Agenda and minutes

Apologies for absence were received from Deputy Alex Deane, Alderman Ian Luder, Councillor Melvin Cohen (London Borough of Barnet) and Councillor Sally Gimson (London Borough of Camden).

Chairman’s welcome

The Chairman welcomed Philip Wright as a new Co-Opted Member of the Committee, representing English Heritage as the new General Manager of Kenwood House.

Mr Tony Ghilchik declared a non-pecuniary interest in item 17, Hampstead Heath Ponds Project funding of the judicial review, by virtue of being a member of the Heath and Hampstead Society, and undertook to leave the room during the consideration of this item.

To agree the public minutes and summary of the meeting held on Monday 9 June 2014.

RESOLVED – That:-

a)    the public minutes of the Hampstead Heath, Highgate Wood and Queen’s Park Committee meeting held on Monday 9 June 2014 be agreed; and

b)    the draft public minutes of the Queen’s Park Joint Consultative Group meeting held on Wednesday 4 June 2014 be noted.

Report of the Town Clerk.

The Committee received a report of the Town Clerk that provided details of action taken by the Town Clerk, in consultation with the Chairmen and Deputy Chairmen of the Hampstead Heath, Highgate Wood and Queen’s Park Committee and the Projects Sub Committee, in accordance with Standing Order number 41(b), since the last Committee.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted.

Joint report of the Chamberlain and the Director of Open Spaces.

The Committee received a joint report of the Chamberlain and the Director of Open Spaces that compared the revenue outturn for the services overseen by the Hampstead Heath, Highgate Wood and Queen’s Park Committee in 2013/14 with the final agreed budget for the year.

The Committee were advised that the proposal to carry forward £217,000 worth of underspend across the Open Spaces Department into the current year had been agreed. Of this, £30,000 had been allocated to activities overseen by this Committee, including £10,000 towards a Parliament Hill feasibility study to identify possible future savings and income increases and £20,000 towards the introduction of new signage at Hampstead Heath.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted.

Superintendent of Hampstead Heath to be heard on Hampstead Heath, Highgate Wood and Queen’s Park matters.

The Superintendent of Hampstead Heath updated the Committee on the following matters relating to Hampstead Heath, Highgate Wood and Queen’s Park.

Hampstead Heath Ponds Project

The remaining Ground Investigations (GIs) at Hampstead No.1, Catch Pit and Stock Pond, which had been delayed due to nesting birds, were carried out successfully on 1^st and 2^nd September, completing all GIs.

Divers carried out a survey of the platform and columns at the Ladies’ Pond during early September, which took three days instead of the anticipated four. Ladies’ Pond users were invited to use the Mixed Pond facility during the three days the facility was closed during the day. Members were advised that a report would be presented to Atkins, the project designers, as the results of the survey were critical to inform the detailed design of the new facilities at the Ladies’ Pond.

The Superintendent advised that emphasis had moved towards detailed design following the submission of the planning application on 4 July 2014. This had so far involved working with the design team on path surfacing details, the specification of fences, designs for cladding and planting proposals to reduce the impact of the sheet piling. A booklet of information would be sent to members of the Ponds Project Stakeholder Group for information and comment.

Property

Hampstead Garden Suburb Great Wall

Restoration work to the Great Wall had commenced after initial vegetation clearance and would last for 47 weeks.

Parking Consultation

The London Borough of Barnet was reviewing parking restrictions around the Heath Extension.  The City had been consulted and supported the proposals for a parking break in the daytime.

Lido

Members were advised that replacement of the gates and posts at the entrance from Gordon House Road would commence in late September 2014. The rebuild of the boundary wall

Report of the Chamberlain.

The Committee received a report of the Chamberlain that outlined the Hampstead Heath Trustee’s Annual Report and Financial Statements for the year ended 31 March 2014, presented in the format required by the Charity Commission.

The report covered both the operations of Hampstead Heath and the Hampstead Heath Trust Fund, which managed the investment of £15 million that was originally transferred from the London Residuary Body to help defray the management and maintenance costs of the Heath.

The Chairman noted that the fixed assets for Hampstead Heath for 2014 had doubled compared with the previous year. This was due to expenditure on the Ponds Project.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted.

Report of the Chamberlain.

The Committee received a report of the Chamberlain that outlined the Highgate Wood and Queen’s Park Kilburn Trustee’s Annual Report and Financial Statements for the year ended 31 March 2014, presented in the format required by the Charity Commission.

Members of the Committee noted that Hampstead Heath, Highgate Wood and Queen’s Park could not be maintained without the generous grants awarded by the City of London Corporation.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted.

Report of the Director of the Built Environment.

The Committee received a report of the Director of the Built Environment that updated Members on the mitigation of Corporate Risk 11 in relation to the Ponds Project.

Members were advised that the Heath and Hampstead Society had applied for judicial review; the timetable was still to be confirmed but it was hoped that the hearing might be heard in November 2014. Members noted that the planning application to the London Borough of Camden was submitted on 4 July 2014 and that project work should commence on site at Hampstead Heath in early 2015, subject to the outcome of the judicial review and planning permission being obtained.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted.

Report of the Superintendent of Hampstead Heath.

The Committee considered a report of the Superintendent of Hampstead Heath regarding the way forward for the Ponds Project Stakeholder Group (PPSG).

The Committee began by paying tribute to the late Mr Ian Harrison’s contribution to the PPSG and the Hampstead Heath Consultative Committee, on which he represented the Vale of Health Society for 25 years. The Chairman also added his thanks to all members and groups represented on the PPSG for their involvement with the Ponds Project.

Members were advised that there would be less opportunity for consultation with the PPSG as the project moves to construction as the detailed design would be concluded. Moving forward, the emphasis of the PPSG would focus on information giving and receiving of feedback.

Members were also informed that the summary table of PPSG feedback from Seminars in April, May and June would be updated and re-issued with a detailed design booklet.

RESOLVED – That:-

a)    the contribution made by Ian Harrison to both the PPSG and the Hampstead Heath Consultative Committee be noted;

b)    the appointment of Karen Beare as Chairman of the PPSG be approved;

c)    the shift in emphasis of the PPSG towards information sharing, including introduction of hard hat tours, quarterly PPSG information meetings and increased use of the website and newsletters to engage in wider Heath issues, be approved.

Report of the Superintendent of Hampstead Heath.

The Committee considered a report of the Superintendent of Hampstead Heath that sought approval of the proposed new charging structure for the Hampstead Heath Schools Programme.

The Superintendent of Hampstead Heath advised Members that the current charging structure, in place since 2006, did not cover the associated teaching costs of the Programme. The Superintendent advised that a change in structure from per student to per session charging would also streamline administration and improve budgeting.

In response to a Member’s question, the Superintendent explained that the minimum charge for a two hour session for 30 students was £90 but this price would increase with the number of students. Prices would be agreed at the next meeting of the Committee, once the proposals to change the structure had been approved. A Member suggested that the Education Board should be made aware of the extent of the educational work undertaken by the Open Spaces Department.

RESOLVED – That the ‘per session’ charging structure for the Hampstead Heath Schools Programme be approved.

Report of the Superintendent of Hampstead Heath.

The Committee received a report of the Superintendent of Hampstead Heath that detailed the success of the Hampstead Heath Events Programme from January to September 2014.

Members were advised that the events programme consisted of 93 sports, wellbeing and cultural events which engaged with over 80,000 members of the public. The Superintendent then advised that 114 people had competed in the 16^th Heath Duathlon on Sunday 31 August 2014.

The Committee requested that the Town Clerk look into ways of informing all Members of the Court of Common Council of events relating to the North London Open Spaces via the Member’s Briefing.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted.

In response to a Member’s question, the Chairman advised that Officers had tried to adjust Committee walk dates in March and September to avoid clashes with the Community and Children’s Services Committee but it had not always been possible.

There was none.

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.

RESOLVED – 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 involved the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in Part I of Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act.

                        Item No.                                              Paragraph No.

                        16                                                        3, 5, 7

                        17                                                        3

Report of the Director of Open Spaces.

The Committee received a report of the Director of Open Spaces regarding the Open Spaces Department Service Based Review.

Report of the Director of the Built Environment.

The Committee considered a report of the Director of the Built Environment.

There were none.

There was none.