Business Plan

Port Sunlight Village Trust

Port Sunlight is Unique Significant collection of buildings and cottages (some 900) constructed in

revivalist styles all, except a few recent additions, are Grade II listed Buildings are set in an equally significant landscape with high levels of

maintenance and quality of presentation. Fine collection of Public Sculpture

The whole village is a conservation area Significant exemplar of urban planning Significant tourist attraction for Wirral

Estimated 300,000 visitors per annum

Visitors coming from across the North West Region and North Wales

Popular excursion from the Liverpool Cruise Liner Terminal

Academic destination for architects, town planners and social scientists

Now well known for the varied events calendar E.G. 10k run, Summer Festival

Summary

Established by Unilever in April 1999

Registered Charity

Currently 8 Trustees

Staff team with 27 full time staff, 18 part time/casual and approximately 30 volunteers

Given the entire village by Unilever except for 600 houses/buildings already sold

Inherited all legal rights, contracts, obligations, leases in force and other commitments

Financial support covenant from Unilever (now due to cease in 2017)

Port Sunlight Village Trust

Our Mission is to

Preserve & maintain the Port Sunlight Conservation Area in Merseyside for the benefit

of the nation at large, the present character and amenities of that area and whatever of

the historical, architectural and constructional heritage that may exist whether in the

form of buildings, open spaces or otherwise which are of particular beauty or historical,

architectural or constructional interest

Promote understanding of the ideas underlying the foundation & development of the

Port Sunlight Conservation Area and similar foundations, their social & economic

context and their relevance to issues in the modern world.

Mission Statement

Port Sunlight Village Trust Current Ownership of Property

All the green space on the plan289 homes (pepper potted about)11 principal buildings• Gladstone Theatre• 93 & 95 Greendale Rd• Fire Engine Station• Lyceum Building• Hulme Hall• Church Hall• School• Port Sunlight Museum• Philip Leverhulme Lodge• Manor Lodge• Hesketh HallGardening depot330 garages16 Allotments

Maggie Sparks (Chair) Governance, housing management and development.

David Rooke Regeneration, maintenance and governance

Peter de Figueiredo Architecture and heritage conservation

Carol Cuthell Administration and resident perspective

Danny French Finance, accounting and governance

Gethin Owens Landscape architecture and landscape maintenance & conservation

Emma Chaplin Museums & learning management

John Cocker Planning and governance

Trustees and their background skills

The CEO leads the staff team, reports to a panel of 8 Trustees and is supported by a Senior Management Team consisting of- Andrew Church, Estates and HR Manager

Housing Management and Building Maintenance Landscape Human Resources

Katherine Lynch, Heritage Manager Museum Heritage & Conservation Volunteers Events, Marketing and Community Engagement

Rachel Parry Financial Management Accounting Administration

The Senior Management Team

The Built Fabric of Port Sunlight. Creating greater support and community learning/engagement opportunities will help slow down the

erosion of heritage. This is currently being eroded by ignorance such as the inappropriate use of cement instead of lime based mortar.

Possible future development of financial support initiatives to assist necessitous owners with the conservation of their homes.

Use of legal remedies such as breach of covenant will address some of the more obvious inapropriatealterations made to historic fabric E.G. where UPVC windows have been installed.

Assisting Wirral Borough Council with the development of Local Listed Building Consent Orders will assist residents in Port Sunlight by removing bureaucratic barriers when appropriate alterations are contemplated.

Improving the quality of garages through a programme of refurbishment and rebuilding where necessary will protect the long term revenue stream from garage rentals and preserve the amenity value of garage provision.

Completing the brownfield redevelopment of Wharf Street by building 12 Town Houses when cash resources permit will improve further the long term revenue streams of the Trust through additional rents and complete the boundary area between the factory and residential parts of Port Sunlight.

Providing high quality housing with a responsive service supports the Financial Plan by sustaining the popularity of the rented accommodation and rent levels

Opportunities to Resolve Issues

Heritage and Learning Enhancing the reach and exhibition offering of Port Sunlight Museum assists in the

general promotion of Port Sunlight by maintaining a high regional profile.

Encouraging other key partners such as Unilever to make use of temporary exhibition space within Port Sunlight Museum gives greater access to material otherwise not available and cements important relationships between organisations

Developing specific areas for learning such as conservation techniques and the efficacy of certain conservation approaches improves the knowledge of residents and helps influence sound conservation and maintenance of the built fabric both in Port Sunlight and the wider region.

Improving access to the historic material available encourages further engagement with the Heritage of the village and higher visitor numbers.

Following and updating the Conservation and Management plan for the village ensures there is an authentic source of reference supporting the work undertaken. Maintaining accurate information on the condition of the built Heritage underpins this.

Acquiring Bridge Cottage will considerably add to the Trust’s capacity to celebrate the Heritage of Port Sunlight.

Opportunities to Resolve Issues

Landscape and Estate Management The tree planting and maintenance programme responds to issues raised in the

Conservation and Management Plan and ensures that in the long run more appropriate tree species will be planted in more suitable locations and when mature, will provide a much improved treescape and general environment in the village.

Replacing some planted areas with shrubs rather than bedding plants will introduce a more balanced presentation to the landscape and may reduce costs.

Completing the refurbishment of key paved areas such as The Diamond will improve the visitor experience and reduce exposure to accidents and resulting liability.

Maintaining a highly skilled and committed Gardening Team improves quality, efficiency and resident confidence and has a significant bearing on the Trust’s reputation as landscape issues are far more easily seen than issues with buildings.

Opportunities to Resolve Issues

Resources Required Adherence to the Financial Plan will ensure that the Trust continues to

operate within its purse and remains stable far into the future. Maintaining a well trained and motivated staff team is essential.

The team should be brought together under one roof when resources permit rather than continue operating across two sites.

Ongoing training and development should continue to ensure staff fully develop their own potential

Ongoing regular investment in information technology, telecommunications, social media and website development is crucial to any success. Improving internet facilities will be a key contributor particularly internet speeds and voice

over internet (VOIP) reliability

Ensuring that adequate IT support and maintenance facilities are in place underpins the work of the Staff Team

Continuing the development of the roles of volunteers and their numbers will make a significant contribution to the range and scope of activity possible.

Resources

The financial plan is focused upon ensuring the Trust has self sustaining income streams sufficient to cover the costs of its perceived level of activities upon the cessation of financial support from Unilever. This could be as early as 2017 but efforts are being made to obtain some level of further support.

Obtain as high a rent as possible from houses to generate a sustainable income stream and to improve the income stream through refurbishment of houses upon the cessation of secure tenancies and market the houses for rent at market level rents. At September 2014, 98 properties require refurbishment.

Supplement the Trust’s income with commercial rent from garages and principal buildings.

Maintain/increase other income streams such as museum entrance fees, gift aid, tea room profits and guided tours income to mitigate against operational costs.

Reduce loan debt as quickly as is reasonably practical

Ensure adequate resources are available to meet the more significant repair & conservation costs of the principal buildings as and when required

Financial Plan

Summary Income & Expenditure

Income £ Expenditure £

Residential rents 1,762,366 Maint. – Houses 610,924

Commercial rents 155,074 Maint. – Princ. Builds 148,870

Garages 104,000 Landscape 441,572

Museum 295,254 Museum 459,495

Interest & other income 16,018 Admin legal insurance 545,237

TOTAL 2,332,712 TOTAL 2,206,098

Unilever Covenant 619,812

Including Covenant 2,952,524

2014/2015 Budget

Long Range Cash Flows

0500,000

1,000,0001,500,0002,000,0002,500,0003,000,0003,500,0004,000,0004,500,0005,000,000

Cash Balance £

Year Ending

Long Range Forecast Year End Cash Balances

Negotiate a final financial settlement with Unilever in accordance with the funding agreement and attempt to secure a further tranche of support.

Achieve overall, a self sustaining financial position.

Become a recognised facilitator and exemplar in the care and maintenance of the Grade II listed property in Port Sunlight so that the built fabric (both Trust and Resident owned) is protected from avoidable erosion.

Develop Port Sunlight Museum to become a flagship visitor attraction for Wirral

Promote understanding of the unique heritage of the village - development architecture, people and landscapes

Through the achievement of excellence ensure that Port Sunlight Village Trust has public “voice” in its recognised areas of expertise

Acquire more property in Port Sunlight as and when resources permit having regard to other areas of the Trust’s mission

As far as possible, support voluntary and community organisations operating within Port Sunlight

Strategic Goals and Objectives

Near term Changes at Wirral Council to the Conservation Team as a result of budget pressure

and potential loss of effective regulation.

Renegotiation of Unilever Covenant to ensure adequate funds permit fruition of the house and garage refurbishment programme.

Complete a brownfield re-development – 12 town houses at Wharf Street. Last building development planned other than replacement (garages) or upgrade of existing structures

Long term Through programmes of resident and community engagement, improve general

knowledge on maintenance of the historic fabric of Port Sunlight in particular the use of appropriate mortars in repairs to stem perceived erosion of heritage.

Development of assistance/support packages for resident owners to assist with the adequate repair & maintenance of the historic fabric of their houses.

Completion of the house refurbishment programme will significantly increase the level of rental income and contribute to long term sustainability.

Key Issues

Conservation Failure of the regulatory system to protect listed buildings & conservation areas will

accelerate the erosion of Port Sunlight Heritage

Financial Interest rate exposure – no hedging instruments in place.

Cash deficiencies due to increases in the volumes of refurbishment per annum

Failure to secure a final settlement from Unilever may result in a diminution of activity

Reputational Risks Quality of landscape maintenance is easily spotted by visitors of which there are

many and the landscape is very much “in the public eye”.

Food hygiene – Tea Room

Risks

Partnerships

Closer relationship with Unilever Archives will significantly enhance the material available to Port Sunlight Museum

Working with Unilever R&D (Waterhouse Project) will help support the Covenant Renegotiation initiative

Financial

A final settlement from Unilever will secure the financial stability of PSVT for the foreseeable future.

Reputational

Achieving acknowledgement as a centre of excellence in horticulture and general conservation will allow the Trust to address public organisations such as English Heritage and Wirral Council with a high level of authority

Enhancing the quality and extent of the material exhibited by Port Sunlight Museum contributes to greater visitor numbers, increased esteem and more revenue

Rewards