Agenda and draft minutes

Apologies for absence were received from Ray Booth (Barnet Mencap), Nick Bradfield (Dartmouth Park Conservation Area Advisory Committee), Dr Gaye Henson (Marylebone Birdwatching Society), David Walton (Representative of Clubs using facilities on the Heath), John Weston (Hampstead Conservation Area Advisory Committee) and Cindy Galvin.

There were no declarations.

To agree the public minutes and summary of the meeting held on 19 June 2017 (copy attached).

The minutes of the meeting held on 19 June were approved and agreed by the committee as an accurate record, pending the following amendment:

Page 6 – Drones

“In response to a question, the Constabulary and Queen’s Park Manager noted that the policing of drones under anti-nuisance byelaws had been considered by judged unworkable in practice.”

Should read:

“In response to a question, the Constabulary and Queen’s Park Manager noted that the policing of drones under anti-nuisance byelaws had been judged unworkable in practice.”

RESOLVED – That the public minutes of the meeting held on 19 June 2017 be approved.

Report of the Superintendent of Hampstead Heath.

Members received a report of the Superintendent of Hampstead Heath. The time had come for the review and update of the Hampstead Heath Management Plan, particularly as an important milestone had been reached with regard the conclusion of community engagement to create a community vision.

In addition, members received a presentation from a representative of Groundwork regarding the Heath Vision consultation process, who outlined the extent of the consultation process and its parameters. The Groundwork representative noted that engagement had been conducted through focus groups, engagement stalls, internal consultation among City of London Corporation staff, and a questionnaire survey. In total over 1600 persons across 300 organisations, and 134 postcode areas had been engaged.

Also included within the presentation was a summary of the most common used words used to describe the Heath. The overall themes for the vision of the Heath included the place, people, inclusiveness, and caring for the Heath.

The next steps include a stakeholder meeting which is scheduled to take place in August 2018

A Member of the Heath Vision Advisory Committee was heard next, who made the following points.

·         Whilst the Advisory Committee had tried to engage as many groups as possible, there remained more work to do in terms of engaging young people, local schools and people who lived near the Heath but were not frequent users e.g. those to the south of the Heath.

·         The concern that the Heath should be preserved by restricting the number of users represented a tension with the aspiration to make the Heath available to as many people as possible.

·         It was the opinion of the Member of the Heath Vision Advisory Committee that health and wellbeing was a key, overarching, theme for any future Heath Vision.

A general discussion was had by Members and the following points

There were no questions.

Give it a Go - Thanks

A Member (Hampstead Rugby Club) noted his thanks to the Heath Leisure and Events Manager for his organisation of the Give it a Go day on 16 July 2017.

To note the date of the next meeting is 9 October 2017.

The Chairman noted that Members were invited to a walk on the Heath on 27 September 2017 commencing at 4.00pm, with afternoon tea served at 3.30pm. The next meeting for the Committee would be on 9 October 2017.