Contact your Parish Council
Cobtree Manor Estate Charity Committee |
25th January 2018 |
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Cobtree Manor Park Visitor Centre/Café Update. January 2018 |
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Final Decision-Maker |
Cobtree Manor Estate Charity Committee
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Lead Head of Service/Lead Director |
Head of Regeneration and Economic Development |
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Lead Officer and Report Author |
Jason Taylor – Leisure Manager |
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Classification |
Public
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Wards affected |
Boxley
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Executive Summary |
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The information in the report is to update the committee on the performance of the Cobtree Manor Park Visitor Centre/Cafe as agreed at the Committee on 3rd August 2016 meeting.
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This report makes the following recommendations to this Committee: |
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1. That it notes the contents of this Visitor Centre/Café Update
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Timetable |
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Meeting |
Date |
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Cobtree Manor Estate Charity Committee |
25th January 2018 |
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Cobtree Manor Park Visitor Centre/Café Update. January 2018 |
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1. INTRODUCTION AND BACKGROUND
1.1
The
Cobtree Manor Visitor Centre/ Café first opened in August 2015.
1.2
This
will be the last update on the café operations as the café will be operated by
an external operator.
1.3
Below
is a breakdown of the month on month café/ visitor centre costs and income from
when the facility opened to the current time.
*December
2017 figures still to be reconciled with Agresso
1.4
For
clarity, in the right hand outcome column of the table, positive figures are
shown in black and negative figures in red.
1.5
Business
has slowed down considerably, as expected, during November and December. This
is purely due to reduced visitors to the park, poor weather and shorter
opening hours. December was the first month that the business has operated at a
loss in this financial year.
1.6
Staffing
levels continue to be kept to a minimum.
Café Contractor
1.7
As
the Committee is aware, the catering operation at Cobtree Manor Park is being
externalised to DA GT, along with Mote Park and Maidstone Museum Cafes.
1.8
Unfortunately
the proposed handover date of October 31st 2017 was delayed due to
legal documents not being exchanged in time.
1.9
It
is hoped that the handover of all three of the cafes will take place by the end
of this month (January)
1.10 Regular meetings with
the staff at all of the cafes have continued to take place to ensure they are
kept updated of progress.
1.11 DA GT the incoming contractor have indicated that a larger 3 phase electricity supply would be needed for then to carry out the improvements that they wish to do to the kitchen and servery. The cost of these works would be £23,600. Currently discussions are taking place on this matter with DA GT, but if CMET were to pay for these works, it is proposed to recoup any costs over the 5 years of the contract through an increase in rent.
2. AVAILABLE OPTIONS
2.1 The
committee could choose not to note the information contained in this
reports, however the committee has requested regular updates
on the Café
Visitor Centre performance
3. PREFERRED OPTION AND REASONS FOR RECOMMENDATIONS
3.1 It is recommended that the information in this report regarding the performance of the Café/ Visitor Centre is noted.
4. RISK
4.1 This report is presented for information only and has no risk management implications.
5. CONSULTATION RESULTS AND PREVIOUS COMMITTEE FEEDBACK
5.1 The committee has previously resolved to receive regular updates on performance of the Café/ Visitor Centre.
6. NEXT STEPS: COMMUNICATION AND IMPLEMENTATION OF THE DECISION
Any comments from the Committee will be passed on to the relevant parties.
7. CROSS-CUTTING ISSUES AND IMPLICATIONS
Issue |
Implications |
Sign-off |
Impact on Corporate Priorities |
The work of the charity links directly to its charitable objects and the corporate priorities of the Council. |
Head of Regeneration and Economic Development |
Risk Management |
Risks to running the estate are dealt with in the annual Estate Risk Management Report. |
Head of Regeneration and Economic Development |
Financial |
Financial risks are considered in the ongoing finance updates.
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Head of Regeneration and Economic Development |
8. REPORT APPENDICES
· None
9. BACKGROUND PAPERS
None