Dan Cooke (Head of Protected Landscapes) delivered the Strategic Management and Development Plan (CMP) for Mount Edgcumbe Country Park and discussed:

a)     Following the challenge of being set a net-zero budget, Park management had delivered brilliant work under a series of business and development plans. Building on this work, the Joint Committee had recently requested the development of a formal Conservation Management Plan (CMP);

b)    Through engagement with Historic England, the Management Plan would have a particular focus on inclusivity, and target engagement with underserved audiences. The CMP would cover a 10 year period from 2025-2035;

c)     Phase One of the CMP had been commissioned and would shortly begin, including surveys of ‘non-formal’ landscapes and ‘roofless historic built assets’ in the Park. The outcome of Phase One would be a full report detailing recommended priorities for the ongoing management of these assets;

d)    The completion of Phase One would help Mount Edgcumbe secure Countryside Stewardship Funding, among other sources, for the financing of the required work;

e)     LandUse Consultants were the successful tenderer, and were therefore chosen as the delivery partner. This would enable the creation of a high tier Countryside Stewardship Agreement for funding via natural England. The cost of Phase One of the CMP was £50,000, with funding secured from National England and the Rural Payments agency;

f)      Phase One was anticipated to commence around the 01 August 2024;

g)     Phase Two of the CMP would be commissioned in around autumn 2024, with approximately £50,000 funding required. This phase would see surveys undertaken of everything not examined in Phase One, including the formal gardens, historic buildings and assets, and a documentation review including governance and future priorities;

h)    At the end of Phase Two, a full CMP would be complete, which would hopefully return to the Joint Committee in Summer 2025;

i)      Early consultation had already been undertaken including a survey hosted on ‘Let’s Talk Cornwall’ and engagement with Parish Councils;

j)      An application for £50,000 to facilitate the commencement of Phase Two of the CMP was under development with the National Lottery.

In response to questions, the Joint Committee discussed:

k)     Early survey responses from public engagement had identified three clear priorities for the Park, and consultation would be ongoing;

l)      Engagement with underserved audiences would include communicating with veterans groups, school groups, disability groups, and community groups who were unable to access transport to the park.

Councillor Briars-Delve (Co-Chair) added:

m)   While it was essential that work on the CMP was prioritised, there was an acute need to ensure the work was of quality, that there was adequate public engagement, and that funding challenges were overcome. At the last meeting, the Joint Committee had set a provisional target of completion by November 2024 however, with the required steps identified, this target no longer looked feasible. As a result, there was a requirement for flexibility, with potential to hold an extraordinary meeting next spring/summer to scrutinise the development.

The Committee agreed:

1.     To note the update;

2.     To extend initial timescales for production of the full CMP to allow for necessary public engagement, attainment of funding, and required process to be undertaken;

3.     To hold an extraordinary meeting in/around March 2025 (as required), to examine draft reports of the full CMP.

(These recommendations were proposed by Councillor Briars-Delve, seconded by Councillor Ewert, and agreed unanimously.)