Agenda and minutes

Apologies were received from Alderman Gregory Jones, Jason Pritchard and Yianni Andrews.

There were none.

To agree the public minutes and non-public summary of the meeting held on 25 May 2021.

RESOLVED, that the public minutes of the meeting held on 26 May 2021 were approved as a correct record.

To receive the draft public minutes of the Hampstead Heath Consultative Committee meeting held on 6 September 2021.

The draft public minutes of the Hampstead Heath Consultative Committee (HHCC) meeting held on 6 September 2021 were received.

Member of the Heath Team to be heard.

Members noted an update from the Health Team regarding Front Line Work.

The Committee was provided with swimming update by Paul Jeal, Supervisor of the Heath’s swimming facilities. Members thanked the Swim Team for their phenomenal achievement to ensure the public were able to swim which was a significant help to health and wellbeing during the pandemic and after with long-Covid.   

Report of the Director of Environment.

Members considered a report and received a verbal update from the Acting Superintendent concerning matters relating to Hampstead Heath, Highgate Wood and Queen’s Park. The following points were made:

Hampstead Heath Drone Guidance 2021

·         Members were advised that HHCC Members expressed concern that the updated guidance was not strong enough. Drone incident statistics were provided to the Committee who noted that in the past seven years, there had been 110 incidents (16 per year). Officers were working with the Comptroller to address the issues and a Drone Request Form had been signed off by the Management Team and Heath Constabulary. It was noted that there were few occasions that drone use was allowed which required permission following approved Risk Assessments.

·         A Member stated that drones were a widespread problem across open spaces and felt their use should be severely restricted for emergency services only. The Member felt that nobody had the right to film people in public space without consent which was almost impossible to obtain.

·         A Member queried how filming use was monitored as the guidance stated that the Drone Request Form was not mandatory. Officers agreed to seek further legal advice on whether the form could be made mandatory

·         A Member suggested reviewing the Heath’s byelaws and including this within the guidance.

·         The Chair noted that drones were used by Officers to monitor degradation of the land post-pandemic and extreme weather which was useful. It was agreed balance on the guidance was needed.

·         Officers confirmed it was a complex area and the same arguments could be made for use of phone videos and photos. The key issue was what the footage was being used for as GDPR laws only concerned if they were being used commercially or professionally.

·         Members were supportive of the guidance and form but were

Report of the Director of Open Spaces.

Members noted a report of the Director of Open Spaces regarding the Open Spaces Department’s delivery of its 2020/21 Business Plan and Year End Performance report.

RECEIVED.

Report of the Director of Open Spaces.

Members noted a report of the Director of Open Spaces providing Members with an overview of the Open Spaces learning programme from 2019 to 2021.

Members were informed that the programme has received core funding since April 2019 and delivers school, youth, play, community and volunteering opportunities to children and adults at Hampstead Heath, West Ham Park and Epping Forest.

Members were impressed by huge the engagement achieved and thanked the Team for their invaluable work.

RECEIVED.

Judicial review at the Ladies Pond

The Deputy Chairman requested an update regarding the ongoing review concerning the charging regime at the Ladies Swimming Pond. Members were informed that a hearing was scheduled for 9-10 November and Officers were working with Comptroller and legal team.

There was none.