Agenda and minutes

Apologies for absence were received from Dennis Cotgrove, Graeme Smith, Councillor Melvin Cohen (London Borough of Barnet), and Martyn Foster (RSPB).

There were none.

To agree the public minutes and summary of the meeting held on 23 November 2015.

RESOLVED – That the public minutes of the meeting held on 23 November 2015 be approved, subject the following amendment:-

Golders Hill Park

The size of the Zoo and Butterfly House would be reduced to incorporate a smaller number of species relevant to the wildlife of the Heath.

Matters Arising

City of London Corporation (Open Spaces) Bill

The Bill had had its first formal reading in the House of Lords (?) on 22 January 2016 and was due for a second reading during February 2016. Petitions for or against the Bill would no longer be permitted after 15 February 2016.

Location of Committee Meetings

The dates for meetings to be held in the evening at the Heath and Guildhall were still being considered. The Town Clerk would circulate the details of the next Hampstead Heath Consultative Committee in advance of the meeting on 7 March 2016.

Proposal to Introduce Zippos Circus to Queen’s Park

The Queen’s Park Manager had begun consultations with local residents and user groups regarding the provision of income-generating events at the Park.

Report of the Town Clerk.

The Committee considered a report of the Town Clerk that sought approval to the proposed Committee Terms of Reference for subsequent submission to the Court of Common Council in April 2016.

Members agreed to remove reference to the annual funding and priorities agreed by the Resource Allocation Sub (Policy and Resources) Committee in the additional responsibility relating to allocation of grants, in line with the same decision taken by the Community and Children’s Services Committee and Education Board previously. One Member (Edward Lord) abstained from voting for this amendment.

RESOLVED – That:-

a)    the terms of reference of the Committee be approved for submission to the Court of Common Council in April 2016; and

b)    any further changes in the lead up to the Court’s appointment of Committees be delegated to the Town Clerk in consultation with the Chairman and Deputy Chairman.

Report of the Director of Open Spaces.

The Committee received a report of the Director of Open Spaces that summarised the Departmental performance against the 2015-18 Business Plan as at the end of the third quarter of 2015/16.

The Open Spaces Departmental Business Manager advised that the Green Flag Awards achieved by Hampstead Heath, Highgate Wood and Queen’s Park would be added to Appendix 1 of the report.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted.

Report of the Superintendent of Hampstead Heath.

The Committee considered a report of the Superintendent of Hampstead Heath that provided an update on management and operational activities across the Heath, Highgate Wood and Queen’s Park since November 2015 and sought approval to an additional charge to hire the Hampstead Heath Rugby Pitch at 2:00pm kick-off times.

Members were noted and considered the following matters:-

Property

Mixed Pond

Two temporary outside showers had been installed at the Mixed Pond. The start date for the Mixed Pond’s operation as a Ladies’ Pond until 2016 was not yet confirmed.

Lido

The boundary walls at the Lido had recently been rebuilt. Planning and Listed Building consent had been granted for a new guard on top of the wall which would provide better security and aesthetics.

Planning

Athlone House

The sale of property had recently completed and the new owners had submitted a planning application to the London Borough of Camden (LBC) for refurbishment and an extension.

Heath House

The LBC were expecting to receive a planning application to convert the House into six separate apartments shortly.

Water House

The planning application was expected to be considered by the LBC’s Development and Control Committee on 25 February 2016. The Superintendent would provide comments and representations to the LBC regarding the application by 4 February 2016.

Fees and Charges

In response to a Member’s question, the Superintendent advised that the Hampstead Rugby Club had not been in contact regarding the 2016/17 fees and charges approved at the last Committee meeting but added that they may provide comments at the next meeting of the Sports Forum in February 2016. The Sports Forum and Consultative Committee, which both included representatives of the Hampstead Rubgy Club, had been consulted during the process of developing the proposed fees and charges for 2016/17.

The Superintendent added that a

Joint report of the Hampstead Heath Ponds Project Director and the Superintendent of Hampstead Heath.

The Committee received a joint report of the Hampstead Heath Ponds Project Director and the Superintendent of Hampstead Heath that provided an update regarding the Hampstead Heath Ponds Project. Members received a presentation from the Ponds Project Director regarding the work carried out and planned at the Model Boating Pond, Ladies’ Bathing Pond, Stock Pond, Mixed Pond, and Hampstead Nos. 1 and 2 Ponds.

Members were advised that the £30,000 saving through a process of re-sourcing fixtures and fittings for the new changing and lifeguard facility at the Ladies’ Pond was likely to be spent on new shutters for the facility, which would provide improved security and a faster closure process. The Project Director added that a visit to the Ladies’ Pond site would be arranged during the next Committee walk on 4 March 2016.

The Committee thanked the Project Director and the Superintendent for the success of the project so far and for keeping it on schedule to be completed in October 2016.

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

To note the draft public minutes and summary of the meeting held on 18 November 2015.

RESOLVED – That the public minutes of the Highgate Wood Joint Consultative Committee meeting held on 18 November 2015 be noted.

To note the draft public minutes and summary of the meeting held on 18 November 2015.

RESOLVED – That the public minutes of the Queen’s Park Joint Consultative Group meeting held on 18 November 2015 be noted.

There were none.

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 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 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.

the Superintendent of Hampstead Heath to be heard.

The Committee received a verbal update from the Superintendent of Hampstead Heath regarding the proposed Lawn Tennis Association Partnership, implementation of the Open Spaces Department Learning Programme, and Café retendering at the Heath, Highgate Wood and Queen’s Park.

There were none.

There was none.