Agenda and draft minutes

Apologies were received from Justin Meath-Baker and Councilor Bryan Collier.

Councillor Joy Laguda declared a general interest as a Member of the Rotary Club, Newham.

To agree the minutes of the previous meeting.

The minutes of the meeting held on 18 July 2016 were approved as a correct record.

Matters Arising

Revenue Outturn 2015/16

The Director of Open Spaces noted that the proposed carry-forward was not approved by the Finance Committee.

Report of the Superintendent.

Members considered an update report of the Superintendent of Parks and Gardens and the following issues were discussed.

Fatality in the Park

The West Ham Park Manager briefed Members on the discovery of a man’s body in the park on 1 December. The Park had been closed whilst the incident was investigated by Police.

Christmas Tree Unveiling

The Park’s Christmas Tree had been unveiled at an event on 2 December.

Stargazing

A stargazing event scheduled for 2 December had been cancelled due to cloud cover.

Pine Trees

In response to a question from a Member regarding the removal and replanting of pine trees from the western edge of the tennis courts, the Superintendent replied that the trees were young enough to be replanted elsewhere in the Park without being adversely affected.

Football

In response to a question from a Member, the Park Manager replied that reduced demand for football was the result of a combination of less formal football training in the Park and a new pricing structure. The Park remained the venue for two league teams.

Management Plan

In response to a question from a Member, the Park Manager confirmed that comments from the Green Flag and Green Heritage judged would be factored into the 2017 iteration of the Park Management Plan.

Report of the Director of Open Spaces.

Members considered a report of the Director of Open Spaces on the West Ham Park Nursery Project. Members noted that Justin Meath-Baker and Catherine Bickmore would join the proposed Options Review Group. Councillor Joy Laguda noted that both her and her colleague Councillor Bryan Collier would share the place for a Newham councillor on the Group.

RESOLVED, that

·         The progress made on the project to date be noted,

·         An Options Review Group to consider the options appraisal be convened,

·         Justin Meath-Baker and Catherine Bickmore be nominated to the Group to represent the heir-at-law of the late John Gurney,

·         Councillor Joy Laguda and Councillor Bryan Collier be nominated to the Group to represent the London Borough of Newham.

Report of the Director of Open Spaces.

Members considered a report of the Director of Open Spaces on a Bats in Trees Policy and the following comments were made.

·         The Superintendent confirmed that the Open Spaces Department employed a bat ecologist.

·         The policy was restricted to bats in trees as this was within the remit of the Open Spaces Department. It did not cover bats in buildings within the Park as these fell within the remit of the City Surveyor’s Department.

·         A qualified bat handler was not based at the Park itself but was on call from the wider North London Open Spaces Team.

Report of the Director of Open Spaces.

Members considered a report of the Director of Open Spaces on risk management across Open Spaces, City Gardens and West Ham Park.

RESOLVED, that

·         The Parks and Gardens Risk Register within the report be approved.

Report of the Director of Open Spaces.

Members considered a report of the Superintendent of Parks and Gardens on Fees and Charges 2017/18. In response to concerns from Members that there was a lack of consistency in comparisons with other sites, and provision for particular groups such as young people, older people, and the disabled, the Park Manager assured Members that officers would adopt a case-by-case approach to charging to ensure fair access.

RESOLVED, that

·         The proposed schedule of charges for sports facilities in West Ham Park be approved for the 2017/18 financial year.

Joint report of the Director of Open Spaces and Chamberlain.

Members considered a report of the Chamberlain and the Director of Open Spaces on Revenue and Capital Budgets for 2016/17 and 2017/18.

In response to a question from a Member regarding business priorities, the Park Manager confirmed that health and wellbeing was promoted through literature in local doctor’s surgeries and libraries. Moreover, health and wellbeing featured on the wider Open Spaces Department Business Plan.

RESOLVED, that

·         The provisional 2017/18 revenue budget be approved for submission to the Finance Committee.

·         The Chamberlain be authorised to revise the budgets, in consultation with the Director of Open Spaces, to allow for any implications arising from Corporate Projects, departmental reorganisations and other reviews, and changes to the Additional Works Programme. Any changes in excess would be reported back to the Committee.

• If specific service based review proposals included with this budget report are rejected by the Committee, or other Committees request that further proposals are pursued, that the substitution of other suitable proposals for a corresponding amount is delegated to the Town Clerk in discussion with the Chairman and Deputy Chairman of the relevant Committee. If the substituted saving is not considered to be straight forward in nature, then the Town Clerk shall also consult the Chairman and Deputy Chairmen of the Policy and Resources Committee prior to approving an alternative proposal(s).

Joint report of the Director of Open Spaces and Chamberlain.

Members received a report of the Chamberlain on the West Ham Park Trustees’ Annual Report and Financial Statement for the Year Ended 31 March 2016. In response to a comment from a Member, the Chamberlain agreed that reference to historic parkland could be included within the Report.

There were no questions.

There was no other business.