The Alice Park Trust Sub-Committee met on Friday 16 January 2026 to review the Trust's annual accounts and financial performance, and to discuss various operational updates for Alice Park. Key decisions included the approval of the annual accounts and the agreement to note the finance update, which projected a surplus for the current financial year.

Accounts and Annual Report for the Year Ending 31 March 2025

The Sub-Committee agreed and signed the Statement of Accounts and the Trustees' Annual Report for the Alice Park Trust for the year ending 31 March 2025. These documents were prepared on a cash basis, in line with Charity Commission guidelines. The operating expenditure for the year was £45,751, offset by operating income of £24,575, resulting in an operating deficit of £21,176. This deficit was subsidised by the Bath & North East Somerset Council's parks revenue budget. A significant donation of £52,692 was received for the Play Project, which is being held in a ringfenced reserve. The Trust's net assets were valued at £189,809, encompassing various park assets including land, the cottage, tea chalet, public conveniences, tennis courts, and play equipment. The accounts were independently examined by One West.

Finance Update

The Sub-Committee was presented with a forecast of the Trust's financial performance for the financial year ending 31 March 2026. The current projection indicated a surplus of £5,142, with any surplus to be added to reserves for future use. Expenditure includes service level agreements for grounds maintenance, play equipment, and tree management, as well as public conveniences contract costs and independent examination fees. Phase 1 of the Play Area Improvement project had a total cost of £126,339. Income is expected to be in line with agreed market rents for rental income and based on information from the shared Alice Park events income document for events. A delay in Ward Empowerment Fund income for a bench purchase in 2024/25 was received in the current financial year. Investment income was forecast to be slightly lower due to reduced interest rates. A significant change in income is anticipated due to new funding arrangements between the Trust and the Council, with a grant contribution expected to directly cover the costs of the three service level agreements. The Trust continues to receive donations for its Play Project, with £520 received to date in the current year, bringing the total donations to £54,289. Of this, £51,339 is required for phase 1 of the project, leaving a balance of £2,950.

Alice Park Play Area Project Update

The Sub-Committee received an update on the Alice Park Play Area Project. Work was ongoing to determine if funds allocated for replacing broken play equipment could be redirected towards delivering part of the plan for stage 2 of the project, with the hope of completion in the summer, dependent on costs and potential additional funding. The recently renovated vintage steel animals were noted to be installed soon, possibly near the cycle track. A consultation undertaken by Councillors Kelly and Henman with park users revealed that the new play area was well-received, with excitement for stage 2. Key feedback included a desire for more dog-related signage, with some users welcoming dogs in the play area, while others noted a lack of provision for children under three. Users were satisfied with the number of swings but requested additional slides and found the sand area to be too small. There were also requests for more seating. Regarding a gate for the play area, feedback was mixed, with some seeing its utility for preventing children from running out and dogs from entering, while others preferred the open approach. The consultation also highlighted that the initial consultation for the project indicated a need for more provision for older children. The Sub-Committee resolved that additional signage regarding dogs would be provided, the need for a gate would be kept under review, and Bryan Johnson would work with the play equipment provider to deliver new equipment for the sand pit following the dismantling of existing broken equipment.

Alice Park Public Conveniences Update

The Operations Manager provided an update on the public conveniences, noting that the agreed signs would be displayed in the coming weeks. Ongoing instances of anti-social behaviour were reported, which is common for public toilets, and the Council works with the drug and alcohol voluntary sector and the police to address these issues. Discussions were underway regarding a move to cashless payments or increasing the cost of using public toilets across the district to reduce anti-social behaviour, though it was acknowledged that this could be an issue for some community members. The Sub-Committee resolved that a Sharps Handling Kit be made available to staff at the Alice Park Cafe for emergency use, officers would investigate the feasibility of a prepaid card option for those unable to use cards in a cashless system, and officers would explore methods for measuring the impact of weather on toilet usage for future reports.

Defibrillator Update

The Sub-Committee was informed of a setback regarding the defibrillator installation, as the purchase order had not been carried forward to the current financial year. The Operations Manager, Housing and Contract Services, undertook to progress this matter. The update was noted.

Tennis Pavilion

Following discussions at a previous meeting, the Chair confirmed she had obtained keys to the tennis pavilion and an inventory of stored items. Chris Hall, a local resident and architect, presented research on the pavilion, highlighting its historical significance as an early design by Geoffrey Jellicoe. He emphasised the need for repairs and the reintroduction of original design features to bring the pavilion back into community use. The option of listing the building was considered but not pursued at this stage. The Director of Place Management confirmed there was no Council funding for the asset and any bid for funding would need to be developed during the budget setting process. The Head of Legal Services advised caution regarding listing the building due to potential restrictions and responsibilities. The Sub-Committee noted the heritage of the building and the risk of disrepair if no action was taken, while also acknowledging potential funding opportunities from the World Heritage Site Enhancement Fund and the Pilgrim Trust. The Director of Place Management undertook to report back following discussions with property services.

Memorial Bench in Tennis Court

The Sub-Committee supported a request from the tennis club for a memorial bench within the tennis courts. The current contractor, Westport, supported the proposal, with the condition that the bench would remain in place if a new contractor was appointed. The Director of Place Management confirmed that the retention of the memorial bench could be included as a condition of future contracts. The Chair was authorised to write to the tennis club and Westport to progress the request.

Events

Junior Park Run: The Sub-Committee rejected a request to use Alice Park for a junior park run. While supportive of the concept, members felt Alice Park was not a suitable venue due to potential conflicts with other users, and that nearby open spaces would be more appropriate. The Sub-Committee also raised concerns about the Council's policy classifying park runs as an activity with a fee, which they felt was inconsistent with the Trust's aim of financial self-sufficiency and charging for park use to offset maintenance costs.

Youth Festival: It was agreed that a Youth Festival would be held in 2026, with a further discussion to be held at a future meeting regarding its continuation in subsequent years.

Gazebos

The Sub-Committee noted that members of the public were setting up gazebos and organising private parties in the park without permission, which was difficult to enforce. It was agreed that signage would be developed to request that gazebos not be set up without prior permission.

Any Other Business

Alice Park Community Garden: The Alice Park Community Garden had been awarded £19,000 from the National Lottery Community Fund. It was resolved that representatives from the garden would be invited to attend Sub-Committee meetings annually to provide updates on their work.

Cycle Stands: The cycle stands discussed at the previous meeting had been delivered.

Update on Tea Chalet Lease

The Sub-Committee ratified the decision to conduct a survey and agreed to Option 3 as outlined in the exempt report.