Agenda and minutes

Venue: Committee Room 2 - 2nd Floor West Wing, Guildhall. View directions

Contact: David Arnold  Email: david.arnold@cityoflondon.gov.uk

Items
No. Item

1.

Apologies

Minutes:

Apologies for absence were received from Anne Fairweather, Councillor Melvin Cohen (London Borough of Barnet), and Maija Roberts (Open Spaces Society/Ramblers’ Association).

 ...  view the full minutes text for item 1.

2.

Members Declarations under the Code of Conduct in Respect of Items on This Agenda

Minutes:

There were none.

 ...  view the full minutes text for item 2.

3.

Order of the Court of Common Council pdf icon PDF 180 KB

To receive the Order of the Court of Common Council, 21 April 2016, appointing the Committee and approving its Terms of Reference.

 ...  view the full agenda text for item 3.

Minutes:

RESOLVED – That the Order of the Court of Common Council 21 April 2016, appointing the Committee and approving its Terms of Reference, be noted.

 ...  view the full minutes text for item 3.

4.

Election of Chairman

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

 ...  view the full agenda text for item 4.

Minutes:

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

 ...  view the full minutes text for item 4.

5.

Election of Deputy Chairman

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

 ...  view the full agenda text for item 5.

Minutes:

The Committee proceeded to elect a Deputy Chairman in accordance with Standing Order No. 30. A list of Members eligible to stand was read by the Town Clerk; Karina Dostalova and Revd. Dr Martin Dudley both expressed an interest in serving as Deputy Chairman.

 

The result was as follows:

Karina Dostalova                 7 votes

Revd. Dr Martin Dudley      6 votes

 

Karina Dostalova was therefore elected to serve as Deputy Chairman of the Hampstead Heath, Highgate Wood and Queen’s Park Committee for the ensuing year.

 

RESOLVED – that in accordance with Standing Order No. 30, Karina Dostalova be elected Deputy Chairman for the ensuing year.

 

 

 ...  view the full minutes text for item 5.

6a

Hampstead Heath, Highgate Wood & Queen's Park Committee Minutes pdf icon PDF 213 KB

To agree the public minutes and summary of the meeting held on 14 March 2016.

 ...  view the full agenda text for item 6a

Minutes:

RESOLVED – That the public minutes and non-public summary of the meeting on 8 March 2016 be approved.

 

Matters Arising

 

City of London Corporation (Open Spaces) Bill

The Remembrancer advised that a House of Commons Committee was due to consider the Kennel Club’s petition to the Bill during by August 2016.

 

 

 ...  view the full minutes text for item 6a

6b

Highgate Wood Joint Consultative Committee Minutes pdf icon PDF 203 KB

To note the draft public minutes of the meeting held on 13 April 2016.

 ...  view the full agenda text for item 6b

Minutes:

RESOLVED – That the draft minutes of the meeting on 13 April 2016 be noted.

 

Matters Arising

 

Community and Events

The Chairman advised that the Community Day would take place on Sunday 4 September 2016.

 ...  view the full minutes text for item 6b

7.

Consultative Committee Appointments 2016/17 pdf icon PDF 93 KB

Report of the Town Clerk.

 ...  view the full agenda text for item 7.

Additional documents:

Minutes:

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

 

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)

Karina Dostalova (Deputy Chairman)

ii)    Highgate Wood Joint Consultative Committee

Virginia Rounding (Chairman)

Karina Dostalova (Deputy Chairman)

Professor John Lumley

Barbara Newman

Jeremy Simons

iii)   Queen’s Park Joint Consultative Group

Virginia Rounding (Chairman)

Karina Dostalova (Deputy Chairman)

Deputy John Barker

Professor John Lumley

Barbara Newman

iv)   Keats House Consultative Committee

Dennis Cotgrove

v)    Open Spaces and City Gardens Committee

John Beyer (Heath and Hampstead Society)

b)    The appointment of two officially nomicated representatives of local schools from the Friends of Salusbury School and the Ark Franklin Primary Academy to the Queen’s Park Joint Consultative Group, be approved; and

c)    The additional appointment of an officially nominated representative of the Kensal Rise Residents’ Association to the Queen’s Park Joint Consultative Group, be approved.

 

 ...  view the full minutes text for item 7.

8.

2016 to 2019 Open Spaces Business Plan pdf icon PDF 684 KB

Report of the Director of Open Spaces.

 ...  view the full agenda text for item 8.

Minutes:

The Committee received a report of the Director of Open Spaces that provided Members with an outline of the Open Spaces Department’s Business Plan for the period 2016 to 2019.

 

RESOLVED – That the Open Spaces Business Plan 2016-19 be noted.

 ...  view the full minutes text for item 8.

9.

Parliament Hill, Golders Hill Park and Highgate Wood Café Leases. pdf icon PDF 128 KB

Report of the Superintendent of Hampstead Heath.

 ...  view the full agenda text for item 9.

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The Committee considered a report of the Superintendent of Hampstead Heath that sought approval to the award of interim leases to the current incumbents of the Parliament Hill, Golders Hill Park and Highgate Wood Cafés and to establish a proposed way forward and consultation process for the future running of the cafés. The Superintendent added that the new Lido Café leaseholder had recently started trading and final negotiations were currently taking place with the approved new Queen’s Park Café leaseholder.

 

Members first considered the recommendation to award interim leases to the current incumbents of the three cafés with a view to ensure that the eventual long-term leaseholders took possession during February 2018. The Committee agreed to permit the City Surveyor to negotiate with the existing incumbents of the three cafés to renew each lease on the same principal terms as in existing leases at a rent to be increased in line with inflation for a term expiring on 12 January 2018, in order to give time to consult the public and for Officers to prepare an Options Appraisal for each café.

 

The Committee then considered the guiding principles for the consultation process. In addition to the proposed principles outlined in the report, Members suggested the measures for the following:-

-       commitment to customer satisfaction;

-       knowledge of area local to cafés;

-       community cohesion;

-       acceptable food hygiene rating;

-       promotion of healthy eating;

-       provision of a safe, relaxed and familiar environment.

 

The Superintendent advised that the creation of a Cafés Working Party with representation from this Committee and both the Hampstead Heath and Highgate Wood Consultative Committees would enable a methodology for the appointment of long-term leaseholders to be established through appropriate consultation. The Working Party would review the suggestions made by this Committee and the Consultative Committees

 ...  view the full minutes text for item 9.

10.

Oak Processionary Moth Plan 2016 pdf icon PDF 88 KB

Report of the Director of Open Spaces.

 ...  view the full agenda text for item 10.

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The Committee received a report of the Director of Open Spaces that provided Members with the plans for Oak Processionary Moth (OPM) management across the North London Open Spaces for 2016. The Director added that the recent colder weather had resulted in fewer caterpillars than expected. The progress of the management plan would be reported back to the Committee in late 2016.

 

RESOLVED – That the OPM management plan for 2016 be noted.

 ...  view the full minutes text for item 10.

11.

Superintendent's Update pdf icon PDF 161 KB

Report of the Superintendent of Hampstead Heath.

 

 ...  view the full agenda text for item 11.

Minutes:

The Committee received a report of the Superintendent of Hampstead Heath that provided Members with an update regarding the following management and operational activities across the Heath, Highgate Wood and Queen’s Park since March 2016:-

 

Property

·         The Superintendent was pleased with the completed works to the Hill Garden and Pergola;

·         Works to replace the oak timbers at the Pergola were expected to begin in August.

 

Planning

Members noted that the applicant wished to present the new proposals to the Hampstead Heath Consultative Committee on 27 June 2016 but the Committee suggested that they be invited on to present on an alternative date instead as the Consultative Committee agenda for June was already very full.

 

Parliament Hill Viewpoint Sign

Artwork for the new skyline viewpoint sign had been produced in collaboration with the Heath and Hampstead Society. The panoramic sign would take four weeks to produce and could be unveiled with the Heath and Hampstead Society at an opening ceremony on 27 June 2016. The Chairman added that the afternoon of 27 June 2016 had also been identified as a possible date for an all Court of Common Council visit to the Ponds Project, the details of which would be circulated by the Town Clerk in due course.

 

Queen’s Park

·         Visitors were being asked to complete an online survey in relation to the types of events that could and should take place at the Park;

·         An Open Gardens event hosted by the Queen’s Park Area Residents’ Association was taking place at the Park soon.

 

Projects

·         Consultations for the summer sports programme would start soon following discussions with the Sports Advisory Forum;

·         The fleet and machinery board were aiming to generate funds for energy conservation through the sale of surplus vehicles and machinery;

·         The 2017/18 fees and charges would be reported to

 ...  view the full minutes text for item 11.

12.

Hampstead Heath Ponds Project Update pdf icon PDF 98 KB

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

 ...  view the full agenda text for item 12.

Minutes:

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 that included photos of the work being carried out. The Project Director added that photographs of the Model Boating Pond and Catchpit sites taken by a drone were available to view on the Ponds Project Blog.

 

Members were advised that the culvert at Hampstead No. 2 Pond had taken longer than expected but the Project remained on schedule and within budget. The Project Director added that there was a claim with the contractor going through the appropriate legal process and the financial implications of this would be reported to the Committee once the case was concluded.

 

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

 ...  view the full minutes text for item 12.

13.

Superintendent's Update for Highgate Wood pdf icon PDF 637 KB

Report of the Superintendent of Hampstead Heath.

 ...  view the full agenda text for item 13.

Minutes:

The Committee received a report of the Superintendent of Hampstead Heath that provided an update regarding management and operational activities in Highgate Wood.

 

RESOLVED – That the Superintendent’s update for Highgate Wood be noted.

 ...  view the full minutes text for item 13.

14.

Questions on Matters Relating to the Work of the Committee

Minutes:

There were none.

 ...  view the full minutes text for item 14.

15.

Any Other Business That the Chairman Considers Urgent

Minutes:

Events

The Chairman reminded Members that the Highgate Harriers Night of the 10,000m Personal Bests, which was a qualifying event for the Rio Olympics 2016, was taking place at the Heath on 21 May 2016.

 

Consultation and Committee Dates

The Chairman advised that the schedule of meetings for this Committee and the Hampstead Heath Consultative Committee was to be reviewed to improve levels of consultation with the Consultative Committee. It was proposed that both Committees meet four times per year with the Consultative Committee meeting approximately four weeks before each meeting of this Committee. The Committee were supportive of this review and noted that it would come into effect during 2017.

 

In response to a Member’s concerns regarding the representativeness of the Consultative Committee, the Chairman advised that its membership would be reviewed in due course in accordance with The London Government Reorganisation (Hampstead Heath) Order 1989.

 ...  view the full minutes text for item 15.

16.

Exclusion of the Public

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

 

 ...  view the full agenda text for item 16.

Minutes:

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.

 ...  view the full minutes text for item 16.

17.

Non-Public Minutes

To agree the non-public minutes of the meeting held on 14 March 2016.

 ...  view the full agenda text for item 17.

Minutes:

RESOLVED – That the non-public minutes of the meeting on 8 March 2016 be approved.

 ...  view the full minutes text for item 17.

18.

Questions on Matters Relating to the Work of the Committee

Minutes:

There were two questions.

 ...  view the full minutes text for item 18.

19.

Any Other Business That the Chairman Considers Urgent and Which the Committee Agree Should Be Considered Whilst the Public Are Excluded

Minutes:

There was one item of other business.

 ...  view the full minutes text for item 19.