Agenda and minutes

Venue: Hope Centre at St Mary's Church, 201 High Rd, Loughton, IG10 1BB

Contact: Richard Holt  Email: Richard.Holt@cityoflondon.gov.uk

Items
No. Item

1.

Apologies

Minutes:

Apologies Sylvia Moys, Caroline Haines, Jill Carter, Tim Harris, Gordon Turpin, Benjamin Murphy, Mark Squire and Mathew Firth.

 

 ...  view the full minutes text for item 1.

2.

MEMBERS' DECLARATIONS UNDER THE CODE OF CONDUCT IN RESPECT OF ITEMS ON THE AGENDA

Minutes:

There were not declaration received.

 ...  view the full minutes text for item 2.

3.

Minutes pdf icon PDF 208 KB

To agree the minutes of the previous meeting of the Epping Forest Consultative Committee on 12 June 2019.

 ...  view the full agenda text for item 3.

Minutes:

The Committee considered the minutes of the last meeting of the Epping Forest Consultative Committee held on the 12th of June 2019.

 

RESOLVED- That the minutes of the meeting held on 12 June 2019 be approved as an accurate record.

 ...  view the full minutes text for item 3.

4.

MINUTES OF THE EPPING FOREST & COMMONS COMMITTEE

Minutes:

The Committee received the minutes of the Epping Forest and Commons Committee meeting held on 8th of July 2019 and the draft minutes of meeting Epping Forest and Commons Committee held on the 9th of July 2019.

 

RESOLVED- That the minutes be noted.

 ...  view the full minutes text for item 4.

5.

Minutes of the Epping Forest and Commons Committee meeting held on 8th of July 2019 pdf icon PDF 99 KB

To receive the minutes of the Epping Forest and Commons Committee meeting held on 8th of July 2019.

 ...  view the full agenda text for item 5.

Minutes:

The Committee received the minutes of the Epping Forest and Commons Committee meeting held on 8th of July 2019 and the draft minutes of meeting Epping Forest and Commons Committee held on the 9th of September 2019.

 

RESOLVED- That the minutes be noted.

 

 ...  view the full minutes text for item 5.

6.

Draft minutes of the Epping Forest and Commons Committee meeting held on 9th of September 2019 pdf icon PDF 96 KB

To receive the draft minutes of the Epping Forest and Commons Committee meeting held on 9th of September 2019.

 ...  view the full agenda text for item 6.

Minutes:

7.

Epping Forest - Superintendent's Update for April to May 2019 pdf icon PDF 391 KB

Report of the Director of Open Spaces.

 ...  view the full agenda text for item 7.

Minutes:

The Committee received a report of the Superintendent of Epping Forest which provided Members with a summary of the Epping Forest Division’s activities across April 2019 to May 2019.

 

RESOLVED- That the update be noted.

 

 ...  view the full minutes text for item 7.

8.

Epping Forest - Superintendent's Update for June to July 2019 (SEF 30/19) pdf icon PDF 116 KB

Report of the Director of Open Spaces.

 ...  view the full agenda text for item 8.

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The Committee received a report of the Superintendent of Epping Forest which provided Members with a summary of the Epping Forest Division’s activities across June to July 2019.

 

A Committee Member queried the increased security facilities at Wanstead Car Park which had been mentioned within the Superintendent’s report. The Superintendent explained that cameras and improved access teeth had been installed at Car Park.

 

RESOLVED- That the update be noted.

 

 ...  view the full minutes text for item 8.

9.

City of London Corporation response to the Barts Health NHS Trust Public Consultation on the Future of Whipps Cross Hospital (SEF 42/19) pdf icon PDF 80 KB

Report of the Director of Open Spaces.

 

To receive presentation from Barts Health NHS Trust Hospital Redevelopment Team.

 ...  view the full agenda text for item 9.

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The Committee received a report of Director of Open Spaces on the Barts Health NHS Trust published public consultation documents relating to options for the future of the 44.13-acre Whipps Cross University Hospital site.

 

Abbas Mirza the Community Engagement Lead for the Whipps Cross Hospital Redevelopment provided the Committee with a presentation on the project. The Community Engagement Lead’s presentation explained the need for the redevelopment, options for the site and the community engagement programme noting that the 15th of November date for feedback had now been extended. The Director of Open Spaces noted that the City of London Corporation was supportive of the redevelopment of the site but was fully conscious of the impact to neighbouring Epping Forest land.

 

Replying to a query from a Member of the Committee the Community Engagement Lead confirmed that the Barts Health NHS Trust had engaged with the local authority and the City of London Corporation to help to mitigate issues caused by increased traffic in the area caused by the redevelopment. Following this it was questioned what the planned car parking provision for new site would be. Replying to this the Community Engagement Lead confirmed that a multi-story car park would be needed on the site but highlighted that Transport for London would also be contacted to explore public transport opportunities for the site.

 

The representative of the WREN group commented that the group was concerned about the affect redevelopment would have on the local environment and questioned the considerations that had been made regarding sustainability. The Community Engagement Lead clarified that a statutory Environmental Assessment would be completed and that an NHS working group would be looking at organisation wide improvements regarding sustainability with the specific aim at the Whipps Cross site to be in operation for more than fifty

 ...  view the full minutes text for item 9.

10.

'London's Great Forest' - A Strategy and Management Plan for Epping Forest 2019-29 SEF 37/19 pdf icon PDF 92 KB

Report of the Director of Open Spaces

 ...  view the full agenda text for item 10.

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The Committee received a report of the Director of Open Spaces on the Strategy and Management Plan for Epping Forest 2019-29. The report provided a Strategy and Management Plan document which presented a summary of the key management objectives for the Forest over the next 10 years.

 

Members discussed the integration of the strategies to alleviate outside challenges to core strategy priorities of the Epping Forest Management Plan. It was noted by a Member of the Committee that while the responses to outside challenges were not directly referenced in the Plan it did deal with these issues.

 

A Member of the Committee commented that the reference to acid grassland be added to the Management Plan and requested if there was a policy developed for engagement with commercial dog walkers in the Forest. The Director of Open Spaces explained that a sustainable visitor strategy, which will include a commercial dog walkers’ policy, was due to be developed by the City of London Corporation.

 

It was noted by a Member of the Committee that the term ‘London’s Great Forest’ was misleading as a large part of the Forest was in Essex and not London. The Director of Open Spaces commented that the reference to London was as a result of the connection with the City of London, both current and historic.

 

RESOLVED- That the report be noted.

 

 ...  view the full minutes text for item 10.

11.

Wanstead Park: Conceptual Options Plan (SEF 38/19) pdf icon PDF 108 KB

Report of the Director of Open Spaces.

 ...  view the full agenda text for item 11.

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The Committee received a report of the Director of Open Spaces on the Wanstead Park: Conceptual Options Plan. The report outlined the key details of the future management of Wanstead Park and, at appendix 1, the final draft Conceptual Options Plan.

 

A Member of the Committee representing the Friends of Wanstead Parklands read a short statement from the group noting the disappointment that the capital projects for the Park were due for 2025 and noted the need for further better transport facilities for the Park. The Director of Open Spaces explained that the capital projects were due to 20205 in part due to the fact that the City of London Corporation, as part of its Fundamental Review process, had paused all capital projects and would be reprioritising expenditure on projects across the organisation. However, it was confirmed that the statutory reservoir works would be completed to the timetable specified.

 

The Chairman added that there were many Councillors on the Court of Common Council who felt that more resources should be allocated to the management of Open Spaces. Replying to a Member’s query the Director of Open Spaces confirmed that the Department would be exploring alternative funding sources to alleviate pressures on the Epping Forest Management Budget and that any funds received from filming in the Forest would be spent in the management of the Forest.

 

RESOLVED- That the report be noted.

 

 ...  view the full minutes text for item 11.

12.

Leyton Flats Individual Site Plan (SEF 41/19) pdf icon PDF 92 KB

Report of the Director of Open Spaces.

 ...  view the full agenda text for item 12.

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The Committee received a report of the Director of Open Spaces which outlined the Individual Site Plan (ISP) that has been prepared for Leyton Flats.

 

The representatives of the Orion Harriers running club and the Friends of Wanstead Park both commented on their support for the Individual Site Plan (ISP) prepared for Leyton Flats.

 

RESOLVED- That the report be noted.

 

 ...  view the full minutes text for item 12.

13.

City of London Corporation response to the London Borough of Waltham Forest 'Shaping the Borough Draft Local Plan 2020 - 2035 consultation document (SEF 43/19) pdf icon PDF 76 KB

Report of the Director of Open Spaces.

 ...  view the full agenda text for item 13.

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The Committee considered a report of the Director of Open Spaces which on the London Borough of Waltham Forest Draft Local Plan for 2020 – 2035.

 

RESOLVED- That the report be noted.

 ...  view the full minutes text for item 13.

14.

Wanstead Park Permanent Orienteering Course (SEF 39/19) pdf icon PDF 73 KB

Report of the Director of Open Spaces.

 ...  view the full agenda text for item 14.

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The Committee considered a report of the Director of Open Spaces on the Wanstead Park Permanent Orienteering Course. The report outlined the request from the Chigwell and Epping Forest Orienteering Club’s for permission to undertake a joint initiative with the City Corporation to establish a permanent orienteering course at Wanstead Park.

 

RESOLVED- That the report be noted.

 

 ...  view the full minutes text for item 14.

15.

Epping Forest Licence, Produce and Sports Charges (SEF 40/19) pdf icon PDF 74 KB

Report of the Director of Open Spaces

 ...  view the full agenda text for item 15.

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The Committee considered a report of the Director of Open Spaces which provided an update to the Committee on the performance of charges levied for licensed activities, produce sales and formal sports in the last full financial year 2018/19.

 

Replying to a question from a Member of the Committee the Director of Open Spaces replied that a number of measures had been undertaken to prevent non-compliance with Epping Forest Licence, Produce and Sports Charges. It was explained that Officers worked closely with local businesses on non-compliance and invited Committee Members to observe Officer on compliance checking tours of Epping Forest.

 

RESOLVED- That the report be noted.

 

 

 ...  view the full minutes text for item 15.

16.

Baldwins and Birch Hall Park Ponds pdf icon PDF 166 KB

Report of the Director of the Built Environment.

 ...  view the full agenda text for item 16.

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The Committee considered a report of the Director of the Built Environment on the proposed works to the impounding earth embankment dams at Baldwins and Birch Hall Park Ponds.

 

RESOLVED- That the report be noted.

 ...  view the full minutes text for item 16.

17.

Epping Forest Events Tender

Report of the Director of Open Spaces.

 

To follow.

 ...  view the full agenda text for item 17.

Minutes:

The Committee noted that the report was withdrawn from the agenda.

 

RESOLVED- That the report be withdrawn.

 

 ...  view the full minutes text for item 17.

18.

Questions

Minutes:

Following a question which a Member of Committee had given notice of prior to the Committee meeting the Director of Open Spaces informed that a full response had been provided via email and that details of the relevant planning permission would be provide to the Epping Forest and Commons Committee.

 

A Committee Member queried if the bylaw notice boards located in the Forest could be reviewed as they felt that their current size and number did not provide sufficient coverage. The Director of Open Spaces confirmed that there was a communications review which would include the notice board provision.

 

In reply to a question from a Member of the Committee the Director of Open Spaces clarified that the first presentation on the Deer Review would be ready in early 2020.

 

A Member of the Committee commented on the City of London Corporation’s Fundamental Review and commented that green spaces should be considered of paramount importance. The Chairman commented that he fully supported the importance of the City of London Corporation managed Open Spaces and would continue to argue for their continued support throughout the Fundamental Review process.

 

 ...  view the full minutes text for item 18.

19.

Any other business

Minutes:

The Town Clerk informed the Committee of the meeting dates for the Epping Forest Consultative Committee in 2020 which were as follows: 29th of January 2020, 10 June 2020 and 21 October 2020.

 

 ...  view the full minutes text for item 19.