Agenda and draft minutes

Apologies were received from the Reverend Dr. Martin Dudley, Virginia Rounding, Councillor Sally Gimson, and Paul Griffiths.

The Chairman advised that he had been informed that the London Borough of Camden had appointed Councillor Sally Gimson as its representative on the Committee for the ensuing year in the space of Councillor Sean Birch, effective immediately. Furthermore, English Heritage had appointed Charlotte Kemp as its representative on the Committee in the space of Paul Griffiths, effective from September 2012. The Chairman thanked Mr. Birch and Mr. Griffiths for their contribution to discussions during their time on the Committee.

RESOLVED: That the changes in membership listed above be approved.

There were no declarations.

To agree the public minutes and summary of the meeting held on 21 May 2012 (copy attached).

The public minutes and summary of the meeting held on 21 May 2012 were approved, subject to two minor amendments.

MATTERS ARISING FROM THE MINUTES:-

Superintendent’s Update (item 10)

Golders Hill Park Diamond Jubilee Event

The Chairman advised that, in spite of testing of the equipment, the beacon in Golders Hill Park had failed to light on the evening of 4 June 2012.

Hosepipe Ban

The Chairman advised that the hosepipe ban had recently been lifted.

Proposal for the Temporary Installation of David Breuer-Weil ‘Visitor 1’ Sculpture at Golders Hill Park (item 12)

The Chairman advised the Committee that the sculpture was scheduled to be opened on 24 July 2012 and that Members were invited to attend the reception.

In response to a Member’s query, the Town Clerk undertook to amend the minutes to avoid the Chairman’s signature appearing on a page with no other text.

A Member reiterated the point they had made in the previous meeting relative to a recent change in practice that allowed outgoing Chairmen to choose who should read their vote of thanks. The Member believed this was not something the Governance Review would consider. The Chairman noted the Member’s concerns and advised them to raise the matter with the Chief Commoner.

Report of the Town Clerk (copy attached).

The Committee received a report of the Town Clerk, prepared on behalf of the Governance Review Working Party, which sought comments from the Committee on the governance arrangements introduced in 2011 and the impact that they may have had on the operation of the Committee.

Following the Chairman’s invitation for Members to discuss any issues relating to Committee governance, the Committee agreed that it was happy with current arrangements.

RESOLVED: That no representations from the Committee be submitted to the Governance Review Working Party for consideration.

Joint report of the Chamberlain and the Director of Open Spaces (copy attached).

The Committee received a joint report of the Chamberlain and the Director of Open Spaces, which compared the revenue outturn for the services overseen by the Committee in 2011/12 with the final agreed budget for the year. In total, there was a better than budget position of £668,000 for the services overseen by the Committee compared with the final agreed budget for the year as set out in the report.

RECEIVED

Report of the Director of Open Spaces (copy attached).

The Committee received a report of the Director of Open Spaces relative to Dog Control Orders. The report informed the Committee of the City’s recent acquisition of a Designation Order, which enabled the City to make and enforce Dog Control orders outside the Square Mile, which came into force on 31 May 2012.

In response to a Member’s query, the Director advised that the intention was to introduce Dog Control Orders following the trial on Burnham Beeches and a consultation process on each of the open spaces. This would allow the City to present its experience of Dog Control Orders to the Department for Communities and Local Government in any consultation on amendments to the policy. The Director was aware of the ongoing issues on Hampstead Heath and of some occasions when dogs were not under their owner’s control. The Director advised that the Hampstead Heath Constabulary were currently monitoring such occurrences during their patrols and advising owners to keep their dogs under control.

The Director informed the Committee of new proposals covering anti-social behaviour, which could see Dog Control Orders replaced with a wider form of control order.

RESOLVED: that Members,

i)      note the report and the approach to trialling Dog Control Orders and;

ii)    approve that engagement with the Government on maintaining Secondary Authority status within the proposed new regime for anti-social behaviour can proceed.

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

Members noted that the Superintendent was currently recuperating well following a recent operation. The Committee wished him a speedy recovery. The Operational Services Manager updated Members on Hampstead Heath matters:

Green to Gold

The legal issue surrounding the Green to Gold copyright had been settled out of court. The phrase could now be used until 2013.

Wild About Hampstead

The Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB) lead Heritage Lottery Fund bid had been successful in securing £440,640. The RSPB were currently in the process of recruiting a Projects Manager and Education & Training Officer.

National Grid

Work was progressing despite poor weather conditions. Permission had been granted to create a temporary new track of crushed stone to aid vehicle movements for the Hampstead Heath Extension works. One rugby pitch would be relocated in an adjacent field for one season. Works were currently progressing at Cut Through Lane (Hampstead Way) and works would commence at Parliament Hill in September 2012.

Car Parking Review

The Protection of Freedoms Act 2012 was being brought into force sooner than anticipated, which meant that wheel clamping would no longer be permitted on private land from 1 October 2012. Other means of ensuring that car park users paid fees were currently being investigated. A report would be presented to the Committee for decision in due course. The Director advised that a probable alternative to clamping vehicles was the use of parking tickets. If this option were pursued, a contractor could be engaged to process all tickets and take some of the income as their fee, thus reducing the administrative burden.

Planning

The City had made a representation to oppose a new planning application raised for the Garden House, which included a basement. A new planning application for Athlone House was also expected in

To receive the draft minutes of the meeting held on 9 July 2012 (TO FOLLOW).

The draft minutes from the Hampstead Heath Consultative Committee meeting held on 9 July 2012 were received.

Report of the Superintendent of Hampstead Heath (TO FOLLOW).

The Committee received a report of the Flood Management and Water Quality Project Board providing information to enable Members to determine the appointment of the consultants associated with the Flood Management and Water Quality project on Hampstead Heath. It also set out the views received from the Hampstead Heath Consultative Committee on progress made with several key appointments associated with the implementation of the Flood Management and Water Quality Project. Members noted that Appendix 1 of the report was non-public by virtue of paragraph 3 of schedule 12A of the Local Government Act 1972 and set out detailed tender evaluation for the appointment of the Design Team and subsequent recommendations.

RESOLVED: That the Committee,

i)     receive the views of the Hampstead Heath Consultative Committee on the approach and structure of the team to be appointed to progress the fundamental review of the scheme and detailed design necessary to meet the challenges presented by this complex and sensitive project.

ii)    consider the financial and qualitative assessments along with the officer recommendation included at the Non-Public appendix and approve the appointment of the Design Team.

iii)    delegate authority to the Town Clerk, in consultation with the Chairman and Deputy Chairman, to appoint a Strategic Landscape Architect on completion of the assessment of the tenders for that role.

iv)  approve the involvement of stakeholder representatives, should they wish to have involvement, in the assessment of the Strategic Landscape Architect and Contractor tenders.

v)    approve the Terms of Reference for the Flood and Water Management Stakeholder Group and agree that Ian Harrison, a Member of the Hampstead Heath Consultative Committee representing the Vale of Health Society, be Chairman of the Group.

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 involve the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in Part I of Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act as follows:-

Item No.                                                                     Paragraphs in Schedule 12A

9 (appendix 1)                                                                                     3

RESOLVED: That the public be readmitted to the meeting for the consideration of the remaining public agenda items.

Report of the Superintendent of Hampstead Heath (copy attached).

The Committee received a report of the Superintendent of Hampstead Heath that proposed to negotiate a 23-day licence between 2 June 2013 to 24 June 2013 to construct and deconstruct the equipment for an affordable art fair taking place between 12 June 2013 and 16 June 2013. Members noted that in January 2012 the Committee had received a report on the success of the 2011 Hampstead Affordable Art Fair and in principle supported holding an event in June 2013.

RESOLVED: That Members,

i)      approve the proposal to hold an Affordable Art Fair between 12 and 16 June 2013 and delegate authority to the Town Clerk, in consultation with the Chairman and Deputy Chairman, to negotiate a licence, lasting from 2 June to 24 June 2013, that covers the hire fee, construction of the marquee and ancillary parking and entrance arrangements, operation of the event and dismantling structures in accordance with the details set out in paragraph 9 and 15 of the report.

ii)     support the principle of hosting events in June 2014 and 2015, subject to satisfactory review of the 2013 event.

iii)    support the principle of the Affordable Art Fair hosting a second event in addition to the June show in 2014 and/or 2015, that will complement the art fair and outdoor recreational objectives of Hampstead Heath, subject to further research and approval by this Committee.

Report of the Superintendent of Hampstead Heath (copy attached).

The Committee received a report of the Superintendent of Hampstead Heath that presented a detailed management work plan for Pryor’s Field.

RESOLVED: That the Committee approve the detailed management work plan for the Pryor’s Field area of the Heath.

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

The Highgate Wood & Conservation Managerand Operation Services Manager were heard on Highgate Wood and Queen’s Park matters.

Conservation Management Plan

Work on the third draft of the Conservation Management Plan was currently in progress. Comments from the July 2012 Hampstead Heath Consultative Committee meeting had been discussed with consultants. A revised draft was expected in August, ready for the consultation event on Heritage Day, 2 September 2012. There would be an additional consultation event for regular site users.

The Highgate Wood & Queen’s Park Manager visited Burnham Beeches in July to obtain advice on interpretative material and on how to organise the consultation event.

Assistance from Heath Constabulary

Research into Constabulary powers had identified from the Corporation of London (Open Spaces) Act 1878, as applied by the Highgate and Kilburn Open Spaces Act 1886, that the Heath Constabulary was now able to provide support in Highgate Wood. This discovery had already proven useful in assisting with three robbery incidents in June and early July. The Constabulary had been able to provide daily patrols during commuter periods to provide support to staff and reassurance to the public.

Wild Flower Meadow

The Meadow had been a great success despite the drought conditions when first seeded and the deluge that followed during May and June.

Oak Decline Survey

Leaf emergence had been roughly three weeks late this year and there had been very little leaf defoliation from Tortix moth caterpillars. A Wood Keeper was completing the 2012 survey but, due to the unusual conditions in what had been an exceptional year, the results would be difficult to analyse. Early indications suggested that the surveyed trees were showing signs of improvement.

Green Flag and Green Heritage Awards 2012

Highgate Wood had been successful in gaining these two prestigious awards.

Queen’s Park Children’s Play Area:

To receive the draft minutes of the meeting held on June 13 2012 (copy attached).

The draft minutes from the Queen’s Park Joint Consultative Committee meeting held on 13 June 2012 were received.

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 as follows:-

Item No.                                                         Paragraphs in Schedule 12A

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 involve the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in Part I of Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act as follows:-

Item No.                                                                     Paragraphs in Schedule 12A

  17                                                                                                         3

18-19                                                                                                     -

There were no questions.

There was no urgent business.