The Bedfont Lakes Trust Panel met to discuss the Bedfont Lakes Trust's budget, accounts and future plans. Councillor Adesh Farmahan was appointed as Chair of the Panel, and Councillor Aysha Tariq as Vice-Chair. The panel also received an update on planned improvements to Bedfont Lakes.

Bedfont Lakes Budget and Accounts

The Bedfont Lakes Trust Panel were scheduled to review and approve the Bedfont Lakes Trust's accounts for 2024/2025, and the proposed budget for 2026/2027.

Vicky Couchman, Strategic Finance manager, presented the report, explaining that the accounts had been audited by Clemence Hoare Cummings. According to the Minutes Public Pack 20112024 Bedfont Lakes Trust Panel, income had fallen and expenditure had risen, resulting in a £5,325 shortfall in the 2023/24 accounts, but the Trust's investment fund had increased by around £300,000.

The proposed budget for 2025/26 had a shortfall of £27,418, but this could be absorbed in the short term due to a large balance in capital. The Minutes Public Pack 20112024 Bedfont Lakes Trust Panel stated that income should increase in the long term.

David Belbin, partner at Clemence Hoare Cummings, advised that the auditors looked at costs and breakdowns of costs and believed that the Trust received good value for money from Lampton Greenspace, a council subsidiary company.

Auditor's Report

David Belbin, partner at Clemence Hoar Cummings, presented the CHC Audit Completion Report 2025 to the Trustees. The Panel were scheduled to note the report.

Bedfont Lakes Improvement Plans

Gaye Galvin, Head of Parks, Development and Green Infrastructure, provided an update on Bedfont Lakes. She said that upgrades to Bedfont Lakes were 'waiting to happen' and described the area as tired and in need of improvement.

Community Infrastructure Levy¹ funding had been used to tackle health and safety issues, such as bridges and decking. New bird hides and children's play equipment had been installed. Landscape consultants and an architect were looking at the site's history, and the next stage of renewal was described as 'visionary.'

According to the Minutes Public Pack 20112024 Bedfont Lakes Trust Panel, the team were looking into what could be done to improve Bedfont Lakes and asking what both residents and the council wanted. Consultation, which would include the Panel, had begun and was expected to take around six months.

Ms Galvin advised that the National Lottery was a possible source of funding, and that all possible sources would be examined. The site's facilities were nearing the end of their life and major upgrades were needed. Alternatives to car access, such as safe cycle routes, were being considered. Potential commercial opportunities were being examined to ensure the site could effectively pay for itself, but the 'wildness' of the site was essential and ecologically vital to retain.

Councillor Raghwinder Siddhu stated that the walk through was in particular need of investment and was badly overgrown, and that Lampton 360 only cleared the path once a year. He also noted that there were a number of broken benches still around.

Ms Galvin advised that the pits on the other side of the road were not part of the Trust site and were neither owned nor managed by the council, but the council's Property Team was talking to the land's owners.

Regarding security, Ms Galvin advised that Lampton 360 patrolled the area with Rangers to ensure that walkers obeyed the signage. The council was also talking to Spelthorne Council, the Lakes' neighbouring authority.