E
COMMUNITY SERVICES SCRUTINY COMMITTEE
9 JULY 2007
COUNTRY PARKS BUDGET SAVINGS 2007- 08 TO 2009 -10 IMPLEMENTATION PROGRESS
REPORT OF THE DIRECTOR OF COMMUNITY SERVICES
Purpose of Report
1. This report updates progress with the three elements of the proposed savings in Country Parks over the period 2007-08 to 2009-10 in Sites, Income and Operational Costs
Policy Framework and Previous Decisions
2. The County Council’s Medium Term Financial Strategy includes a requirement to save £130,000 from the Country Parks budget by 2009-10. These savings are phased such that £45,000 is planned to be delivered in 2007-08, rising to £85,000 in 2008-09 and then rising again to the full £130,000 in 2009-10. The saving in 2007-08 is to be funded from increased income.
Background
3. SITES. The intention is to reduce our Country Parks portfolio by 6 or 7 sites and thereby reduce staff and maintenance commitments. Whilst we have provisionally listed the sites below we have commissioned the Resources Department to undertake a review of our holdings to consider which sites should be formally considered. The disposal of sites is subject to consultation and negotiation with appropriate organisations with the potential to take on these sites and it is hoped that public access would be maintained, where possible.
The current position on our draft list is as follows:
SITE LIKELY ISSUES LIKELY ACQUISITION DISPOSAL BY: DATE Sarah’s Wood Heart of the A declining dowry 1/4/08 National Forest will be needed Foundation over 4 to 5 years Lount Local Leicestershire & May be long Last quarter Nature Reserve Rutland Wildlife lease disposal 2007/08 Trust rather than freehold depending on liabilities assessed by the Trust Altar Stones Leicestershire & Trust already own Last quarter Rutland Wildlife Blacksmith’s 2007/08 Trust Field next door Crow Mills Oadby & Wigston BC happy subject First quarter Picnic Area BC to budget position 2008/09 Sutton Cheney British Legal issues on Last quarter Wharf Waterways titles 2007/08 A511 Coalville (2 Open Market First quarter sites) 2008/09
4. INCOME . The Country Parks Service is working on a number of areas of activity where income performance may have potential to be improved. These are mostly expected to bear fruit in 2008/09 and more detailed proposals will be brought forward in due course. In 2007/08 the increased income is expected to largely come from Car Parking income growth, from previous increase in charges.
5. STAFFING . The Action Plan for staffing will be brought forward as part of the wider review currently underway in the Environment & Heritage Service for implementation in 2008/09. In the meantime staff turnover is being managed to deliver savings in 2007-08 and replacements are, generally, on a short-term basis, to give management flexibility.
Consultations
6. Local members will be kept informed in this process. The staff Action Plan will be subject to full consultation with staff and unions and consideration with Employment Committee.
Resource Implications
7. Achievement of the additional income in 2007-08 is on target, largely through additional use of the Country Park Car Parks. The staff savings required are subject to the preparation and approval of an Action Plan by Employment Committee. Recent vacancies amongst Rangers are being covered by temporary contracts to reduce impact on staff and to minimise dislocation costs.
8. The Country Parks Service gross revenue budget in 2006-07 was £1.3 Million. Of this, £475,000 was income (of which some 40% was achieved through car parking income). Staffing costs make up 51% of the gross revenue budget. Inevitably therefore we can expect that the bulk of revenue savings in years 2 and 3 of the programme will come from staffing savings.
9. The Director of Corporate Resources has been consulted on this report.
Timetable for Decisions
10. It is intended to dispose of the bulk of the sites by the end of this financial year. The Action Plan for staffing is expected to be ready by September 2007.
Equal Opportunities Implications
11. In disposing of any sites it is the intention to continue to retain public access where possible.
Background Papers
12. None
Circulation under the Sensitive Issues Procedure
13. Mr. S. D. Sheahan C.C. Mr. N. J. Rushton C.C. Mr. D. A. Sprason C.C. Mr. M. H. Charlesworth C.C. Mr. I. D. Ould C.C. Mr.John Legrys C.C.
Officers to Contact
Heather Broughton, Head of Environment and Heritage Services Tel: 0116 265 6781 Email: [email protected] Peter Williams, Group Manager, Environmental Management Tel: 0116 265 7080 Email: [email protected]
APPENDIX 1
COUNTRY PARKS AND PICNIC SITES
1. Beacon Hill Country Park, Woodhouse Eaves, Nr. Loughborough
73 ha (180 acres) of undulated heathland, bracken, woods and rhododendrons. Toposcope on summit affording superb views. Remains of Bronze Age settlement. Native Tree Collection.
2. Burrough Hill Country Park, Burrough on the Hill, Nr. Melton Mowbray
35 ha (86 acre) site of Iron Age Hill Fort. Well preserved ramparts. Toposcope with fine views. Waymarked Trail. Mixed Woodland.
3. Market Bosworth Country Park
35 ha (87 acre) rural Parkland, with Oak and Maple arboretum, children’s adventure playground and lake.
4. Donington–le–Heath Woodland
National Forest Tender Scheme Woodland of 2.5 Has (6 acres) planted in 2006 linked to the Donington-le –Heath Manor House site in Hugglescote.
5. Bosworth Battlefield Visitor Centre and Country Park, Sutton Cheney, Nr. Market Bosworth, Leicestershire
Historic site of Battle of Bosworth 1485 between Richard III and Henry VII. Visitor Centre including interpretation of Battle, exhibitions, film theatre, book and gift shops, Heritage Room, Tithe barn restaurant and illustrated Battle Trail. Series of Special Event Days including Battle Re-enactment.
6. Jubilee Wood, Breakback Road, Nr. Loughborough
Mixed woodland with rocky outcrops and walks.
7. Watermead Country Park, Wanlip Road, Nr. Syston, Leicestershire
101 ha (250 acres) Water Park, with lakes, woodland walks, reedbeds, footpaths, picnic area, sail boarding, sailing, fishing and cycleway. Nature reserve with bird hides. Access to River Soar and Grand Union Canal.
8. Broombriggs Farm and Windmill Hill, Woodhouse Eaves, Nr. Loughborough
Typical Charnwood Forest Farm of 53 ha (130 acres) with paths for walkers and riders. Trail with illustrated Boards. Windmill Hill - adjoining woodland area with remains of former Windmill.
9. Sheet Hedges Wood, Newtown Linford Lane, Newton Linford
30 ha (75 acre) mixed wood and farmland with footpaths and trails. Important site for wildlife.
10. Altar Stones, Little Shaw Lane, Markfield
2 ha (4 acre) picnic site of rock outcrop, with geological interest and supporting heath and gorse. Good views over Charnwood Forest and M1 motorway.
12. Crow Mills Picnic Site, Countesthorpe Road, South Wigston
Canalside Picnic Site and car park with adjoining footpath trail.
13. Coleorton Wood, Pitt Lane, Coleorton
6 ha (15 acre) reclaimed Colliery Site planted with mixed woodland.
14. Misterton Marshes
Access from Gilmorton Road, Lutterworth. Waymarked permissive footpaths over land owned by the Leicestershire County Council, in an area rich in wildlife. This site is managed by the Country Parks Service but owned by the County Farms Estate.
15. Donisthorpe Woodland Park
30 ha (75 acres) of reclaimed colliery site planted with 20 ha of mixed woodland. A 2.5 km surfaced track and grass rides suitable for walkers, cyclists and horseriders together with two car parks, three picnic sites and a toilet block have been provided. The Ashby Canal is under development on the site.
16. Saltersford Valley Picnic site and Donisthorpe New Wood including Cockspur Bridge access
7.0 ha of broadleaf woodland, grassland and open water with surfaced paths and a picnic site.
17. Sarah’s Wood
10.0 ha of mixed woodland. 1.5 km of tarmac surfaced paths suitable for wheelchair use. Car park, picnic site, play area designed for less able children, toilet block. The Ashby Canal basin and lock has recently been constructed on site.
18. Ashby Woulds Heritage Trail
6 km of reclaimed railway line from Measham to Spring Cottage, Ashby Woulds. The surfaced path is suitable for walkers, cyclists and horse riders. The trail provides access to Donisthorpe Woodland Park, Heart of the Forest Centre, Conkers and Moira Furnace. A car park at Church Street, Donisthorpe has recently been constructed.
19. Oakthorpe Colliery Picnic Site
5.0 ha of reclaimed colliery with mature woodland and 1.0 ha of new planting. The site adjoins the Woodland Trust Willersley Wood and has a car park and has a hard surfaced track and picnic benches. The line of the Ashby Canal also crosses the site.
20. Bagworth Heath Wood
55.0 ha of reclaimed colliery with newly planted woodland fishing lake and open grass areas. A car park and a children’s story telling area have been provided.
21. Bagworth New Wood
2.5 ha of reclaimed colliery spoil tip with new native tree plant, heath land and grass land that is grazed by a tenant. There are grassed paths with access to Bagworth Beacon site.
22. Lount Nature Reserve
10.0 ha site on reclaimed colliery and tip. Regenerated oak and birch woodland with grass land and natural ponds. Managed as a nature reserve by LRWT on behalf of L.C.C. Car park and access tracks provided.
23 Snibston Discovery Park Country Park .
45 Has (110 acres) created from a former industrial coal mining habitat including nature trail, popular coarse fishery, meadows and mature deciduos woodland. Snibston Grange is a Local Nature Reserve.
24 Coalville Relief road A511
Two small former tip sites alongside the A511 which have been returned to nature as woodland walks.
N.B. Sence Valley Forest Park, Ravenstone Road, Ibstock
60 ha (150 acre) forest park which was formerly an opencast colliery and is now part of the National Forest. 98,000 trees planted. Lakes and walks. This site is owned by the Forestry Commission with the Ranger Service provided by the County Council and paid for by the Forestry Commission.