Agenda item

Verbal report of the Superintendent of Burnham Beeches, Stoke Common and City Commons.

The Committee received a verbal report of the Superintendent regarding the Service Based Review. Members were informed that the Open Spaces Department was required to make savings of £2.189 million by 2017/18, which represented a 14% budget reduction over three years. The Superintendent advised that the savings proposals made for Open Spaces were being considered in three strands: focusing on the core activities (nature conservation and recreation), increasing operational efficiency, and generating income. £1.175 million of savings would be met through the first strand, such as third party provision of sports facilities and a review of the Department’s facilities; £541,000 would be met through operational efficiencies such as improved vehicle fleet management; and £473,000 would be met through increased income generation by increasing car park charges, adding new charges and letting out surplus properties on the Commons.

In response to Members’ questions, officers advised that there were no plans to reduce staff visibility and that charges for wayleaves were likely to be reviewed (currently an annual fee of £5 was levied for West Wickham Common). The Chairman added that the joint efforts of the local team and community would be instrumental in communicating the upcoming changes and reasoning behind them, and thanked members of the Consultative Committee in advance for their support required during this financial challenge.

RECEIVED.