Agenda and minutes

Apologies were received from Karina Dostalova, Clare James, Edward Lord, Deputy John Owen-Ward, Martyn Foster (Royal Society for the Protection of Birds), and Councillor Sally Gimson (London Borough of Camden).

There were none.

To agree the public minutes and summary of the meeting held on Monday 15 September 2014.

RESOLVED – That the minutes of the previous Committee meeting held on 15 September 2014 be agreed, subject to the following amendment:

Weddings & Civil Ceremonies at Hill Garden & Pergola

In response to Members’ questions, the Superintendent advised that a Friday and Saturday ceremony had occurred on the same weekend once and that a report regarding the full costs and income generated from weddings and civil ceremonies would be presented at the next appropriate Committee meeting.

To note the draft minutes of the meeting held on Monday 3 November 2014.

RESOLVED – That the draft public minutes of the Hampstead Heath Consultative Committee meeting held on 3 November 2014 be noted.

Joint report of the Remembrancer and the Director of Open Spaces, approved by the Open Spaces and City Gardens Committee on 13 October 2014 and the Epping Forest and City Commons Committee on 3 November 2014.

The Committee considered a joint report of the Remembrancer and the Director of Open Spaces that outlined officer discussions which had taken place concerning possible modifications to the legislation governing the City of London Corporation’s Open Spaces.

The Director of Open Spaces advised that this report was an introduction to the project, which will continue over the next 24 months. Members were advised that this informal consultation stage would involve the views of consultative committees and local interest groups.

The Remembrancer added that, once local views had been sought and considered, officers would present a detailed set of proposals to the relevant Committees. The earliest date for depositing a Private Bill in Parliament would be in November 2015.

RESOLVED – That officers be instructed to test the views of local interest groups on possible modifications to Open Spaces legislation.

Superintendent of Hampstead Heath to be heard on Hampstead Heath matters.

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

Property

Hampstead Garden Suburb Great Wall

The Superintendent advised that maintenance works had been delayed by four weeks due to an investigation into parts of the Great Wall which were leaning.

Lido

The Superintendent advised that repairs works to the Café roof would last 16 weeks between December 2014 and April 2015. As part of a separate project, the Lido wall would be re-built to original height with the addition of a fence on top to increase the level of security. The City Surveyor’s Department was aiming to co-ordinate these two projects.

Parliament Hill

Members were informed that the tennis courts had been open for two weeks since completion of resurfacing works, which was one month ahead of schedule. Temporary markings had been put in place during winter which would be re-painted in spring 2015 when the top surface was applied. This would involve a closure of the courts for approximately two weeks.

Parking

Members were advised that they may be contacted by local residents regarding a parking amendment introduced by the London Borough of Camden in North End Avenue.  The Superintendent was following up with officers from Camden.

Planning

Athlone House

The Superintendent advised that the City of London Corporation had applied for Rule 6 Status to enable the City to make a representation at the Planning enquiry in February 2015. An expert witness had been appointed to argue that the current planning application would have a negative impact on the surrounding landscape as well as a detrimental impact on Metropolitan Open Land.

Highgate Police Station

Members were advised that representations had been submitted to the London Borough of Haringey against the planning application to demolish the

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

The Committee considered a joint report of the Chamberlain and the Director of Open Spaces that updated the Committee on its latest approved revenue budget for 2014/15 and sought approval for a provisional revenue budget for 2015/16 for subsequent submission to the Finance Committee.

The report also outlined the effects of the Service Based Review proposals for the Open Spaces Department. Members were advised that, as part of these proposals, a saving of £332,000 would be made in year one (2015/16), £306,000 in year two (16/17), and £440,000 in year three (17/18). A saving of £252,000 would be made through the ending of the City Bridge Trust grant for educational and volunteering activities. As the educational activities of the department were judged to be suitable for funding from the Bridge House Estates’ charitable funds, an application would be made before April 2015 to access this funding.

RESOLVED – That:-

a)    The provisional 2015/16 revenue budget be approved for submission to the Finance Committee;

b)    The draft capital budget be approved; and

c)    The Chamberlain, in consultation with the Director of Open Spaces, be authorised to revise these budgets to allow for any further implications arising from Corporate Projects, departmental reorganisations and other reviews and changes to the Additional Works Programme.

Report of the Superintendent of Hampstead Heath.

The Committee considered a report of the Superintendent of Hampstead Heath that provided a review of the Management Operations and activities carried out on the Heath over the past 12 months as part of the 2014 Annual Work Programme and sought approval for the implementation of the new 2015 Annual Work Programme.

The Superintendent advised that the Work Programme had been reviewed and that the quarterly walks with the Heath and Hampstead Society had continued to prove beneficial in the development of the Work Programme. The Superintendent also thanked Heath Hands volunteers for their tremendous contribution to the 2014 Work Programme. Clearing storm damage from October 2013 had impacted on the 2014 Annual Work Programme as other planned work had to be postponed.

In response to a Member’s question, the Director of Open Spaces advised that the Service Based Review proposed savings focussed on income generation, sports and activities, and operational efficiencies rather than landscape management. The latter would be unaffected.

Members were advised that they could still submit their comments regarding the 2015 Annual Work Programme to the Superintendent for a short time.

RESOLVED – That the implementation of the proposed 2015 Annual Work Programme be approved.

Report of the Superintendent of Hampstead Heath.

The Committee considered a report of the Superintendent of Hampstead Heath that presented a detailed Management Work Plan for the Hampstead Fleet Stream compartment. The overall vision of the Work Plan was to management the compartment in order to maintain the stream as a visible above-surface water course.

Members were advised that the Superintendent was discussing bramble management within the compartment with a member of the Hampstead Heath Consultative Committee.

In response to Members’ questions, the Superintendent advised that the final Management Work Plan would be published online and reviewed in 2017/18. He added that he would make the Management Work Plan document more widely available to visitors at the Heath.

RESOLVED – That the Management Work Plan for the Hampstead Fleet Stream Compartment be approved.

Report of the Superintendent of Hampstead Heath.

The Committee considered a report of the Superintendent of Hampstead Heath that set out the proposed fees and charges for a range of facilities and services provided across Hampstead Heath, Highgate Wood and Queen’s Park for 2015/16. Members were advised that a more fundamental review of fees and charges, including benchmarking, would be carried out by the end of 2015.

The Superintendent advised that Children’s Football Coaching at Highgate Wood and Queen’s Park would not be included in the proposed changes to fees and charges because providers would be charged under a licensing regime from spring 2015.

RESOLVED – That the proposed fees and charges for 2015/16 be approved.

Report of the Superintendent of Hampstead Heath.

The Committee considered a report of the Superintendent of Hampstead Heath that set out a request received from the Hampstead Rugby Club to create an additional third rugby pitch on the Hampstead Heath Extension.

The Operational Services Manager advised that Hampstead Rugby Club had successfully increased their junior and women sections, so a third pitch would be required on designated sports area of the Heath Extension to incorporate their growing membership. Members were also advised that the Hampstead Heath Consultative Committee and the Sports Advisory Forum both supported the request for a third pitch.

In response to a Member’s question, the Operational Services Manager advised that the new pitch would be created on the outfield of the cricket pitches during the autumn/winter rugby season. This would not impact the cricket squares during the spring/summer cricket season.

RESOLVED – That a third rugby pitch be allocated to Hampstead Heath Rugby Club with usage to be reviewed at the end of the 2016/17 playing season.

There were none.

The Committee congratulated the Superintendent of Hampstead Heath for being officially appointed in his post on a permanent basis. The Director of Open Spaces advised that she would circulate written confirmation of this appointment to Members in December 2014.

The Chairman advised Members that the next Committee walk would take place on Friday 20 March 2015 to ensure the availability of Members of this Committee who were also Members of the Community and Children’s Services Committee.

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 on the grounds

that they involve the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in Part 1

of Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act.

Item No.                                             Paragraph No.

14 – 16                                                           3

To agree the non-public minutes of the meeting held on 15 September 2014.

RESOLVED – That the non-public minutes of the last meeting held on 15 September 2014 be agreed.

Report of the Town Clerk.

The Committee received a report of the Town Clerk that informed Members of urgent action taken by the Town Clerk, in consultation with the Chairman and Deputy Chairman, since the last meeting on 15 September 2014.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted.

Joint report of the Director of the Built Environment and the Director of Open Spaces, to be considered by the Audit and Risk Committee on 8 December 2014 and the Projects Sub Committee on 9 December 2014.

The Committee considered a joint report of the Director of the Built Environment and the Director of Open Spaces regarding the current position of Hampstead Heath Ponds Project.

There was one question.

There was none.