Agenda and minutes

Apologies for absence were received from Councillor Melvin Cohen, Deputy Alex Deane, Revd Dr Martin Dudley, Barbara Newman, Philip Wright (English Heritage).

Ann Holmes declared a non-pecuniary interest in any matters relating to the Highgate Wood café as she knew the owner personally.

To receive the Order of the Court of Common Council, 23 April 2015, appointing the Committee and approving its Terms of Reference.

RESOLVED – That the draft Order of the Court of Common Council, 23 April 2015, appointing the Committee and approving its terms of reference, be noted.

To elect a Chairman in accordance with Standing Order no. 29.

RESOLVED – That in accordance with Standing Order No 29, Virginia Rounding be elected Chairman for the ensuing year.

To elect a Deputy Chairman in accordance with Standing Order no. 30.

Is RESOLVED – That in accordance with Standing Order No 30 (3(a)), Jeremy Simons be appointed Deputy Chairman for the ensuing year.

It was RESOLVED UNANIMOUSLY: THAT at the conclusion of his term of office as their Chairman, the Members of this Committee wish to extend to

Jeremy Simons

their sincere thanks and appreciation for the extremely able and competent manner in which he has presided over their deliberations and the detailed interest he has shown in all aspects of the work of the Hampstead Heath, Highgate Wood & Queen’s Park Committee.

Jeremy’s tenure as Chairman has largely coincided with the planning and implementation of the Hampstead Heath Ponds Project. The Chairman’s term started early on in the Project and he has skilfully steered the ship through these choppy waters, with skill, expertise and humour. Throughout the Project process, Jeremy has encouraged wide consultation and promoted extremely thorough community involvement in helping to design the scheme. His commitment to the project, which is now well underway, has been unerring.

Jeremy took up a monthly column called ‘View from the Heath’ for the Ham and High, for which he immediately started drafting passionate and accurate commentaries. He used the piece to full effect, keeping Heath users and local residents up to date with key milestones in the Ponds Project as well as including lighter and more informative observations on heritage and wildlife and on day to day operational issues such as the Heath Constabulary and the problems of litter.

Jeremy has given great support to Heath events, representing the City with great enthusiasm at the many events held across the Heath, Highgate Wood and Queen’s Park. He took on the Mayor of Camden at table tennis – a true clash of the Titans – with gusto. He has keenly launched events

Report of the Town Clerk.

The Committee considered a report of the Town Clerk regarding the annual appointments to the various Consultative Committees and a Joint Consultative Group.

RESOLVED – That:-

a)    the appointment and composition of the following bodies be approved as follows for the ensuing year:-

i)              Hampstead Heath Consultative Committee

Virginia Rounding (Chairman)

Jeremy Simons (Deputy Chairman)

ii)             Highgate Wood Joint Consultative Committee

Virginia Rounding (Chairman)

Jeremy Simons (Deputy Chairman)

Ann Holmes

Professor John Lumley

Barbara Newman

iii)            Queen’s Park Joint Consultative Group

Virginia Rounding (Chairman)

Jeremy Simons (Deputy Chairman)

Karina Dostalova

Ann Holmes

Barbara Newman

b)    Jeremy Simons be appointed as the representative to the Keats House Consultative Committee; and

c)    The appointment of an officially nominated representative from Barnet Mencap to the Hampstead Heath Consultative Committee be approved.

To approve the public minutes of the meeting held on 23 March 2015.

RESOLVED – That the public minutes of the meeting held on 23 March 2015 be approved.

Matters Arising

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

East Heath Car Park

Quotations for the works were currently being obtained. The car park would remain closed for two to three weeks once the works were expected to start after summer 2015.

Parliament Hill Outdoor Gym Proposal

The London Borough of Camden were currently shortlisting contractors to install equipment and a report would be submitted to this and the Hampstead Heath Consultative Committee in July 2015. The Town Clerk added that a Camden Outdoor Gyms Evaluation document would be circulated to Members after the meeting.

Kite Hill

The phased landscape improvement works were progressing and the QR code for the strategic view would be available on the Hampstead Heath website shortly. A meeting would be taking place soon to discuss the new sign with the Heath and Hampstead Society.

Filming

In response to the Chairman’s question, the Superintendent advised that the filming company who asked permission to film on the Heath during April 2015 were allowed to do so and a good fee was received.

To receive the draft public minutes of the meeting held on 22 April 2015.

RESOLVED – That the draft public minutes of the meeting held on 22 April 2015 be noted.

The Superintendent advised that he would arrange a meeting with members of the Joint Consultative Committee who were also Councillors to appoint a Highgate Wood Park Champion. The outcome would be reported to this Committee in July 2015.

To note the resolution of the Open Spaces and City Garden’s Committee regarding Equipment Funding Offers.

RESOLVED – That the resolution of the Open Spaces and City Gardens Committee on 20 April 2015, regarding Equipment Funding Offers, be noted.

Report of the Remembrancer.

The Committee considered a report of the Remembrancer that sought approval for the promotion of a City of London Corporation (Open Spaces) Bill to clarify and expand the management powers available to the Corporation, to increase opportunities to generate revenue for the benefit of the Open Spaces, and to strengthen enforcement powers.

The Remembrancer advised that this would go through Parliament as a Private Bill where it would be examined by a Committee in each House. The Director of Open Spaces added that some of the management powers proposed for inclusion in the Bill were already reflected in the running of other open spaces such as the Royal Parks.

In response to Members’ questions, the Remembrancer advised that lease extensions would be subject to rate reviews and that powers would be increased to deal with anti-social behaviour. He added that the Hampstead Heath Consultative Committee would be consulted further on the proposals in July 2015.

RESOLVED – That the recommendation, subject to the concurrence of the Policy and Resources Committee and the Court of Common Council, that a City of London Corporation (Open Spaces) Bill be promoted to seek legislative changes, be approved.

Report of the Director of Open Spaces, approved by the Open Spaces and City Gardens Committee and the West Ham Park Committee on 20 April 2015 and the Port Health and Environmental Services Committee on 5 May 2015, and to be considered by the Epping Forest and Commons Committee on 11 May 2015.

The Committee considered a report of the Director of Open Spaces that sought approval for the Open Spaces Business Plan 2015-18. Members were advised that the Business Plan focussed on delivering charitable objectives and four departmental objectives:

·         Protect and conserve the ecology, biodiversity and heritage of sites

·         Embed financial sustainability across activities by delivering identified programmes and projects

·         Enrich the lives of Londoners by providing a high quality and engaging learning and volunteering offer

·         Improve the health and wellbeing of local communities through access to green space and recreation

RESOLVED – That the Open Spaces Business Plan 2015-18 be approved.

Joint report of the Superintendents of Epping Forest, Burnham Beeches, Stoke and City Commons, and Hampstead Heath, to be considered by the Epping Forest and Commons Committee on 11 May 2015.

The Committee considered a joint report of the Superintendents of Epping Forest, Burnham Beeches and Stoke and City Commons, and Hampstead Heath that sought approval to put in place a more structured and uniform approach to charges and management of Wayleave agreements.

The Deputy Chairman noted that additional Council Tax bandings could be calculated based on the current charge for a band D property.

RESOLVED – That Option 2 which links the charging of Motorgates to Council Tax bandings, and increases Handgates from £5 per annum to £10 per annum, 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 management and operational activities across Hampstead Heath, Highgate Wood and Queen’s Park since the Committee’s last meeting in March 2015.

Firstly, the Committee expressed their thanks to all Heath staff for dealing with the recent tragic death at the Men’s Pond with care and consideration.

Members were then provided with updates on the following matters:

Lido

Scaffolding would be removed from the Café roof on 27 May and works were due to be completed on 29 May. A non-slip safety surface was to be installed at the paddling pool also on 29 May.

Events

1,200 spectators were present at a successful Night of the 10,000 metre Personal Bests on 16 May. The winning time of the Men’s event was just 28 minutes and 40 seconds.

In response to a Member’s question, the Public Relations Officer would look into the possibility of a Members update so all Members of the Court of Common Council were aware of upcoming events at the Heath, Highgate Wood and Queen’s Park.

In response to another Member’s question, the Superintendent advised that the events diaries had generated a good amount of donations during the Easter fairs and at the tennis hut but that better facilities for people to put their donations were required elsewhere.

Heath Hands

The 2014/15 data for Heath Hands’ volunteer hours would be circulated by the Superintendent after the meeting.

Conservation and Ecology

The wildflower meadows on Dukes Field, the Heath Extension and the Old Hockey Pitch had struggled due to the cold and dry weather in April 2015.

Parliament Hill

Refurbishment of the tennis courts had been completed and they would re-open to the public on 25 May.

In response to a Member’s question, the Superintendent

Report of the Superintendent of Hampstead Heath.

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

The Superintendent advised that the Community Working Group had met three times already and discussions had been useful. The Section 106 Agreement with the London Borough of Camden also required three apprentices to be employed, final selection for which would take place shortly. However, one of the apprenticeships was being re-advertised due to an initial lack of interest.

The Superintendent also advised that an area by the Viaduct Pond had been closed since 14 May and that there had been a slower rate of stone and sheet pile deliveries than planned because the small lorries appropriate for the Heath were difficult to procure. Sheet piles needed to be installed soon but only half of the necessary equipment had been delivered due to the slower rate. This had, however, allowed regular Heath users to become slowly accustomed to the Project works.

In response to a Member’s question regarding the Serpentine Swimming Club, the Superintendent added that a shared dialogue at the next Swimming Forum would be welcomed.

In response to Members’ questions regarding the Education Project, the Superintendent advised that a good debating exercise had been carried out amongst local secondary school students but it had been difficult to get schools involved in science and engineering based learning opportunities. He added that an Education Project report would be submitted to the next Committee meeting in July 2015.

RESOLVED – That:-

a)    authority be delegated to the Director of Open Spaces in consultation with the Chamberlain to agree the release of the remaining specific risk provisions identified within the Risk Register and the provisional sum identified;

b)    authority be delegated to the Director of Open Spaces in consultation with

Report of the Superintendent of Hampstead Heath.

The Committee considered a report of the Superintendent of Hampstead Heath regarding the enforcement of the Highgate Wood Byelaw that currently imposed a ban on cycling in the Wood. Members were advised that this was Byelaw 11, not 10 as stated in the report.

RESOLVED – That:-

a)    The recommendations of the Highgate Wood Joint Consultative Committee meeting held on 22 April 2015 regarding the cycling ban within Highgate Wood be noted; and

b)    Byelaw 11 be maintained and enforced but children under the age of 12 be allowed to ride a bicycle under close supervision.

In response to a Member’s question, the Town Clerk advised that the next meeting of the Queen’s Park Joint Consultative Group was to be held on Wednesday 10 June 2015.

The Chairman advised that the Hampstead Heath, Highgate Wood and Queen’s Park Committee dinner would be held at Trinity House on Monday 12 October 2015. Invitations would be circulated to all Members in due course.

Non-Public Appendix 2 to item 13 of the Public agenda.

RESOLVED – That the Hampstead Heath Ponds Project finance update be noted.

There were none.

There was none.