Issue - meetings

New five-year management plan has been developed for South Oxhey Playing Fields in South Oxhey.

Recommendation

That the Committee:

1. Adopt the new five year Management Plan for South Oxhey Playing Fields.
2. Give delegated authority to the Director of Finance to enter into a contract or funding agreement above the value of £25,000, subject to securing external funding to facilitate works to support the implementation of the Management Plans.

The Leisure Assets Manager introduced the report.

Members asked the officer a question about the status of the Village Green, to which the officer responded by advising that discussions are still ongoing and there are no new updates at this time.

A Member of the Committee expressed approval of the management plan and mentioned ongoing communication with the parish council. They are currently waiting for additional information from the open public space legal team regarding the village green status, indicating a collaborative effort to address community concerns.

Members expressed enthusiasm for the project and inquired about potential funding sources. The officer outlined various channels for funding, including collaborations with the Countryside Management Service and grants from the UK Shared Prosperity Fund, DEFRA, and the Rural Payments Agency.

Members expressed disappointment over the low response rate to a recent report, noting only ten responses received, and highlighted the area's unique assets and suggested the need for better promotion to increase public awareness and visitation. They proposed initiatives such as healthy walks and collaboration with local councils to enhance community engagement and attract more visitors to the region's historical sites.

The Chair emphasised the need for agreement on the work programme, suggesting that items related to the current meeting should be excluded from future agendas. Members raised a concern about the necessity of publishing documents online for public access before discussions. The Chair responded by reiterating the importance of filtering out current meeting items to streamline future work plans.

RESOLVED:

That the Committee:

1. Adopt the new five year Management Plan for South Oxhey Playing Fields.
2. Give delegated authority to the Director of Finance to enter into a contract or funding agreement above the value of £25,000, subject to securing external funding to facilitate works to support the implementation of the Management Plans.