Agenda and minutes

Venue: Committee Room 4 - 2nd Floor West Wing, Guildhall. View directions

Contact: David Arnold  Email: David.Arnold@cityoflondon.gov.uk

Items
No. Item

1.

Apologies

Minutes:

Apologies were received from Marguerite Clark (Highgate Society), Peter Corley (Tree Trust for Haringey), and Alison Watson (Friends of Queen’s Wood).

 

Chairman’s Welcome

 

The Chairman welcomed Professor John Lumley and Councillor Gail Engert to their first meeting of the Committee.

 

 ...  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 none.

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

3.

Minutes pdf icon PDF 197 KB

To agree the public minutes and summary of the meeting held on 30 April 2014.

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

Minutes:

RESOLVED – That the minutes of the last meeting held on 30 April 2014 be agreed as a correct record.

 

Matters Arising

 

LiDar Survey

In response to a question from Michael Hammerson, the Superintendent of Hampstead Heath advised that results of the LiDar survey would be made available to Members upon request.

 

Conservation Management Plan Objectives – Progress

The Superintendent advised that events in Highgate Wood during summer 2015 would be publicised on social media and a new online newsletter. Staff at the Wood had also recently obtained an iPad to aide with the publicising of events through social media.

 

Tree Management

The Highgate Wood and Conservation Manager advised that a short presentation on iTree would be provided at the next meeting once the results of a London-wide survey had been finalised.

 

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

4.

Superintendent's update for November 2014 pdf icon PDF 845 KB

Report of the Superintendent of Hampstead Heath.

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

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The Consultative Committee received a report of the Superintendent of Hampstead Heath that provided an update to Members on management and operational activities in Highgate Wood over the past six months.

 

Budget-identifying cost saving and increasing income

The Superintendent advised the Committee that the Open Spaces Department was required to find £2.189 million of savings over the next three years. However, there was minimal scope for savings and reductions at the Wood other than increasing income from licensing, operational efficiency of sports pitches, and turnover at the Café. Members commended the Open Spaces Department for identifying the minimal savings at the Wood.

 

In response to a question from Councillor Bob Hare, the Highgate Wood and Conservation Manager advised that it would be difficult to increase income from filming as the Wood was not very vehicle-accessible and closures of certain areas would affect users of the Wood and local residents. He added that the fees charged for filming tended to be quite low.

 

In response to a question from Michael Hammerson, the Superintendent advised that the possibility of increasing income through the provision of higher and further education courses on conservation and woodland management would be considered as part of the Education Strategy, which was currently being developed. The Deputy Chairman suggested that the Strategy should be presented to the Education Board for consideration.

 

Roman Kiln Project progress

The Highgate Wood and Conservation Manager advised that a Gateway Two report regarding this joint community project would be submitted to the Corporate Project Board Sub Committee shortly. Members suggested that the report should include other historical aspects of the Wood too.

 

In response to a member’s question regarding publicity for the project, the Highgate Wood and Conservation Manager advised that local media had covered a re-enactment of Roman Kiln use in

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

5.

Fees and Charges Report pdf icon PDF 139 KB

Report of the Superintendent of Hampstead Heath.

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

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The Consultative Committee received a report of the Superintendent of Hampstead Heath that set out the proposed increase to fees and charges for cricket and football at Highgate Wood in 2015/16. Members were advised that a more fundamental review of fees and charges, including full benchmarking, would be carried out by the end of 2015.

 

Members were advised that the charges for children’s football coaching at Queen’s Park would not be included in the proposed changes to fees and charges as they would become part of the licensing regime with effect from spring 2015.

 

In response to members’ questions regarding the possibility of weddings and civil ceremonies being held at the Wood, the Highgate Wood and Conservation Manager advised the marriage licence would have to be attached to a built structure such as the Café or a named tree. Members noted that the lack of available car-parking at the Wood would be an issue for weddings but acknowledged that a limit could be placed on numbers within the licence. The Highgate Wood and Conservation Manager would look into the possibility of weddings and civil ceremonies being held at the Wood.

 

RESOLVED – That:-

a)    the proposed fees and charges for 2015/16 be noted; and

b)    the possibility of weddings and civil ceremonies being held at Highgate Wood be considered and a report be presented to the next meeting if appropriate.

 

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

6.

Questions

Minutes:

In response to a question from Councillor Bob Hare, the Highgate Wood and Conservation Manager advised that bee hives had been reintroduced to the Wood in spring 2014. He added that the Wood is an ideal environment for bees and reported that the general insect population had increased significantly in recent years.

 

It was RESOLVED that an update would be provided at the next meeting.

 

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

7.

Any Other Business That the Chairman Considers Urgent

Minutes:

The Chairman advised members of the Consultative Committee that the Wood had recently been awarded a Green Flag and a Green Heritage Award.

 

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

8.

Date of Next Meeting

To note the date of the next meeting of the Highgate Wood Joint Consultative Committee, to be held on Wednesday 22 April 2015.

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

Minutes:

RESOLVED – That the date of the next meeting of the Highgate Wood Joint Consultative Committee, to be held on Wednesday 22 April 2015, be noted.

 

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