Summerhill Management Plan

2014- 2015

Contents

Pages

1Key Achievements 20144-6

2Summary7-8

3Background

3.1Summerhill as part of Hartlepool Borough Council8-9 3.5 Summerhill Revenue budget 9-10

3.9Current staffing structure10

4How Summerhill fits into wider policies and strategies

4.6Summerhill today11-12

4.7Summerhill’s role in the delivery of Hartlepool Borough Council’s

Corporate Plan.13

4.11Relationship with other strategies14-15

5Green Flag position statement

5.1A welcoming park15-17

5.11Health, safety and security17-19

5.18Clean and well maintained20-22

5.31Sustainability22-24

5.46Conservation and heritage24-25

5.53Community involvement26-30

5.83Marketing30-33

6Summerhill Action Plan 2014/1534-56

7Summerhill 5-year plan - Updates57-61

8Monitoring and evaluation61-62

9Appendices (list only) 62-63

Appendix 9.1Summerhill Landscape Analysis Plan

December 2012

Appendix 9.2Summerhill Landscape Analysis Plan Compartments

December 2012

Appendix 9.3Summerhill Safety Policy

Revision 9: November 2014

Appendix 9.4Summerhill Lone Working Code of Practice

Revision 6: September 2013

Appendix 9.5Summerhill Crime Issues Guidance for staff

Issue 9: 12.12.12

Appendix 9.6Health and Safety and operations

Revision (5): June 2014

Appendix 9.7Summerhill: Age and number guidelines for key activities.

March 2003 (Revision 8: December 2012)

Appendix 9.8Guidelines for leading archery sessions at Summerhill

Revision (6) December 2012

Appendix 9.9Development of Archery outdoors at Summerhill Guidelines:

Revision (5) December 2012

Appendix 9.10Guidelines to groups using the Summerhill Site for cross country-running events.

Revision 5December 2012

Appendix 9.11Guidelines to groups using the Summerhill Site for orienteering events

Revision 5: December 2012

Appendix 9.12Summerhill Boulder Park and play boulder. Guidelines for use

Revision4 – December 2012

Appendix 9.13Summerhill Indoor climbing facility

Revision 5: December 2012

Appendix 9.14Summerhill High Level Ropes Course. Guidelines for use

Revision 6: December 2012

Appendix 9.15Summerhill: Standard conditions of booking for activity sessions

(Revision 5: December 2012)

Appendix 9.16Summerhill: Standard conditions for letting the Visitor Centre and site

(Revision 3: December 2012)

Appendix 9.17Summerhill: Hazard Identification form.

Revision 6: December 2012

Appendix 9.18Summerhill Environmental Statement:

Revision 3: December 2012

Appendix 9.19Summerhill Ragwort Management Plan

August 2004 – Review December 2012

Appendix 9.20Summerhill Local Nature Reserve (LNR) Management plan.

May 2003 – Review December 2012

Appendix 9.21Summerhill Wetland Management Plan

Revision 2: November 2012

Appendix 9.22Forest Mobility at Summerhill Guidance for staff.

Update 13.12.12

Appendix 9.23Summerhill – large event management guidelines

July 2009 – Revision 3: December 2012

Appendix 9.24Dogs at Summerhill.

Revision 4: December 2012

Appendix 9.25Summerhill General Maintenance Zones

December 2012

Appendix 9.26Summerhill – grounds maintenance schedule 2012/13

Appendix 9.27Summerhill Major Incident Response Plan

Draft December 2012

Appendix 9.28Sport and Recreation Marketing Plan 2012/13

10Other material not included but available on request64

Summerhill – Key Achievements2014

1.Key Achievements 2014

  • Summerhill is a park which is progressing in every way despite Hartlepool Borough Council continuing to face some very difficult economic challenges. The park which was previously seen as a service driven element of the Parks and Countryside department has had to rapidly reinvent itself into a service which increasingly needs to become a self sustaining enterprise, whilst still meeting the expectations of the residents of Hartlepool as a park for the people. In order to achieve this remit and to strike the balance the staff who work at the park have been required to adopt a more dynamic mindset in their day to day planning of events and programs of work and delivery. Pricing structures have been overhauled and marketing has been ramped up. The result of these changes has been profound not only on the staff but also the park. Site through traffic has increased by up to thirty percent (Summerhill is no longer seen as a park which attracts 50,000 visits per year but a park which can boast numbers of up to 80,000), all programs running from the visitors centre have seen a dramatic increase in participants despite a significant increase in prices. The result is an increase in income this increase in income has resulted in improvements to the site which in the past would have been a struggle to justify.
  • Summer 2014 saw the purchasing and installation of two fully accessible picnic tables. It is hoped that the new tables will resist the temptation of local vandals. If they remain intact it is planned that a further two tables will be installed in the same area improving the park for visiting families and groups over the Summer months.
  • In early 2014 funding was acquired by the friends of Summerhill working group this funding was earmarked for a new fully accessible pond dipping platform. The platform has now been on the pond closest to the visitors centre. This fantastic resource has been incredibly well received by visitors to the park and lends itself very well to the education / conservation work that is carried out on site. Further funding has now been secured for a second platform which will be built at the pond situated at the bottom of the BMX track. In addition to the platform a small fence will be installed so that dogs are discouraged from entering the water and disturbing the wildlife within.
  • In January 2014 it is hoped that Summerhill will become a Forest School. Several staff from the site completed their training which will enable them to deliver Forest School modules. These staff are undergoing their assessment over the months of December and January. The Forest School scheme is already attracting some interest from across the town and it is hoped that it will become a strong element of our delivery in the coming years.
  • The regular programme of public events continues at Summerhill, however an increase in self promotion and a more targeted approach has seen a significant increase in participant levels. Half term and end of year holiday programs are now filling up and running at a profit due to changes in the centre’s pricing structure. Where losses were once incurred (due to the service driven ethos) profits are now becoming a regular occurrence.
  • Over the report period the successful Healthy Heritage Initiative moved into its 7th phase. Healthy Heritage has seen a number of changes, in the past the program relied heavily upon external funding in order to maintain any momentum that had been built up. Costs were held artificially low and if any funding fell away the program would be forced to finish due to its unsustainable structure (in the current financial climate this was a very real outcome). It was agreed by all concerned that this could not happen. The solution it was deemed was to rapidly raise the prices of the Healthy Heritage sessions so that the program could become self sustaining, this way if any funding was lost the impact would not be felt. In 2013/14 the prices were increased so that the program was cost neutral. Initial concerns about future bookings and glass ceiling prices were unfounded and the program remained busy. In 2014/15 the prices are set to increase an extra twenty percent. This will provide the centre and the program with a significant boost to its income allowing us to improve resources and in turn the service offered.
  • Summerhill continued to provide opportunities for volunteers thanks to the adult volunteer group and the Young Explorer group – a group for younger people and their parents. The volunteers carried out conservation activities around the site including pond work, footpath clearance, stile building and repairs to the sites’ roundhouse.
  • The following competitions and events have been staged at Summerhill over 2014:

Date / Event name / Event type / Key partners / Numbers attending
17/4/14 / Xplorers Orienteering / Orienteering / HBC Sport & Physical Activity Team / 28
26/4/14 / Car boot sale / On site / In house / 154
31/5/14 / Car boot sale / On site / In house / 182
28/6/14 / Car boot sale / On site / In house / 190
5/7/14 / Hartlepool Hospice sponsored dog walk / On site / Hartlepool Hospice / 80
17/7/14 / Orienteering / On Site / In house / 50
26/7/14 / Car boot sale / On site / In house / 210
29/7/14 / Mini Beasts and Water Monsters / On site / In house / 15
30/7/14 / The Gruffalo / On Site / In House / 25
6/8/14 / National Play Day / On site / in house/Countryside Warden / 160
6/8/14 / Jay’s Animal Encounters / On Site / Mr JD Gunn / 87
13/8/14 / Xplorers Orienteering / Orienteering / HBC Sport & Physical Activity Team / 34
20/8/14 / Boggarts and Fairies / On Site / In house / 23
30/8/14 / Car boot sale / On site / In house / 350
31/8/14 / Hartlepool Allotment Show / On site / HBC Environment Section / 100
20/9/14 / Coast and Countryside Fair / On Site / In house & HBC Countryside Team / 80
28/9/14 / BMX Northern regional race / Cycling / North East BMX club / 450
17/10/14 / English Martyrs Children in Need run / Cross country / English Martyrs school / 83
28/10/14 / Family Xplorer / Orienteering / HBC Sport & Physical Activity Team / 25
30/10/14 / Slytherin come to Summerhill / On Site / In house & HBC Countryside Team / 37
6/2/15 / English Martyrs cross-country event / Cross country / English Martyrs school / 249
22/2/15 / Hartlepool Burn Road Harriers Trail Race / Cross Country / Hartlepool Burn Road Harriers / 150
  • In 2014Summerhill hosted 401 activities for community, business and local groups. In total 72 different groups enjoyed the site 12 of which had not been to Summerhill within the previous 12 months.
  • Car boot sales at Summerhill continue to go from strength to strength with 2014 seeing the highest recorded numbers since the sales began. Sales are now held solely over the summer. Summer 2015 will also have these events, building on the 2014 sales.
  • Summerhill’s programme of educational activities has continued with local schools benefitting. A key programme has continued with Sunderland’s Pupil Referral Unit (PRU) providing conservation and sporting activities for challenging young people.
  • A successful bid to the Forestry Commissions’ Woodland Grant Scheme for key site maintenance works entered its second year. The funding is supporting amenity maintenance, footpath clearance, new seats, stiles and gates, pond work, thinning and coppicing. £14,357 has been obtained to support key site maintenance works over 2011-16.
  • The Summerhill Forest Mobility scheme saw continued use over the report period, improving access around the site for those with mobility issues.
  • A new Summerhill leaflet advertising children’s parties and venue hire was launched in the autumn.
  • The Summerhill site orienteering map was fully revised by the Cleveland Orienteering Klub. The updated map better reflects the landscape of Summerhill as emerging woodland. The permanent orienteering course of 30 markers was also revised.
  • A new display about the Catcote Village archaeological site was installed in the Visitor Centre concourse. The display includes an interactive jig-saw puzzle, drawing table and replica quernstone. The foyer and downstairs office space have also seen a makeover both of which improve the staffs working environment whilst enhancing the customer experience.
  • The Visitor Centre CCTV system was further bolstered with the installation of 2 new cameras covering the toilet block corridor following an audit from Leisurewatch.
  • The concourse of the visitors centre is no longer host to the Emerge Gallery, however a partnership with the Hartlepool Arts Club has been established and as a result work will continue to be displayed in the concourse. This area also has a new display area ‘What’s Happening at Summerhill’. A new exhibition focussing on inspiring local athletes is now in permanent residence in the Activity Room within the Visitors Centre.
  • The Summerhill Bowmen archery club was further developed in 2014. There are now 39 members with the club split into two sub-groups. Each sub-group meets twice monthly.
  • In March 2012 a new pond was excavated beside the main site route and near to the Rift House end of the site. Working in partnership with the Countryside Warden team and funded thanks to SITA Landfill tax the new pond – called Catcote pond - is approximately 100m2. Associated run off drainage and pond planting has been undertaken along with fencing to prevent encroachment by dogs. This pond continues to flourish and is quickly becoming an attraction for nature lovers visiting the site, most notably photographers who are wanting to catch a quick shot of the abundant wildlife.
  • Summerhill successfully regained the Green Flag award in July. Green Flag is the national accreditation scheme for parks and green spaces. 2014 is the 8th successive year Summerhill has gained the award.

2Summary

2.1Summerhill is a unique Country Park on the western edge of Hartlepool. Created from a network of 8 fields in low-grade arable use the 100-acre Hartlepool Borough Council owned site has been transformed for conservation and outdoor sports. Work to create Summerhill started in 1997 and most of the major works were completed by 2002. (Arial view below)

2.2The vision for Summerhill was developed in the 1990’s thanks to a partnership of Hartlepool Borough Council, The Countryside Agency, The Tees Forest (formerly Cleveland Community Forest), The Forestry Authority and Sport England. The area of land that has become Summerhill was recognised to be of strategic value, on the edge of the town of Hartlepool (population 91,700 - 2010), providing a link between the town and the country. In the wider establishment of the Tees Community Forest, Summerhill was identified as a ‘Primary Gateway’ within the Forest, a designation recognising the potential for a large area of new woodland with the added advantage of providing a major recreational resource close to town.

2.3Development of this Primary Gateway site was guided by a number of feasibility studies and consultation reports, primarily a report by the ASH Consultancy in 1995. Public consultation also took place, through the Friends of Summerhill, for the general issues and the Summerhill Sports Partnership, for the sport and recreation issues.

2.4In total Summerhill received £2.2million capital funding to turn the vision into reality. Key funders of this capital budget were;

Sport England Lottery Fund

The Countryside Agency

Hartlepool Borough Council

Capital Challenge

The Heritage Lottery Fund

The Woodland Grant Scheme

The Countryside Stewardship Scheme

Health Action Zone

Community Safety Grant

Shotton Paper Company

2.5From a conservation point of view the funding enabled a major new woodland to be planted, meadows and wetlands to be created, and hedgerows to be managed. There are also major sites of archaeological interest that are preserved and protected.

2.6From an outdoor sports point of view 8 key sports were identified. These are rambling, horse riding, cycling, exercise and fitness, orienteering, cross-country running, archery and rock climbing. Facilities and features are provided for these sports on the site and in the Visitor Centre.

2.7Finally, associated facilities have been developed including a new access road and car park, a large Visitor Centre, picnic areas; play areas for younger children and junior play, art and sculptural features.

2.8Alongside the work to plant, manage and build Summerhill has been work to involve the community and provide a major location for activities and events. Summerhill now offers an extensive package of activity sessions for schools, community groups and businesses to buy into and a programme of public events. The site and Visitor Centre are also used as a venue for meetings and events. Finally, Summerhill operates a Forest Mobility scheme providing facilities for people with limited mobility.

3. Background

3.1Summerhill as part of Hartlepool Borough Council

Since the mid 2000’s challenges faced by Hartlepool Borough Council from the point of view of making the best use of resources in a climate of public sector cuts have forced it to embark on a process termed ‘Business Transformation’. Involving an input from the senior management team, elected members, staff and external consultants Business Transformation has considered the whole Council and the services its runs with a view to looking at how services can be run more efficiently whilst at the same time making lasting cuts in the Council’s revenue budget. Over 2010 a substantial amount of changes were undertaken as a result of a management restructure, a service review and finally, towards the end of the year, the first part of the Comprehensive Spending Review. Instigated as part of the new Government’s plans to reduce public expenditure, beginning in October 2010 the Council has a target to save 28% on its revenue budget over the next 4 years. This figure is front loaded with 24% of the 28% to be found by 31st March 2014. Clearly this has placed major challenges and uncertainty for every part of the Authority in terms of service and job cuts and considering new ways of operating services.

3.2Following a recent corporate restructure Hartlepool Borough Council now comprises of 4 Departments;

  1. Chief Executives
  2. Regeneration and Neighbourhoods
  3. Child and Adult Services
  4. Public Health

3.3Summerhill is part of the Sport and Recreation Section having been moved from the Parks and Countryside Section in 2009. The Sport and Recreation Section comprises of the following units,

1.Sport and Physical Activity

2.Facilities Management

3.Recreation Development

4.Carlton Outdoor Education Centre

3.4Summerhill is part of the Sport and Physical Activity unit. This includes;

1.Summerhill

2.Sport and Physical Activity (Exercise on Referral, Outdoor Activities, Core Sports Development programmes)

3.Hartlepool Learn to Swim Programme

3.5.0Summerhill revenue budget

As part of the development of Summerhill it was recognised by the Council that this new initiative would require a considerable sum of revenue funding to ensure that it could be effectively operated. As a consequence Summerhill has its own revenue budget with a separate cost centre. The 2010/11 financial year saw a significant change to the Summerhill budget with the centralisation of all maintenance budgets connected with the scheme. This means that in common with all other facilities managed by the Council the budgets for planned and reactive maintenance, utility provision and cleaning are now held in a centrally managed pot.

3.6The revenue budget includes an amount of income generated from activity work, use of facilities and public events. Charges for these are reviewed and set by the elected Portfolio-holder annually. External funding schemes are also drawn in to support the revenue budget.

3.7The revenue budget is set annually. Reporting to the finance team is undertaken by the Sport and Physical Activity Manager.

3.8The general revenue budget set for Summerhill for 2014/15 was;

Employee costs £146,209

Non pay expenditure£39,505

Total expenditure£185,714

Income£60,899