6 Strategic aim 3 - Ensuring the service is as financially self-sustaining as possible Kent County Council continues to face a range of financial pressures. To ensure we can continue to provide high quality parks and the outcomes they deliver, we will pursue the following objectives over the next four years: where possible. they may benefit from being Objective 9: Increase the managed by local community percentage of the service’s organisations or wildlife budget generated from Objective 10: Ensure the charities. income generation activities. portfolio of country parks and countryside sites is The service now generates managed Therefore we will consider over £1.2million a year to maximise the delivery of alternative management through areas such as room our strategic aims arrangements for some of hire, cafes, team building, our smaller countryside sites and school visits. In 2016/17 Some of our sites have more with any changes to this equated to potential than others to deliver management arrangements approximately 74% of the a quality country parks dependent on securing total experience, deliver health appropriate safeguards Country budget. This outcomes, increase visitor regarding land management already makes it one of the numbers, and generate standards and continued most efficient country park income. For example some of public teams in England, but we will the smaller sites don’t have a access to valued work to become even more car park or basic visitor community assets. Any financially sustainable, including facilities such as toilets. This proposal would also be subject generating further income from doesn’t reduce their local to public consultation the and seeking importance but we feel that external grant funding
6 Strategic aim 3 - Ensuring the service is as financially self-sustaining as possible Kent County Council continues to face a range of financial pressures. To ensure we can continue to provide high quality parks and the outcomes they deliver, we will pursue the following objectives over the next four years: Objective 9: Increase the percentage of the service’s budget generated from income generation activities. The service now generates over £1.2million a year through areas such as room hire, cafes, team building, and school visits. In 2016/17 this equated to approximately 74% of the total Country budget. This already makes it one of the most efficient country park teams in England, but we will work to become even more financially sustainable, including generating further income from the and seeking external grant funding where possible. Objective 10: Ensure the portfolio of country parks and countryside sites is managed to maximise the delivery of our strategic aims Some of our sites have more potential than others to deliver a quality country parks experience, deliver health outcomes, increase visitor numbers, and generate income. For example some of the smaller sites don’t have a car park or basic visitor facilities such as toilets. This doesn’t reduce their local importance but we feel that they may benefit from being managed by local community organisations or wildlife charities. Therefore we will consider alternative management arrangements for some of our smaller countryside sites with any changes to management arrangements dependent on securing appropriate safeguards regarding land management standards and continued public access to valued community assets. Any proposal would also be subject to public consultation