Agenda and minutes

Mount Edgcumbe Joint Committee - Friday 30 September 2011 10.00 am

Venue: BELVEDERE ROOM, BARROW PARK COMPLEX, MOUNT EDGCUMBE HOUSE, CREMYLL

Contact: Helen Wright, Democratic Support Officer  Email: helen.wright@plymouth.gov.uk

Items
No. Item

15.

DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST

Members will be asked to make any declarations of interest in respect of items on this agenda.

Minutes:

There were no declarations of interest made by councillors in accordance with the code of conduct.

16.

MINUTES

To confirm the minutes of the meeting held on 22 July 2011as a correct record.

Minutes:

Agreed that the minutes of the meeting held on 22 July 2011 are confirmed as a correct record, subject to the following amendments –

 

(1)

‘apologies for absence’ is added;

 

(2)

Mr D L Richards is removed from the Co-opted Representatives that were present, as he had been entered twice.

 

17.

CHAIR'S URGENT BUSINESS

To receive reports on business, which in the opinion of the Chair, should be brought forward for urgent consideration.

Minutes:

The Joint Chair advised that the report on the Mount Edgcumbe invest to save options would be considered under Part II of the agenda.

 

(In accordance with Section 100(B)(4)(b) of the Local Government Act, 1972, the Chair brought forward the above item for urgent consideration because of the need for a councillor decision).

 

18.

REVENUE BUDGET MONITORING 2011/12 pdf icon PDF 51 KB

The Joint Committee will receive a report on budget monitoring 2011/12.

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The Director for Community Services and the Assistant Head of Service, Waste and Environment submitted a report on revenue budget monitoring 2011/12, which highlighted the following main issues –

 

(a)

a deficit of £9,374 had been identified which would need to be addressed; this represented an increase of £2,478 since the last monitoring update in July 2011;

 

(b)

there were a number of variations that had been identified which included –

 

 

?

Mount Edgcumbe House

 

 

 

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an additional staffing cost had been incurred, due to a delay with action against one post; this had been offset by further vacancy savings for seasonal stewards and agency workers with a net pressure of £2,673;

 

 

 

u

a number of utility costs for the Orangery and Stables would be picked up by the catering operator which would achieve a saving;

 

 

 

u

management action would be needed to address the operating deficit for supplies and services;

 

 

 

u

whilst a favourable income variance was reported, there had been a 10 per cent reduction with admission income compared to the 2010 season (the forecast growth for 2011 had not been achieved);

 

 

?

Mount Edgcumbe Park

 

 

 

u

additional overtime costs had been incurred (gardeners were currently undertaking ranger duties at the weekends which had previously been undertaken by seasonal workers as part of their normal working week;

 

 

 

u

a new charge for pot hole repairs had been incurred (if this cost could be contained within budget then there would be a saving);

 

 

 

u

the car park income was at the same level as 2010, although the budget had included a full year’s growth from the 50 per cent parking charge increase (the increase had been effective from 19 September 2011);

 

 

?

Mount Edgcumbe Trading

 

 

 

u

the additional cost for the delay in the TUPE transfer of catering staff had been offset by lower agency staff costs at the Barrow Shop which had been due to the alignment of its opening hours to that of the house; costs will be reduced for the Cremyll shop during the winter months, as it would only be open at the weekends and school half term;

 

 

 

u

both the Barrow and Cremyll Shops were forecast to operate at a trading deficit (Barrow £2k and Cremyll £3k), despite the reduction in staffing costs;

 

(c)

 

a number of projections had been identified which had a high risk of change –

 

 

?

Trenninow Chalet rent review;

 

?

winter retail trading and stock review;

 

?

car parking price increase form 19 September 2011;

 

?

catering trading information from operator.

 

 

19.

EXEMPT BUSINESS

To consider passing a resolution under Section 100A(4) of the Local Government Act 1972 to exclude the press and public from the meeting for the following item(s) of business on the grounds that it (they) involve(s) the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in paragraph(s) 3 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A of the Act, as amended by the Freedom of Information Act 2000.

 

Minutes:

Agreed that under Section 100A(4) of the Local Government Act, 1972 the press and public are excluded from the meeting for the following items of business on the grounds that it involves the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in paragraph 3 of Part I Schedule 12A of the Act, as amended by the Freedom of Information Act, 2000.

20.

UPDATE ON THE DRAFT BUSINESS PLAN (E3)

The Joint Committee will receive a verbal update on its draft business plan.

Minutes:

The Business Development Manager for the Museum and Mount Edgcumbe provided a verbal update on the Mount Edgcumbe’s draft business plan.

21.

MOUNT EDGCUMBE INVEST TO SAVE OPTIONS

The Joint Committee will consider a report on Mount Edgcumbe Invest to Save Options.

Minutes:

The Director for Community Services and the Assistant Head of Service Waste and Environment submitted a report on Mount Edgcumbe invest to save options.

 

Agreed that –

 

(1)

the offer from Cornwall Council to loan the Joint Committee a capital sum, as indicated in the report, to –

 

 

(a)

pay off the existing capital loan (as indicated in the report);

 

 

(b)

relocate the Barrow Shop to the House  (as indicated in the report);

 

 

(c)

purchase a marquee (as indicated in the report); 

 

 

is accepted and the loan is paid back on the successful sale of Picklecombe Cottage;

 

(2)

 

the constituent authorities each contribute towards the installation of photovoltaic cells (as indicated in the report).