MINUTES OF A MEETING OF THE EDUCATION, COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT AND LIFELONG LEARNING SELECT COMMITTEE HELD AT COUNTY HALL, NEWPORT, ISLE OF WIGHT ON TUESDAY, 30 SEPTEMBER 2003 COMMENCING AT 9.30 AM

 

Present :

 

Mr J F Howe (Chairman), Mr A C Bartlett (deputising for Mr R G Mazillius), Mrs B D Clough, Mr C M Gauntlett, Mr C R Hancock, Mr V J Morey, Mr K Pearson, Mr R C Richards

 

Co-opted (voting) :

 

Sister Patricia

 

Portfolio Holder :

 

Mrs J L Wareham

 

Apologies :

 

Mr P D Joyce, Mr R G Mazillius, Mr A J Mellor, Mrs E Oulton, Mr A Wood

 

 

21.              MINUTES

 

RESOLVED :

 

THAT the minutes of the meeting held on 21 July 2003 be confirmed.

 

22.              DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST

 

There were no declarations at this stage.

 

23.              PUBLIC QUESTION TIME

 

Mrs S White asked a question in relation to distribution of a leaflet detailing a National Tour by Challenge Team UK between 16 February and 12 March 2004 on The New Sexual Revolution.

 

24.              BOTANIC GARDENS, VENTNOR

 

The Select Committee considered a report of the Head of Community Development and Tourism on the operation of the Botanic Gardens, Ventnor.  In addition members also had before them details of the Improvement Plan, Service Profile, Financial Resources and Performance Management Plan as contained in the Community Development Best Value Review as submitted to the 21 July 2003 meeting.

 

The Curator of the Gardens gave a brief overview of numbers visiting the facility during 2003.  He indicated that visitors were up.  There was an increase in income and the number of complaints were well down.  The main issues faced concerned irrigation, unsafe paths and vermin control.

 

The Select Committee was advised that apart from a problem experienced for 2 weeks in August the lift had been operating satisfactorily all year. Members raised the provision of alternative arrangements should the lift malfunction in the future. The Portfolio Holder indicated that she would investigate the possibility of some form of insurance arrangements to provide a minibus service. Difficulties were still also being experienced due to coaches being prevented from using Undercliff Drive as a through route.  The curator indicated that despite a number of attempts over previous years he had been unable to persuade Southern Vectis to incorporate the Botanic Gardens as a named stop and at present no bus service operated between the town and the Gardens.  The Select Committee considered that with visitor numbers of approximately 280,000 per year it was important to have appropriate public transport provision.  No other Botanic Garden in the country encountered this problem.

 

The curator reported that after some initial problems encountered with the caterers who were awarded the franchise for operating the café the quality had improved.  The staff were responsive to the needs of visitors and the activities undertaken within the Gardens.  Members noted that at the appropriate time prior to the existing contract ending consideration would have to be given to either seeking new tenders or bringing the catering in house.

 

Members discussed the educational use of the Gardens.  The curator outlined difficulties that had been encountered with partnership arrangements with Sparsholt College on the operation of RHS courses.  With the return to work of the full time Education officer, after maternity leave, it was possible to continue some courses and adapt a structured approach to the growing number of school visits.

 

The promotion of the Gardens nationally and internationally was raised.  The Select Committee was made aware that the budget only allowed for one major advert but details of the Gardens was contained in many IW Tourism leaflets.  Members noted that a number of national and international conferences had utilised the facilities at the Visitor Centre.  Publicity was also achieved by articles that the curator wrote for national publications.  The range of other recreational events staged was outlined.  The Curator explained that unless additional staffing resources were made available these had to be limited.

 

The capital budget only enabled the more urgent works to be undertaken to the path network within the Gardens.  There was the need to close some of these on health and safety grounds.

 

The Select Committee noted that the possibility of operating the Botanic Gardens under Trust Status had been investigated.  There were a number of disadvantages associated with this.  The option of utilising the Friends of the Botanic Gardens as an arms length Charitable Trust able to trade with profits being reinvested could be of assistance.  This could only be viable if appropriate personnel were in place.

 

Income was derived from car parking fees and the arrangements for local residents to obtain a specially discounted permit was noted. The practical problems associated with the imposition of a charge on all visitors would be substantial. The Curator also reminded the Select Committee that the land was given to the local authority on the basis of free public access.

 

Members were made aware that the Curator had recently been made a Fellow of the Institute of Horticulture and they congratulated Mr Goodenough on receiving this recognition.

 

RESOLVED TO RECOMMEND TO THE PORTFOLIO HOLDER FOR TRANSPORT :

 

THAT the matter of the provision of a bus service operating to the Botanic Gardens be raised with Southern Vectis and Wightbus.

 

RESOLVED :

 

THAT arrangements be made for the Select Committee to undertake a guided tour of the Botanic Gardens.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                                                                    CHAIRMAN