Nonsuch Park Best Value Review Report and Improvement Plan January 2002 Nonsuch Park Best Value Review REPORT OF REVIEW Executive Summary The best value review of Nonsuch Park has been undertaken by a team drawn from the two authorities which fund the Park and which manage it through a Joint Management Committee drawn equally from the two authorities. In undertaking the review, the team commissioned extensive consultation of the many interested parties and made comparisons with other historic parks, notably the National Trust’s Morden Hall Park. The team also looked at current thinking on good practice such as the Green Flag scheme and recent findings of the Urban Green Spaces Task Force and considered the financial arrangements of the Park Joint Management Committee. This review has highlighted that there is a gap between current thinking on good management of historic country parks and the way Nonsuch Park has been managed in the past. The review puts forward a comprehensive package of proposals which aim to improve the recreational, ecological and historical potential of the Park. These include several proposals which can be implemented quickly at minimal cost and which would produce tangible evidence of the authorities commitment to continuous improvement. In addition, a number of potential sources of income and savings in current expenditure have been identified. A key finding of the review was that there was no clear policy statement describing the role the Park was intended to fulfil in the community. The review team has drafted the following statement which underpins the recommendations of the review and which is put forward for consideration and agreement by the authorities responsible for the Park: Nonsuch Park is a place where: • the local community and visitors can enjoy a green oasis with broad appeal • the historical and natural environments are properly cared for • the public can enjoy a range of recreational pursuits without harming the enjoyment of the park by others • every opportunity is taken to provide visitors with an appreciation of the park’s many significant features • the potential for education, interpretation and community involvement is realised • the management is professional and mindful of the park’s primary purpose as a public open space Finally, an issue which both Epsom & Ewell and Sutton Councils need to address is whether their objectives can best be delivered by transferring management of the Park to a trust (either an established body such as the National Trust or a bespoke trust set up for this Park). The test for this should be whether they feel that the proposals set out in this review and its improvement plan can be delivered by existing arrangements and within resources they feel able to commit to the Park. Contents Part One 1. Introduction 2 Context for Review 2. About Nonsuch Park 2 3. Methodology for review 3 Part Two 4. The Policy Context 6 Review Report 5. Review Findings 8 6. Does Nonsuch Park provide 15 “best value”? Part Three 7. The Improvement Plan 20 Improvement Plan Appendix 1 Stakeholders Scoping 25 Workshop Appendix 2 Organisations consulted 26 Appendix 3 Report on consultation 27 Appendix 4 Survey Questionnaire 34 Appendix 5 Comparison of historic parks 37 Appendix 6 Challenge paper 39 Plan at end of report 1 Part 1 – Context for the Review 1. Introduction 1.1 This review has been undertaken to satisfy the requirements of the Local Government Act 1999, which requires authorities to demonstrate best value in the services they provide to the public. Nonsuch Park is an open space which is jointly managed and funded by two local authorities, Epsom & Ewell Borough Council and the London Borough of Sutton. This review therefore, forms part of the 2001/2 programme of best value reviews for both councils and its findings will be included in each council’s annual Performance Plan in 2002. The review has been undertaken by a team drawn from both authorities and its conclusions and recommendations will be submitted to both those councils as well as the Joint Management Committee which has responsibility for the management of the Park. 2. About Nonsuch Park Description of Park 2.1 Nonsuch Park is a 123-hectare open space in the borough of Epsom & Ewell, Surrey on the border with the London Borough of Sutton. The Park was originally part of a large royal park in which Henry VIII reputedly hunted. It subsequently became a private estate. Remains of a mediaeval Banqueting House and the Nonsuch Palace can be found within and adjoining the grounds. Adjoining the Park to the north-east is Cheam Park and Recreation Ground (Sutton) which includes sports pitches and a children’s playground. To the south-east lies Warren Farm, an area managed by the Woodland Trust (see plan at the end of this report) 2.2 Within the Park there is a listed Mansion House (built in the eighteenth century) with associated out-buildings, a number of lodges, an aviary and formal gardens. The Mansion House provides most of the income for the Park (through lettings and income from a catering contract) as well as outgoings (the maintenance of the formal gardens around the Mansion House). Income is also derived from a nursery school in Nursery Lodge. How and why it was acquired 2.3 In 1937, a consortium of local authorities (London County Council, Surrey County Council, Sutton & Cheam Borough Council and Epsom & Ewell Borough Council) purchased Nonsuch Park and covenanted it for public open space as part of the Green Belt around London . About 40% of the acquisition cost was paid by London County Council with the other three councils each contributing 20%. The land is vested in Surrey County Council on behalf of the consortium. 2.4 The original deeds and covenants drawn up around the time of acquisition of the land in 1937 by the four acquiring authorities, described its intended use as: • “public open space within the meaning of the Open Spaces Act 1906 • public walks & pleasure grounds within the meaning of the Public Health Acts 1875 – 1925 2 • outdoor games or recreation under the Physical Training and Recreation Act 1937” (Deed – 23 rd May 1939) Management arrangements 2.5 The Park has, for over, 60 years, been managed and maintained by a Joint Management Committee (JMC) comprising an equal number of councillors from Epsom & Ewell and Sutton Borough Councils. The two councils fund, on an equal basis, the running of the Park after taking into account income. Additional lands 2.6 Recently, other parcels of land (notably the Cherry Orchard site) have been added to the management responsibilities of the J.M.C. Although considered part of the Park, Epsom & Ewell Borough Council retains certain financial responsibilities. 3. Methodology for undertaking review Joint review team 3.1 Epsom & Ewell Borough Council decided, following an approach by Sutton Council, to exclude Nonsuch Park from their best value review of recreation in order that this review could be undertaken by the two authorities who jointly fund the running of the Park. A joint review team was established in September 2001, comprising: • A councillor from each authority: o Councillor Joan Crowhurst (Sutton) o Councillor David Wood (Epsom & Ewell) • The surveyor to Nonsuch Park JMC: o Stewart Hill (Epsom & Ewell) • Officers from the parks service of each authority: o Stewart Cocker (Epsom & Ewell) o Mark Dalzell (Sutton) • Officers from the corporate centre of each authority: o Chris Morgan (Epsom & Ewell) o Philip Taylor (Sutton) • An independent consultant to lead and co-ordinate the team: o Kevin Ambrose 3.2 The review team agreed, at their first meeting, a programme for progressing the review, the main features of which were: Activity By: Identify key issues & stakeholders September 11 Gather relevant information September 30 Agree scope of review October 9 Agree consultation strategy October 9 Arrange visits and comparisons with other parks October 30 Review findings and hold “Challenge” session November 13 Develop Improvement Plan December 11 Agree conclusions and Improvement Plan January 8 Determining the scope of the review 3.3 At its first meeting, the Review Team identified a range of organisations with an interest in the Park. These were invited to a workshop session at an early stage in the process to identify the key issues to be considered. Fuller details of this are set out in Appendix 1. 3 Statement of scope:- 3.4 These issues were then considered by the Team who drafted a statement setting out the scope of the review for consideration by the various authorities: The Nonsuch Park Best Value Review will explore, within the constraints imposed by legal covenants and the statutory development plans, the management of buildings and open space which constitutes Nonsuch Park, with particular emphasis on: • The role of the Park in meeting the recreational open space needs of the community • The existing overall management arrangements of the Joint Management Committee • The funding arrangements • The standards and quality of maintenance of the grounds • Public access to and within the Park (including access for those with disabilities) • Conservation of wildlife habitats and the ecology of the Park • Heritage and the part played by ancient and historic buildings within the Park • Awareness of the Park in the community • The maintenance and use of the Mansion House and other buildings This was considered and agreed by Sutton and Epsom & Ewell Councils plus the Joint Management Committee during October. Consultation strategy 3.5 Both Sutton and Epsom & Ewell Councils have well-established mechanisms for seeking the views of residents through regular surveys. However, there was relatively little information on the public attitude to Nonsuch Park – particularly in relation to the issues covered by the scoping statement - so the Review Team considered and agreed a consultation strategy.