. Design and Heritage officers of the Council have been asked to develop design criteria and proposals on these lines. Therefore to achieve these aims, it is recommended that if it is decided to progress this project, a budget of £28,000 should be approved to cover design manufacture and installation of an enhancement. It should also be accepted that in due course, a revenue budget will need to be agreed if an opening ceremony of any significance was to be undertaken. It is not recommended that a budget for this is determined at this stage or until we are clear if the opening of an enhanced Grove facility is to be a stand-alone event or part of a more comprehensive ceremonial occasion. With respect to on-going revenue costs for an enhanced facility it must be accepted that some budget will be required for maintenance of any facility installed. It is difficult at this stage in the development of the project to estimate the sum required with precision. Therefore it is suggested that in considering the VFM/affordability issue that it is assumed that a sum equivalent to 5% of capital cost per annum will be required. This sum is not material in the context of the total annual maintenance cost of the park.

Sustainability

(9) At present, the lions share of the direct tourism effort undertaken by the Council is in the form of a revenue funded business model (e.g. a TIC, events and promotions). In the longer term it is considered that a more sustainable business model for Tourism activity would be one that is more capital focused and in particular, if the capital is in the form of a (to a large degree) self operating product (e.g. minimal revenue support operations). A Heritage Trail is considered to be an appropriate capital focused product, but clearly to ensure value for money and success, the product must be both interesting and of superior quality. The Grove enhancement project will meet this specification and will 10(A) - 4

therefore contribute towards the delivery of a sustainable capital focused, self-operating visitor offer. Report of Director of Operational Services (cont) Risk Assessment

(10) All facilities, which are located in public open space, are at risk of vandalism. It is considered that the degree of risk of the proposed Grove enhancements is no higher than any other facility in Dunorlan. Vandalism in Dunorlan to date is generally lower than in other parks/parts of the town centre.

(11) The project risk which warrants more detailed consideration is the risk that the project will not be completed on time (e.g. at a planned date in the 400th Anniversary year and should a Royal visit be granted prior to the date of the visit). A failure of this type would have severe adverse reputation impact from which the Authority would have difficulty in recovering in any reasonable timescale. Such an event is therefore clearly unacceptable and the probability of delivery failure must therefore be reduced to a minimum. Hence the project must be regarded as a time critical project and as/when/if necessary, any appropriate action must be taken to meet a predetermined delivery/completion deadline. This may include action during the development of a detailed project plan and/or action during project delivery, for example, action designed to speed up decision making and procurement processes.

Consultation

(12) The Forward Plan (for Cabinet reports) indicated that prior to consideration of this report, two organisations would be consulted, The Friends of Dunorlan and The Royal Tunbridge Wells Civic Society. This consultation has been undertaken. The response from the Civic Society’s Vice Chairman/Hon. Secretary Local History Group was that they would be delighted to help in any way they can. Clearly this is an expression of support for an appropriate enhancement. The Friends of Dunorlan have indicated support for the proposal, providing that any enhancement is sympathetic to the present facility and its location.

(13) As indicated in Appendix 1 of this report, the original idea of having a Victoria Cross commemoration was championed by a local resident, Mr K Hetherington. Mr Hetherington is still a local resident and it is pleasing to report that he is in favour of a suitable enhancement.

Way Forward

(14) The suggested way forward, assuming that the Cabinet favours the proposition is as follows: (a) To approve a supplementary budget of £28,000 (Capital). (b) To delegate scheme/design approval to a Design Panel comprising the following postholders: (i) Leader of the Council. (ii) Portfolio Holder for Economic Development which includes Marketing & Tourism Development. (iii) Portfolio Holder for Leisure, which includes responsibility for parks. (c) The Design Panel to have authority to consult on scheme/design with any individual or organisations they consider appropriate. (d) To delegate authority to the Design Panel to authorise action and expenditure on the project upto/including the approved budget limit. (e) To authorise the Leisure Services Manager assisted by the Councils conservation staff, to implement project decisions made by the Design Panel. This is to include, but is not restricted to, procurement of goods, works and services to implement the project. (f) To authorise the Design Panel to take any reasonable action necessary to ensure that the project is delivered in time. This is to include, but is not restricted to, the waiving of standing orders and financial regulations related to the procurement of goods, works and services if insufficient time is available to undertake a tendering process. 10(A) - 5 10(A) - 6

Report of Director of Operational Services (cont)

RECOMMENDED -

(1) That the Cabinet approve a Victoria Cross Grove (Dunorlan Park) enhancement projectand;

(2) That the Cabinet approve and authorise actions (a) to (f) inclusive in paragraph 14 of this report, for the purpose of funding the enhancement project and implementing it.

Contact Officer: John Haynes

JOHN HAYNES Director of Operational Services

Appendices: 1 Details of origin of Victoria Cross Grove. 2 Details of Victoria Cross Holders and their associations with Tunbridge Wells. 10(A) - 7

APPENDIX 1

THE ORIGIN OF THE VICTORIA CROSS COMMEMORATIVE GROVE

Tunbridge Wells Borough Council commemorated the Victoria Cross holders of the Borough on the fiftieth anniversary of Victory in Europe Day, 8 May, 1995. Discussions within the Council on a commemoration, and the form that it might take, followed correspondence from a Royal Tunbridge Wells resident, Mr Keith Hetherington, who suggested that it might be appropriate for the Council to recognise officially the Borough residents who had been awarded the highest military decoration.

At a meeting on 20 June 1994, the Council’s Leisure Services Board agreed that it would be suitable to commemorate residents of the Borough who had been awarded the Victoria Cross. Rather than an honours board to be situated within the Town Hall, or a brass plaque to be affixed to the Royal Tunbridge Wells War Memorial, instead, in line with a Council policy promoting tree planting, the Board instructed the Leisure Services Manager, Mr David Bell, to arrange a planting of oak trees in a newly opened area of Dunorlan Park, along with a plaque and a commemorative book to be maintained at Tunbridge Wells Museum and Art Gallery.

Leisure Services Board members specified that the Victoria Cross commemoration at Dunorlan Park was to include one four metre oak tree (Quercus robur) with a decorative round metal seat, and a plaque to explain the reason for the tree planting, to be surrounded by a grove of a further twenty-one four metre oak trees.

The plaque was cast in bronze with the following wording:

THIS VICTORIA CROSS GROVE

WAS DEDICATED BY THE WORSHIPFUL THE MAYOR OF THE BOROUGH OF TUNBRIDGE WELLS, COUNCILLOR HUGH WRIGHT, ON 8 MAY, 1995, THE 50TH ANNIVESARY OF VICTORY IN EUROPE DAY, TO HONOUR THE BOROUGH OF TUNBRIDGE WELLS HOLDERS OF THE VICTORIA CROSS - A COMMEMORATIVE BOOK ON THE BOROUGH OF TUNBRIDGE WELLS VICTORIA CROSS RECIPIENTS IS DISPLAYED AT TUNBRIDGE WELLS MUSEUM AND ART GALLERY

In due course, during the winter of 1994/95, the oak tree grove was planted. On VE Day, 1995, the dedication ceremony at Dunorlan Park was attended by representatives of local service organisations and members of the public. Following an address by Reverend John Banner, Vicar of Holy Trinity with Christ Chuch, the Worshipful Mayor of the Borough of Tunbridge Wells, Councillor Hugh Wright, spoke regarding the Victoria Cross holders of the Borough before he unveiled the plaque dedicating the Victoria Cross Grove to the honour of Tunbridge Wells Borough Victoria Cross holders. 10(A) - 8

APPENDIX 2

VICTORIA CROSS HOLDERS AND ASSOCIATION WITH TUNBRIDGE WELLS

Name/Rank Date & Place of Deed of Bravery Association With Tunbridge Wells

1. Charles Lucas/Mate, 1854, HMS Hecla, Lived in-house currently the site of Kent Royal Navy Aland Islands & Sussex Hospital (see note 1).

2. Matthew Charles Dixon/Captain 1855, Crimea In retirement, lived in Pembury. Royal Regiment of Artillery

3. William Temple/Assistant Surgeon 1863, Rangitiri, Home in Madeira Park. Royal Regiment of Artillery New Zealand

4. John Duncan Grant 1904, Gyantse In retirement, lived in Tunbridge Wells. Lieutenant, Gurkha Rifles Jong, Tibet Indian Army

5. Douglas Walter Belcher 1915, Belgium Lived and traded as a fruiterer at Lance-Sergeant, The London Calverley Road (see note 2). Rifle Brigade

6. William Robert Fountaine Addison 1916, Mesopotamia Born in Cranbrook. Reverend, Kings Own Lancaster Regiment 10(A) - 9

7. Eric Stuart Dougall 1918, Messines, near Ypres Grew up in Upper Grosvenor Road. Acting Captain, Brigade of Royal Field Artillery

8. William Hew Clark-Kennedy 1918, France Pupil at St Andrews School, Lieutenant-Colonel, Quebec Regiment Southborough (Victoria Rifles)

9. Lionel Ernest Querupel 1944, Arnhem Tunbridge Wells was his native town. Captain, Royal Sussex Regiment (see note 3) (attached to 10 Para.Batallion)

10. John Henry Cound Brunt 1944, Faenza Lived in Temporary Captain, Italy (see note 4)

* Rank indicated is the Rank held at time of deed of bravery.

Notes

1. Lucas was the first person to receive the Victoria Cross. 2. Belcher was the first member of the Territorials to receive the Victoria Cross. 3. Querupel was honoured at a meeting of the Royal Tunbridge Wells Borough Council during which a specially written poem by Herbert Hope Campbell was read aloud. 4. Whitbread renamed their public house at Paddock Wood “The John Brunt V C”. 5. Acknowledgement: All of the above information was obtained from the book “The Borough of Tunbridge Wells Holders of The Victoria Cross”. This book is held in the Tunbridge Wells Museum and Art Gallery. 10(A) - 10

Decision request