Agenda and minutes

Venue: Committee Rooms - Second Floor West Wing, Guildhall

Contact: Natasha Dogra  Email: natasha.dogra@cityoflondon.gov.uk

Items
No. Item

1.

Apologies

Minutes:

Apologies had been received from Wendy Mead, Catherine Bickmore, Oliver Sells, Deputy John Tomlinson, Revd Stennett Kirby, Richard Gurney and Joy Laguda.

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

2.

Declarations of interest under the Code of Conduct

Minutes:

There were no declarations of interest.

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

3.

Minutes pdf icon PDF 197 KB

To agree the minutes of the previous meeting.

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

Minutes:

Resolved – that the minutes be received as an accurate record.

 

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

4.

Superintendent's Update pdf icon PDF 88 KB

Report of the Director of Open Spaces.

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

Minutes:

The Committee received an update from the Superintendent and noted that the budget for West Ham Park is currently in line with anticipated expenditure

for this time of year, with the exception of income from property which is

currently higher than anticipated. This is due to the rent review of The Cedars

yielding a higher than anticipated increase following protracted negotiations.

This income is being used to fund fees and charges relating to the first phase

of the Playground Improvement Project. The apprentice gardener is settling in well and will begin college in January 2018. Recruitment is currently taking place for the vacant gardener position.

 

Resolved – that the update be noted.

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

5.

Open Spaces Business Plan pdf icon PDF 93 KB

Report of the Director of Open Spaces.

 

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

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The Committee considered the Open Spaces business plan and noted that the departmental ambitions are that:

·         Our habitats are ecologically thriving, and diverse

·         Our places for play, learning, tranquillity, cultural experiences, enjoyment, wellbeing and exercise are high quality, inclusive and accessible to all 

·         Our heritage is preserved and we share history and stories through our spaces and buildings 

·         We provide thought leadership which is grounded in our innovative practices, knowledge and expertise

 

 

 

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

6.

Revenue & Capital Budgets - 2017/18 & 2018/19 pdf icon PDF 241 KB

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The Committee noted an update on the latest approved revenue budget for

2017/18 and seeks your approval for a provisional revenue budget for 2018/19, for

subsequent submission to the Finance Committee. The budgets have been

prepared within the resources allocated to the Director and overall the provisional Original budget for 2018/19 totals £1.614M, an increase of £416,000 compared with the latest approved budget for 2017/18. The main reasons for this increase is a rise of £484,000 in the City Surveyor’s Repairs & Maintenance costs, a decrease of £49,000 in customer & client receipts, off-set by a reduction of £65,000 in supplies & services and a reduction of £60,000 within Learning Recharges.

 

In response to a query regarding West Ham Park Nursery, Members were informed that a report with options available to the Committee was due to be submitted for consideration in Spring 2018.

 

Resolved – that the update be received.

 

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

7.

West Ham Park Sports fees and charges pdf icon PDF 431 KB

Report of the Director of Open Spaces.

 

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

Minutes:

The Committee noted that within the City of London Open Spaces, charges for sports activities are reviewed annually. The report set out the proposed fees and charges for sports facilities provided at West Ham Park in 2018/19.

 

In response to a query regarding concession charges and fees Members noted that the current prices were in line with local facilities. Members noted that fees for cricket pitches and tennis courts was higher than those charged for football pitches due to there being less local competition for the latter. The football pitches were also underused at present due to the close proximity of facilities at Wanstead Flats and because the changing rooms were a distance away from the pitches at West Ham Park.

 

Resolved – that Members approve the proposed schedule of charges for sports facilities in West Ham Park for the 2018/19 financial year.

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

8.

Questions on matters relating to the work of the Committee

Minutes:

There were no questions.

 

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

9.

Any other business that the Chairman considers urgent.

Minutes:

There was no urgent business.

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

10.

Exclusion of the public

RESOLVED: 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.

 

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

Minutes:

RESOLVED: 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.

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

11.

Claim for Adverse Possession

Report of the Director of Open Spaces.

 

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

Minutes:

The Committee considered a report of the Director of Open Spaces.

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

12.

Questions on matters relating to the work of the committee

Minutes:

There were no questions.

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

13.

Any other business that the Chairman considers urgent

Minutes:

There was no urgent business.

 

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