Agenda and minutes

Apologies were received from Director of Open Spaces, Antony Fenwick, Anthony Thomas, Andy Simpson and Richard Walker and Robert Lucas.

There were none.

To agree the public minutes of the meeting held on 20 April 2012 (copy attached).

The public minutes of the meeting held on 20 April 2012 were agreed as a correct record.

Matters Arising

Epping Forest Visitor Services Activities (page 8) – A Member enquired with regards to the tender process for the existing visitor centre building that was scheduled to take place in July or August.  The Superintendent stated that he would be submitting a report to the next meeting of the Committee on the outcome.

Report of the Head of Centre, Epping Forest (copy attached).

The Committee considered a report of the Head of Centre, which updated Members on progress at the Epping Forest Field Centre in 2012. 

The Head of Centre advised that the number of unique visitors to the Centre’s Facebook page had increased to more than one thousand in some weeks.

RECEIVED.

Report of the Head of Centre, Epping Forest (copy attached).

The Committee considered a report of the Head of Centre, which informed Members of the exit strategy and legacy of the DEF Project.

The Head of Centre advised that, via the DEF project, links had been created between the Learning Providers and 33 different schools. The Centre was keen to maintain contacts with the schools where possible.

The Head of Centre advised that there were still some minor amendments to be made and that hard copies would be made available for the Teacher Workshop on 16 November.  He stated that he hoped that there would be a fairly good turnout for this event.

Questions were raised around the Legacy of the DEF and whether enough work was being done to keep the legacy going for future years.   The Head of Centre stated that funding was an issue especially for Key Stage 1 and 2 and that external funding was needed. The Superintendent advised that a fund-raising pack for individual schools to enable them to approach businesses for funding was being developed

RECEIVED.

Report of the Head of Centre, Epping Forest (copy attached).

The Committee considered a report of the Head of Centre relative to the draft 2013 Action Plan and 2013 Financial Estimates.

The Head of Centre stated that he was into the cycle for 2011/14 and that everything was working well.  He also stated that he hoped that the City would continue to fund the Centre at the same level as the previous year.

The Chairman together with the Superintendent informed the Head of Centre that it was currently too early to confirm what the figure would be but would hope to find out from the Epping Forest and Commons Committee in November the final figure.

The Chairman also noted that the budget projected a loss but FSC confirmed that any loss would be borne by them.

RESOLVED:  That the plan be approved, subject to the following additional conditions:

·                The City’s budget process; and

·                Discussions between the FSC’s Director of Finance and the Chamberlain in relation to FSC Central costs that had previously been agreed at 14% of the Centre’s budgeted operating expenditure

There were no questions.

There were no items of further business.

To be held at 11.30am on 19 April 2013 at the Epping Forest Field Centre.

The next meeting of the Epping Forest Joint Consultative Committee would be held at 11.30am on 19 April 2013 at the Epping Forest Field Centre.