Agenda item

Oral update - the Chamberlain and Superintendent to be heard.

Members received oral finance update from the Chamberlain and Director of Open Spaces.

The Chair, as expressed previously, was keen for the Committee to explore revenue raising opportunities. Since the last meeting, an open spaces mid-year review had progressed with a report going to the upcoming Resource Allocations Sub Committee meeting. As the report was not ready for this meeting and the Committee’s November meeting would be too late for their input before a final decision was made, the Chair considered an extra meeting looking at rebudgeting proposals and impacts to be necessary.  

The Director of Open Spaces advised that monitoring of the in year financial position was happening across all open spaces. Some steps had already taken place to overcome the significant loss of income in the first quarter and the Team continued to improve income generation and find efficiencies to manage properties.

The Superintendent stated that the Heath’s outline figures for the current year were forecast at £6m with income estimated at £4.6m and an overspend of £123k. Significant costs were incurred dealing with rubbish and recycling, external security at the swim facilities and making the site Covid secure including additional signage. The cancelling/postponement of events was also a significant loss.

The expenditure at Highgate Wood and Queen’s was estimated at £1m with an income of £152k leaving a small overspend but it was hoped this would balance by year end. It was noted that the licences for Forest Schools at Highgate Wood had not yet resumed.