Issue - meetings

To present the committee with the Nonsuch Park Habitat Management Plan 2023-2028.

The Streetcare Manager was absent from the meeting at this time. As such, it was agreed by the Committee to move onto item 6 (Nonsuch Park Habitat Management Plan 2023-2028) for consideration.

The Committee received a report presenting them with the Nonsuch Park Habitat Management Plan 2023-2028.

The following matters were considered by the Committee:

a)            Cut-and-Collect Machine: The Committee considered, as a possibility for investigation, that the Council could hire out the Cut-and-Collect Machine at times of low-use as a source of income, should the Council acquire the machine as set out in paragraph 2.5 of the report.

b)            Bird Surveying: The Senior Countryside Officer explained that there is no ongoing bird surveying being undertaken in the Park, and that the Council does not currently have the resource available to conduct such a survey. It was considered by the Committee, as a possibility for investigation, and subject to Officer availability, that the Council increase engagement with Park users, local schools and universities for assistance in species surveying.

c)            Nonsuch Voles: The Committee expressed their interest in seeing an increased presence from the Nonsuch Voles and the Friends of Nonsuch at meetings of the Committee.

d)            Park Run: It was considered by the Committee that the Park Run organisers be approached with the request that they encourage runners to volunteer their time and donate in order to support the upkeep of the Park.

Councillor David Reeve proposed to add the following to the recommendations:

The Committee is asked to:

(3)       Approach the Park Run organisers to notify them of the new habitat management plan and to ask them if they can support the work of the management plan through donations and the volunteering of their time.

The proposal was seconded by Councillor Colin Keane.

The Committee unanimously agreed to the proposal.

Following consideration, the Committee unanimously resolved to:

(1)          Approve the contents of the Habitat Management Plan and the prescription table, which sets out the ideal actions for future management of Nonsuch Park.

(2)               Agree that officers work towards the three main objectives of this five-year plan as set out in 2.4 of this report, prioritising the acquisition of a cut and collect machine to deliver optimum land management outcomes.

(3)          Approach the Park Run organisers to notify them of the new habitat management plan and to ask them if they can support the work of the management plan through donations and the volunteering of their time.