Agenda and draft minutes

Venue: Parliament Hill Conference Room, Parliament Hill Staff Yard, Parliament Hill Fields, Hampstead Heath, NW5 1QR

Contact: Alistair MacLellan  Email: alistair.maclellan@cityoflondon.gov.uk

Items
No. Item

1.

Apologies

Minutes:

Apologies were received from Ray Booth (Barnet Mencap), Nigel Ley (Open Spaces Society) Harunur Rashid (BAME representative) Steve Ripley (Ramblers’ Association), Ellen Solomons (Vale of Health), David Walton (Representative of Clubs using the Heath) and John Weston (Hampstead Conservation Area Advisory Committee).

 

The Chairman introduced herself, noting that the previous Chairman, Virginia Rounding, had not been returned following the recent City Elections. Members of the Committee expressed their thanks for the contribution Virginia Rounding had made to the management of Hampstead Heath.

 

The Town Clerk noted that Joanne Mould (London Wildlife Trust) had retired from the Committee and a replacement would be appointed in due course.

 

The Town Clerk further noted that Caroline Dukes was in attendance in the place of Ray Booth, and Stewart Purvis was in attendance in the place of Ellen Solomons.

 

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

2.

Declarations by Members of Any Personal and Prejudicial Interests in Respect of Items on This Agenda

Minutes:

There were no declarations.

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

3.

Minutes pdf icon PDF 228 KB

To agree the public minutes and summary of the meeting held on 13 March 2017.

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

Minutes:

The minutes of the meeting held on 13 March 2017 were approved as a correct record subject to the following amendment.

 

Item 7 – Model Boating Pond Options Appraisal

The Marylebone Bird Watching Society supported Option 2 (creating a sanctuary) as the aim of the organisation was to protect birds.

 

Be amended to,

 

Item 7 – Model Boating Pond Options Appraisal

The Marylebone Bird Watching Society supported Option 2 (creating a sanctuary) as the option was in line with the aims of the organisation, namely the protection of birds and the promotion of their habitat.

 

Matters Arising

Heath Hands Summary Report

The Chairman noted that it was Dan Braverman’s (Heath Hands) last meeting. She expressed thanks on behalf of the Committee for the excellent contribution he had made to Heath Hands and voluntary work on Hampstead Heath, and invited him to provide a further update on the work of the Hands.

 

Mr Braverman noted that the total number of hours contributed by volunteers had been 11,424 over 488 volunteer sessions. He added that progress had been made in converting Heath Hands into a Charitable Incorporated Organisation and registered charity, with the application to the Charity Commission being approved.

 

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

4.

Hampstead Heath Sports Advisory Forum Minutes pdf icon PDF 203 KB

To receive the public minutes of the Hampstead Heath Sports Advisory Forum meeting held on 22 May 2017.  

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

Minutes:

Members received the minutes of the Sports Advisory Forum meeting held on 22 May 2017 and the following points were made.

 

·         A Member (Sports Advisory Forum) noted that the Night of the 10,000m had been a huge success, with attendance including a number of famous names from the athletics world. Moreover, the Forum had considered the Cross-Country pilot on the Heath Extension and wished to express its support to the event becoming an annual fixture on the Heath.

 

·         A Member (Hampstead Rugby Club) requested that the Rugby Club be given advance notice of dates that would affect their fixtures list.

 

·         A Member (Hampstead Garden Suburb Residents’ Association) noted that his organisation supported the Cross-Country event provided the featured age groups did not change.

 

 

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

5.

Cyclical Works Programme Bid 2018/19 pdf icon PDF 229 KB

Report of the City Surveyor.

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

Additional documents:

Minutes:

Members considered a report of the City Surveyor regarding the Cyclical Works Programme Bid 2018/19 and the following points were made.

 

·         The City Surveyor noted that Appendix A detailed the works that were going to be submitted to the Hampstead Heath, Highgate Wood and Queen’s Park Committee for approval.

 

·         In response to a question, the City Surveyor noted that the term ‘bow wave’ was an acknowledgement that the City of London Corporation faced a backlog of funding for cyclical works, hence the inclusion of desirable works as Appendix B. Works on Appendix B would move to Appendix A in future years once the work became necessary.

 

·         In response to a question, the City Surveyor noted that the relatively small allocation of funds for a drainage survey was due to the fact only small parts of the Heath were surveyed each year.

 

·         In response to a question, the City Surveyor noted that pond desilting referred to works to ponds across the Heath and the funds would be prioritised in relation to ecology and water quality. Works are being progressed in relation to the Hampstead Number 2 Pond and the Mixed Bathing Pond which will be funded from the current Cyclical Works Programme.

 

·         In response to a question, the City Surveyor noted that £133,000 for works to public toilets was a best estimate.

 

·         In response to a question, the Operational Services Manager confirmed that spending on the Golders Hill Park Zoo was in line with medium to long term ambitions for the Zoo.

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

6.

Open Spaces & Heritage Business Plan 2017/18 pdf icon PDF 97 KB

Report of the Director of Open Spaces.

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

Additional documents:

Minutes:

Members considered a report of the Director of Open Spaces regarding the Open Spaces & Heritage Business Plan 2017/18 and the following points were made.

 

·         The Superintendent noted that Members had seen previous iterations of the Business Plan at their January and March meetings.

 

·         In response to a question, the Superintendent noted that the Business Plan was linked to the Heath Management Plan by Key Actions outlined within the report.

 

·         In response to a question, the Superintendent noted that the Open Spaces Bill was relevant to the Heath given it would have an impact on the City’s ability to lease property, licence events and commercial activities and enable the issuing of  Fixed Penalty Notices.

 

·         In response to a question, the Superintendent noted that the objective to develop volunteering across all City of London Open Spaces reflected the desire to broaden engagement with the general public and potential volunteers.

 

·         In response to a question, the Superintendent noted that the delivery of education across the Open Spaces had been centralised and that a bid to secure funding over the long term would be considered by the City’s Policy and Resources Committee shortly.

 

·         In response to a question, the Superintendent noted that it was a longer term objective for greater synergies between the Heath and Keats House to be realised. The City’s Open Spaces Department had only recently in February 2017 taken over responsibility for this aspect of the City’s heritage portfolio and therefore it had not been possible to identify the full scope of potential synergies in this iteration of the Business Plan.

 

·         A Member commented in relation to Keats House that John Keats had met Samuel Taylor Coleridge on Merton Lane, and that this could be factored into any heritage walks on the Heath in future.

 

·         A Member commented that any heritage

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

7.

Superintendent's Update pdf icon PDF 195 KB

Report of the Superintendent of Hampstead Heath.

 

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

Additional documents:

Minutes:

Members considered the Superintendent’s update report and the following points were made.

 

Management Plan Engagement

 

·         The Superintendent noted that the engagement exercise finished that evening and that 1,200 responses had been received to date. Once the exercise finished, an analysis of responses from the workshops, pop-up stands, online submissions and the further 17 July meeting of the Hampstead Heath Consultative Committee would be carried out.

 

Cycling

 

·         The Superintendent noted that the Highgate Wood and Conservation Manager had been tasked with developing the specification for the shared use paths for cyclists and pedestrians. A working group of stakeholders would be formed to consider proposals and would hold its first meeting in September 2017.

Cafes

 

·         The Superintendent noted that the Lido Café was performing well under its new operators and had served around 2,800 swimmers the previous Sunday. In response to a question, he replied that there had been a couple of incidents at the Lido facility that had required the involvement of the Hampstead Heath Constabulary but none that had required the involvement of the Metropolitan Police.

 

Eruv

 

·         The Superintendent noted that he would welcome the views of Members on the proposed Eruv. He noted that the applicant had liaised with The London Borough of Haringey and was confident that the wires could be deployed along street lamps. Overall no new infrastructure was needed on the Heath in the Haringey area to support the deployment of an Eruv – it would simply join the boundary wall at the Kenwood Nursery. It would require one 4 metre pole in the Camden area. Members supported the proposal and raised no objections.

 

Planning

 

·         The Superintendent noted that he and representatives from the Heath & Hampstead Society would be meeting Camden Planning Officers regarding the Jack Straws Castle application during the week commencing 26 June 2017.

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

8.

East Heath Car Park Resurfacing pdf icon PDF 123 KB

Report of the Superintendent of Hampstead Heath.

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

Additional documents:

Minutes:

Members considered a report of the Superintendent of Hampstead Heath regarding East Heath Car Park Resurfacing, and supported Option 2 – Asphalt and Chip Finish.

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

9.

Annual Report on Hampstead Heath Constabulary for the period 1 April 2016 to 31 March 2017 pdf icon PDF 114 KB

Report of the Superintendent of Hampstead Heath.

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

Additional documents:

Minutes:

Members considered an annual report of the Superintendent of Hampstead Heath regarding the Hampstead Heath Constabulary and the following points were made.

 

·         In response to a question, the Constabulary and Queen’s Park Manager replied that robberies involving mopeds was extremely rare on the Heath, and moreover the use of mopeds was contrary to the Heath byelaws.

 

·         In response to a question, the Superintendent noted that naturism on the Heath was contrary to Heath byelaws.

 

·         In response to a question, the Leisure and Events Manager replied that the Moscow State Circus have been issued a licence to use the Fairground site in late September. This circus doesn’t involve animals.

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

10.

Hampstead Heath Ponds Project - Education Project Progress Reports pdf icon PDF 56 KB

To receive progress reports on the Hampstead Heath Ponds Project - Education Project for the period January – March 2017.

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

Additional documents:

Minutes:

Members considered progress reports for the Hampstead Heath Ponds Project Education Project. The Superintendent noted that further funding was being sought form the City’s Policy and Resources Committee to continue the project which, if unsuccessful, would mean the project would conclude in October 2017.

 

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

11.

Questions

Minutes:

Harry Hallowes

A Member (Highgate Society) referenced the recent release of a film based on Harry Hallowes and requested an update on the status of the land that had belonged to Harry. The Superintendent replied that the land was now held in trust by two charities, which had appointed a Surveyor to provide them with advice. He noted that the City had suggested Harry’s land be transferred to the Heath, on the understanding that the City respect the wishes of Harry who wanted an orchard (‘Harry’s Orchard’) to be established on the plot. Ultimately the decision on the future of the land was one for the two charities.

 

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

12.

Any Other Business That the Chairman Considers Urgent

Minutes:

BBC Countryfile One Man and His Dog

The Leisure and Events Manager noted that it was proposed that the BBC Countryfile One Man and His Dog feature on the Heath in September 2017. The event would involve one day of filming – likely a Saturday – and a few days of set up activity prior to filming. Overall the City welcomed the event given it would provide an opportunity to showcase the Heath, but it would involve a number of issues including ensuring appropriate temporary fencing was installed to safeguard the sheep, and that the event did not encroach on the Sparrows Den wildflower meadow. Members welcomed the initiative.

 

Meeting Hospitality

Members agreed that the meeting hospitality was best provided at the conclusion of each meeting rather than prior to the meeting.

 

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

13.

Date of Next Meeting

Monday, 17 July at 7.00pm in the Parliament Hill Conference Room.

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

Minutes:

Members noted that the next meeting would be on 17 July 2017 at 7.00pm in the Parliament Hill Conference Room.

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