Question

Amanda Speedie

Would you please maintain the parkland and trails, and restore the neglected buildings in the garden area, and please create a space, within one of these buildings within the Park that tells the history of Mount Edgcumbe House, gardens and parkland, and the families that cared for it?

Response

Councillor Briars-Delve

The Mount Edgcumbe Joint Committee is passionate about keeping parkland, trails and buildings well maintained, though there can be challenges do so within budget constraints. If you have a specific inquiry regarding a specific part of the site, please let the park management or staff know and they will try to assist. The Park has recently employed a new maintenance technician for 3 days per week, who spends the vast majority of his time working on listed building. Regarding the second part of the question, the new Garden Battery development will feature displays which detail the history of the Mount Edgcumbe House, gardens and parkland, and the families that cared for it.

Question

Andrew Martin

Will the MEJC, representing Cornish and Plymothian interests, support the proposed business case for a Charitable Incorporated Organisation for the Plymouth Sound National Marine Park, (Quote: “for the benefit of the people of Plymouth…”) which includes ceding to PCC a significant Cornish asset and a scheduled monument, the MECP Garden Battery?

Response

Councillor Briars-Delve

The Charitable Incorporated Organisation for the Plymouth Sound National Marine Park will in no way impact the current ownership of Mount Edgcumbe and therefore the Joint Committee. The Garden Battery forms part of a NMP National Lottery Heritage Fund (NLHF) bid to secure funding for the site. I am pleased to confirm that Mt Edgcumbe being a partner of the NLHF bid will also not change the ownership of the Mount Edgcumbe Country Park, or Garden Battery.

Question

Mrs Lyn Reid

Given the national importance of the Mount Edgcumbe Country Park (Grade 1 Listing), and the recent planning application for the Garden Battery (Listed Building), when will the Joint Committee provide a Conservation Management Plan (CMP) - specifically, a high-quality CMP against which the JC can provide regular reports?

Response

Councillor Briars-Delve

The Park has several management plans ranging from woodland management, grassland management, stewardship, and access. A Conservation Management plan will form part of the overall Development Plan for Mount Edgcumbe Country Park. This is currently being compiled in partnership with Historic England, and Cornwall Council. We hope to have this completed in 2024.  

Question

Malcolm Cross

Given the planning applications for the re-use of the Garden Battery (PA23/03915 and PA23/03916), can the Joint Committee confirm that the purpose and cost of these proposed changes are agreed to and shared equally between the two councils?

Response

Councillor Briars-Delve

Funding for the proposed capital refurbishment of the Garden Battery has been sourced through a wider Heritage Lotteries Fund Bid. This overall Lottery award will require PCC match funding, with the cost of this borrowing already included within the PCC 2024-25 medium term financial plan. Any works not part of these capital proposals, and ongoing maintenance of on the Garden Battery, if required and approved, would be shared equally between the two Councils, as is the standard practise for funding of the Park.

Question

Mr Steenhagen

Is it a 'dereliction of duty' of the Joint Committee - or somebody else - that Mount Edgcumbe has been operating with no Business Plan for the last 5+? years, has no Conservation Management Plan and the Rame farmer tenancy has not been revisited for 50+ years, possible loss: £250.000+?

Response

Councillor Briars-Delve

As per the constitution, “the Joint Committee has delegated authority from each of the constituent Councils” which includes authority “to propose an annual business plan to both Cabinets.” Whilst the committee has the ability to do so if required, it is not a mandatory requirement and, as such, there has been no dereliction of duty by the Joint Committee. The Park has approved business cases for each of its individual business streams that are signed off by the appropriate officers within PCC. The Park has several management plans ranging from woodland management, grassland management, stewardship, and access. It is hoped that these will be collated into an overall development plan in 2024, which will include a buildings conservation management plan. The Park manager has also asked Land and Property to review the rent for the Rame Head Tenancy.