Agenda and minutes

Apologies had been received from Alderman Luder, Alderman Evans and Deputy Deane.

There were none.

To agree the public minutes and summary of the previous meeting.

Resolved: That Members agreed the minutes of the previous meeting as an accurate record.

Matters Arising:

Officers informed Members that riding fees and licences had been discussed recently at a Horse Riding Forum, and would be investigated as part of the management plan.

Officers also informed Members that the Highams Park Lake consultation management plan would be discussed at the Committee meeting in May.

An action from the public minutes regarding activity at the Loughton War Memorial was also referred to non-public session. 

To receive the minutes of the Consultative Committees of the Epping Forest and Commons Committee.

Resolved: That Members received the minutes of the Consultative Committees of the Epping Forest and Commons Committee.

The Superintendent of Epping Forest to be heard.

The Committee received an update from the Superintendent of Epping Forest and noted the following points:

Staff Changes

The Head of Visitor Services had left the Division.

Wet Weather

In complete contrast to the fires of last July and August, Epping Forest had experienced double its normal rainfall in December and January.  This had led to widespread flooding across the Forest.  The newly restored Jubilee Pond on Wanstead Flats had flooded, as the overflow had been unable to drain into flooded ditches alongside Centre Road.  Alexandra Lake also burst its banks and flooded onto Aldersbrook Road.  In addition, Connaught Water also flooded in January, though the dam did not overtop as it did in 2011.

Football Season

The unprecedented wet weather saw an unusually high level of cancellations for football at Wanstead Flats across six weekends on the first and third weekend of January and throughout February.  A two week extension at the end of the season was planned to allow fixtures to be completed.

Crime Reports

There had been a disturbing rise in serious crime reports in the Forest.  A Forest Keeper was threatened with a knife on 15^th January by a Rough Sleeper and two Forest Keepers were assaulted while an arrest was being made for a byelaw offence.  Two members of the public were mugged at the Caddy House car park and Forest staff had been involved in the recovery of a vehicle from Wanstead Flats following an alleged rape.  The western flank of Wanstead Flats was currently cordoned off while Police seek evidence in connection with a double murder in nearby Montague Road.

Rough Sleepers

Despite the wet weather rough sleepers were still being found.  In addition to the incident on 15^th January four migrants had been found in a camp on Wanstead Flats

Report of the Superintendent of Epping Forest.

The Committee considered the report of the Superintendent which informed the Committee of the byelaw enforcement activity undertaken by Epping Forest Keepers within Epping Forest during the period of 1 January 2013 to 31 December 2013.

Members noted a similar level of Byelaw enforcement during the period

of 2007 to 2013, with the exception of the 2010 peak which was as a result of a high level of prosecutions for fungi picking and lighting fires. The period of 2007 to date covered a conscious programme of informal education rather than formal prosecution or warning. This was evidenced by the 7,075 “Advisory conversations” conducted by Forest Keepers during the period under report, an increase of 2,828 or 66.6 % on the figure of 4,247 reported for 2012.

Members were informed that there were eight prosecutions undertaken during the period, two for dogs not under effective control, two for fly tipping, two for riding a quad bike on the Forest, one for riding a horse in a restricted area and not

displaying a current licence and one for taking a vehicle more than forty

five metres from the highway.

There had been eleven warning letters sent for various misuse of the Forest, including, taking firewood, feeding wildfowl, dog not under effective control, metal detecting, obstructing an officer, and taking a vehicle onto Forest land.

In response to a query from Members, Officers stated that the level of Court costs and charges for the disposal of fly tips remained the same for three years. The Committee had approved a 50% increase in May 2011. It was proposed to increased charges by 10%, in line with the three year Retail Price Index (RPI) of 10.01%.

Members noted that the cost of taking a case to the local Magistrates’ Court was initially covered by the

Report of the Superintendent of Epping Forest.

The Committee considered the report of the Superintendent which informed Members of the visitor access, risk management and conservation projects proposed in the Forest for the year 2014-15.

Members noted that increased visitor access work was proposed at St Johns and Woodford Green. Staff would also be working with the Wanstead Park Steering Group to increase management activity within the parkland. Officers also hoped to extend volunteer activity at Wanstead Park and Swaines Green to help meet increased work needs in these areas.

Significant work was to be carried out on the dam at Highams Park Lake during 2014 which the Operations team would be supporting. A new area of risk management activity to be undertaken this year was the survey of highway vegetation as part of a new Highways vegetation management programme. Tree safety would continue to be a large aspect of the Operations teams work in 2014.

Members noted that the completion of the Forest structures survey by City Surveyors would provide an opportunity to develop the Constraints Management System for the Forest during 2014 Habitat management supported by the Stewardship Grant from Natural England to the value of over £160,000 annually, plus the Single Payment Scheme funding, would continue on the same basis as the previous 6 years with work concentrated in the core areas of Hornbeam and Oak pollards, especially Bury Wood and Walthamstow Forest, and around the heaths. The grassland mowing programme would encompass more work on cutting of the wood-pasture glades and restoration areas.

Officers informed Members that the Keystone Tree programme would target 130 Beech and Oak pollards. Cattle grazing would be extended into new areas, such as Honey Lane Quarters, with the help of the new infrastructure including the invisible fence network.

Officers would be seeking to improve the value for money

Report of the City Surveyor.

The Committee considered the report of the City Surveyor which informed Members that following the last inspection at Highams Park Lake it was necessary to comply with the Inspecting Engineers Recommendations for Safety and reinforce the Dam, to allow overtopping and the passage of the design flood.

Members were informed that in January 2012, the Committee approved, the option of proceeding with a solution which involved removing the Michael Mallinson Watersports Centre; something which was thought to be unavoidable at Detailed Options Appraisal. Following further discussions with Members and local groups, the project team were asked to look at ways in which the watersports facility could be retained. After further design development, an option was produced where the watersports facility would be protected by a flood wall; negating the need for its demolition as part of the works.

Members noted that Walthamstow Scouts had now signed a Tenancy at Will for the interim period, and would not be using the lake during the 2014 works period, apart from some onsite storage at their own risk.  Discussions were underway with the main contractor for the temporary use of the Watersports Centre as site offices and welfare facilities.

Members queried whether access to the Michael Mallison Watersports Centre had been identified as part of the planning application that Officers submitted to the London Borough of Waltham Forest. Officers confirmed that this had not formed part of their application, and access arrangements would be confirmed at a later stage. Officers informed Members that the primary objective was to secure the safety of the dam in a probable Maximum Flood Event.

Members noted that over 100 people attended an open meeting for local residents to discuss this site, and there was still time to discuss the proposals as the detailed design would not be

The Superintendent of Burnham Beeches & Stoke Common to be heard.

The Committee received an update from the Superintendent of Burnham Beeches, Stoke Common and City Commons, and noted the following:

Burnham Beeches

·       Tree safety and post storm inspection procedures had been enacted six times since 1^st January 2014. Significant works were required and this had hampered other work programmes.

·       Heathland restoration and path clearance along Hawthorn Lane and Bedford Drive had been performed to improve access and help reduce long term tree safety issues and support the grazing project.

·       Work around Burnham Beeches café had begun to improve surface condition and drainage.

·       156 volunteers had completed 887 hours of work – 58 of these hours were achieved by under 18’s.

·       Strong winds had forced the cancellation of 3 events. However, 3 school visits, 3 health walks, orienteering, half term woodland wonder days and bird box building events had taken place.

Ashtead Commons

·       Inspection procedures were utilised after each event. It was estimated that 20 small trees had been cut from across paths, and 4 veterans had collapsed with many others loosing major limbs.

·       Two days of emergency tree works had taken place after storms – the work included rebalancing veteran oak and removal of hangers in another veteran oak.

·       Scrub management in the Woodlands Road area was taking place with Epsom volunteers, Eco volunteers and The Lower Mole Project. This project was currently ongoing.

·       Veteran tree management work was completed for this year. Members noted that 70-80 trees aerial work and 120-140 ground based works had occurred.

·       Scrub management work has achieved a 50:50 mix of grass & shrubs in Thorn Field & Pine Field.

·       Volunteers had completed 1204 hours.

·       The New Year Ramble and Roman villa talk events had taken place.

Coulsdon Commons

·       Heavy winds and high rainfall over the past couple of months meant the team had not been

Report of the Superintendent of Burnham Beeches, Stoke Common and City Commons.

The Committee considered the report of the Superintendent which sought approval to proceed to the statutory consultation phase for the introduction of Dog Control Orders (DCO’s) at Burnham Beeches National Nature Reserve, using the powers provided under Secondary Authority status.

Members were informed that in 2010 the City entered into an agreement with the Kennel Club to guide the management of responsible dog ownership on the Open Spaces. In recognition of that agreement the Superintendent had met with the Kennel Club to discuss and develop proposals to introduce DCO’s at Burnham Beeches. The Director of Open Spaces and Superintendent attended a further meeting with the Kennel Club in December 2013.

A Member Working Group was formed to review the comments submitted by

the Kennel Club in January 2014. Membership consisted of the following:

• Verderer Peter Adams

• Deputy Stanley Ginsburg

• Sylvia Moys

• Deputy Alexander Deane

Members discussed the Kennel Club’s points in detail and challenged Officers on the key issues. Revisions to the final document were then undertaken. The

outcomes of the working group’s deliberations were supported by three of the four working group members. Comments provided by Deputy Alexander Deane were circulated in the agenda. Comments made by Alderman Luder were also made available to Members of the Committee.

Since the Superintendent’s report of November 2013 the informal public consultation process, conducted by Footprint Ecology, had concluded. A total

of 359 visitors were interviewed. The ‘headline’ results were:

Schedule 1.Failure to remove dog faeces. The large majority of

interviewees supported the introduction of Schedule 1 across the whole site.

Schedule 2.Failure to keep a dog on a lead in an area so designated.

The introduction of Schedule 2 was supported by the majority of interviewees

across 50% of the site or

Report of the Superintendent of Burnham Beeches, Stoke Common and City Commons.

The Committee considered the report of the Superintendent which presented the management priorities for the Burnham Beeches, Stoke

Common and City Commons Division that will guide the annual work programme

during the period 01 April 2014 to 31 March 2015.

Resolved: That Members approved the Management Priorities for 2014-15

The Superintendent of Burnham Beeches, Stoke Common and the City Commons.

The Committee considered the report of the Superintendent which requested that Members reviewed the charges for sports facilities and miscellaneous items that were provided by the City Commons Division and sought approval for the proposed

charges for 2014-15.

Resolved: That Members approved the proposed charges for 2014-15

There were no questions.

There was no urgent business.

MOTION: That under Section 100A(4) of the Local Government Act 1972, the public be excluded from the meeting for the following items of business on the grounds that they involve the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in Part I of Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act.

MOTION: That under Section 100A(4) of the Local Government Act 1972, the public

be excluded from the meeting for the following items of business on the grounds that they involve the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in Part I of

Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act.

To agree the non-public minutes of the previous meeting.

Resolved: That Members agreed the minutes as an accurate record.

Report of the City Surveyor and Director of Open Spaces

The Committee considered the report of the Superintendent and City Surveyor.

Report of the City Surveyor.

The Committee considered the report of the Superintendent.

There were no non-public questions.

There was no urgent business.