Agenda and minutes

Apologies for absence were received from Deputy John Barker, Revd Dr Martin Dudley, Deputy Alex Deane, Councillor Melvin Cohen (London Borough of Barnet), and Martyn Foster (Royal Society for the Protection of Birds).

Chairman’s Welcome

The Chairman welcomed John Beyer to his first Committee meeting as the new representative from the Heath and Hampstead Society.

The Chairman also informed the Committee that John Owen-Ward had recently retired from the Court of Common Council and added his thanks to Mr Owen-Ward for his work on the Committee during his three year term.

There were none.

To agree the public minutes of the meeting held on 20 January 2015.

RESOLVED – That the public minutes of the meeting held on 20 January 2015 be agreed.

Matters Arising

East Heath Car Park

The Superintendent of Hampstead Heath advised that designs were being undertaken for additional drainage at the East Heath car park. He added that the current drainage issues were due to the fairground and water run-off from the car park into the highway.

Park Champions

The Chairman advised the Committee that Councillor Melvin Cohen had agreed to be the Park Champion for the Heath Extension and Golders Hill Park, both of which fall within the London Borough of Barnet.

To note the draft minutes of the meeting held on 9 March 2015.

RESOLVED – That the public minutes of the meeting held on 9 March 2015 be noted.

To appoint an Observer to the Open Spaces & City Gardens Committee.

RESOLVED – That John Beyer (Heath & Hampstead Society) be appointed as this Committee’s Observer to the Open Spaces & City Gardens Committee.

Report of the Remembrancer.

The Committee received a report of the Remembrancer that advised Members of the provisions of the Infrastructure Act, which would introduce a new regime to facilitate the control of non-native invasive species when implemented in the next few months.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted.

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

The Superintendent of Hampstead Heath verbally updated the Committee regarding the following matters relating to Hampstead Heath:

Savings

By the 2017/18 Financial Year, the City of London Corporation’s Open Spaces

Department would be required to find £2.2m of savings. To inform the decision to be made on savings, seven themes were being developed to help prioritise the work undertaken by the Open Spaces Department.

These included: a Learning Programme that would review the education ‘offer’ of the Open Spaces, looking at outcomes around education and play activities; a Sports Programme to provide a framework to define the purpose of sports provision within Open Spaces; a Various Powers Bill would be submitted to Parliament seeking changes to legislation governing Open Spaces to give clarity and flexibility to management of Open Spaces, enabling more efficient and effective services; greater effort made to promote services to raise awareness of the range of services provided, costs, and opportunities for income generation; savings to be made through greater energy efficiency in departmental business and management plans; a fleet and equipment review to establish how the existing fleet resources of the Open Spaces Department could be better utilised; and a more regular and structured approach to reviewing and management of Wayleave agreements

Property

Lido Café

The Superintendent advised that the programmed completion date for the works to the Lido roof had been delayed by six weeks to 18 May 2015. The Contractor had advised that to-date 16 working days have been lost due to weather conditions.

Members were advised that salvaged bricks from the perimeter wall would be used on the café building and, consequently, approved new bricks would be required for the reconstruction of the boundary wall.

Lido Leak

The Superintendent advised that The City Surveyor had engaged Consultants to investigate the loss of

Report of the City Surveyor.

The Committee received a report of the City Surveyor regarding the issues affecting the condition of the Hill Garden Pergola and the works that were currently planned to address safety.

Members noted that the Chairman and Deputy Chairman of the Resource Allocation Sub Committee should be made aware in advance of the sum of £2.56 million in the forward maintenance plan 2017-2022 that would be subject to Operational Property Review and the Project Gateway approval process. The Director of Open Spaces added that external funding towards this sum should be sought.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted.

Report of the Superintendent of Hampstead Heath.

The Committee received a report of the Superintendent of Hampstead Heath that provided Members with an update on the progress of the Hampstead Heath Ponds Project.

The Superintendent advised that site clearance work had finished and timber had been retained on site due to recent wet weather. Some of the timber would now be removed and other parts would be milled for use at the Catchpit dam crossing point. He added that an additional site meeting regarding the Stock Pond had taken place on 30 January 2015 with members of the Ponds Project Stakeholder Group. It was agreed that the Project Board would meet again to look at alternative options but it was decided that the original spillway design would go ahead.

Members were advised that a Community Working Group had been established as part of the Section 106 Agreement of the planning permission. The Group had met once in February 2015 and would continue to meet once a month throughout the project. The Superintendent advised that signage had been installed at Pond Projects sites to inform users of the Heath of the works being undertaken. He added that the next substantial works to the cofferdam would start in April 2015.

In response to a Member’s question, the Superintendent advised that a small protest that involved 20 people took place on 14 February 2015 at the Mixed Pond. He added that complaints were being monitored by Heath staff and presented to the Community Working Group for their information. The Hampstead Heath Ecologist and BAM Nuttell Contract Manager had recently led a walk with the Heath & Hampstead Society to audit planned tree-felling. Members noted the effective management of complaints by Hampstead Heath staff.

In response to a further question, the Superintendent advised that the Conservation Manager takes regular photos of work

Report of the Superintendent of Hampstead Heath.

The Committee received a report of the Superintendent of Hampstead Heath that reviewed the work carried out by the Hampstead Heath Constabulary (HHC) during the period 1 January 2014 to 31 December 2014. The Queen’s Park and Constabulary Manager advised that 2,157 incidents/occurrences had been recorded during this period but that figure did not take into account the 17,000 general engagements with Heath users throughout the year. Members were also advised that there had been a focus in control during the period as the Dog Control Action Plan was implemented in March 2014.

In response to a Member’s question, the Queen’s Park and Constabulary Manager advised that a good relationship existed between the HHC and Kenwood House. The Member of the Committee representing English Heritage at Kenwood House agreed and thanked the HHC for their continued support.

RESOLVED – That the work of the HHC during 2014 and the continued effort being made to strengthen links with other agencies, helping to ensure that Hampstead Heath remains a safe, appealing and enjoyable place for millions to visit each year, by reducing the fear of crime and anti-social behaviour, be noted.

Report of the Superintendent of Hampstead Heath.

The Committee considered a report of the Superintendent of Hampstead Heath regarding the continued partnership work undertaken by the City of London Corporation, HHC, and the Terrence Higgins Trust to provide outreach sessions on the West Heath Public Sex Environment area of Hampstead Heath. The Committee commended this partnership work.

The Queen’s Park and Constabulary Manager advised that litter pollution on West Heath had reduced but there had been an increase in drug paraphernalia which was being monitored. In response to a Member’s question, he added that an increase in knowledge and awareness of the definition of the public decency and propriety byelaw had contributed to the increase in number of incidents reported since 2010. No prosecutions had been issued; the HHC had mainly provided an advisory role when incidents were reported.

The Chairman informed Members that the next Sexual Activity Working Party meeting was taking place on Thursday 26 March 2015.

RESOLVED – That the continuation of partnership work on Hampstead Heath during 2015 by the HHC, Terrence Higgins Trust, and other stakeholders and partners, be supported and approved.

Report of the Superintendent of Hampstead Heath.

The Committee considered a report of the Superintendent of Hampstead Heath that sought approval to the proposed hard and soft landscape improvement works at the North End Way entrance to Golders Hill Park. Members were informed that these improvement works formed part of the 2015/16 Annual Work Programme and would be carried out in autumn 2015.

RESOLVED – That the proposals to improve the hard and soft landscaping works at the North End Way entrance to Golders Hill Park be approved.

Report of the Superintendent of Hampstead Heath.

The Committee considered a report of the Superintendent of Hampstead Heath that sought approval to the proposed landscape and infrastructure improvement works at Parliament Hill, also known as Kite Hill. Members were advised that the following works were proposed and would form part of the ongoing Annual Work Programme:-

·         Relocation of litter bin away from the crest of the hill;

·         The existing stainless steel interpretation sign to be moved;

·         A new sign consisting of a photograph with key landmarks identified and a QR code to be commissioned;

·         Grass renovation works;

·         Removal of benches and vegetation from new view cone zone;

·         Review of the layout of benches.

John Beyer noted that the Heath & Hampstead Society would provide a capital contribution to the creation of the new sign.

In response to another Member’s question, Philip Wright (English Heritage) advised that Senior Managers and the Head Gardner at Kenwood House were currently negotiating funding for the installation of a new interpretation stand that identified new and historical buildings from the protected view at Kenwood House. It was hoped that these arrangements would be finalised by 5 April 2015.

RESOLVED – That the proposals to carry out works at Parliament Hill as part of the on-going Annual Work Programme be approved.

Report of the Superintendent of Hampstead Heath.

The Committee received a report of the Superintendent of Hampstead Heath that provided an update on Tree Safety Management across the North London Open Spaces Division. Members were advised on tree risk management guidance, the tree inspection process, tree incident reporting, tree health, and the external review.

In response to a Member’s question, the Director of Open Spaces advised that the Forestry Commission had not yet provided any additional news regarding Oak Processionary Moth emergence this spring.

The Committee thanked the tree team for their excellent work which was carried out with a high degree of detail and expertise.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted.

Report of the Superintendent of Hampstead Heath.

The Committee received a report of the Superintendent of Hampstead Heath that summarised the results of the long-term programme of plant monitoring. The Committee commended the report and long-term nature of the programme.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted.

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

The Superintendent of Hampstead Heath verbally updated the Committee regarding the following matters relating to Highgate Wood:-

·         the cricket score hut front fascia had been completely renewed ready for the new cricket season starting in April 2015;

·         a licence had been issued for a weekly story telling event for the under 5s, which had proved to be very popular and a positive new income stream for the site;

·         The Highgate Wood Manager was meeting with Officers from the Forestry Commission at Highgate Wood to discuss UK Woodland Assurance Standard.

The Superintendent verbally updated the Committee regarding the following matters relating to Queen’s Park:-

·         a donations post was installed at the Children’s Farm on 14 March 2015;

·         the hedge laying along the woodland walk had been completed;

·         new bins were installed and there has been good progress with the installation of granite bases for the park benches;

·         events: the “Big Dig” took place on 21 March 2015 and 80 children took part in the Queen’s Park Easter Egg Hunt on 22 March 2015.

RESOLVED – That the update on matters relating to Highgate Wood and Queen’s Park be noted.

There were none.

There were two items of urgent business, as follows:

The Chairman and Members of the Committee thanked Tom Sleigh for his contribution to the Committee as this was his last meeting before his term ended and he would not be standing for re-election.

The Superintendent advised Members that he was negotiating a fee with a filming company who had asked for permission to film on the Heath during April 2015.

The Chairman added his thanks to Members of the Committee and Officers for their support during his three year term.