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 Alderman Ian Luder, Oliver Sells, Karina Dostalova, Jeremy Simons and Michael Welbank.

 ...  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 127 KB

To agree the minutes of the previous meeting.

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

Minutes:

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

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

4.

Superintendent's Update pdf icon PDF 95 KB

Report of the Director of Open Spaces.

 

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

Minutes:

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

for this time of year. The gardening team saw one of its gardeners leave in

August, this place is currently being filled by a temporary position. A further

temporary member of staff has also been assisting with duties over the busy

summer months. Five individuals were interviewed for an apprentice position

at West Ham Park, the successful candidate has been offered the post and

subject to references will start work with the team and join Capel Manor

College in October.

 

In response to a query regarding the Wildlife Garden it was noted that the use of the wildlife garden at the rear of East Lodge has recently been reviewed. The garden is not big enough to accommodate a whole class of children and the pond is in need of renovation due to the liner being punctured. A future report will be brought to Committee regarding the extension of the garden as this would increase the area of land that is enclosed and therefore would have restricted public use.

 

In regards to property matters, Members noted the following:

·       Nursery update: Tenders have been received for the appointment of a

consultant to progress the nursery project. These are currently being reviewed

by the Park Manager, City Surveyor and Project Manager.

·       Upton Lane Lodges: 240 and 242 Upton Lane properties came to the end of

the first year of being externally leased in September. Both of the original

tenants are still resident in the properties. Strutt and Parker have completed

an inspection of the properties to ensure that expected standards are being

maintained and both properties are being well looked after.

·       Park Cottage: the completion

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

5.

Bringing Communities Together: Evaluation of 2017 event and proposal for 2018 pdf icon PDF 125 KB

Report of the Director of Open Spaces.

 

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

Additional documents:

Minutes:

Members noted that West Ham Park hosted a ‘Bringing Communities Together’ event featuring funfair rides, community and faith stalls, food and concessions on the 29th and 30th July 2017. Around 2,500 people attended the event, which was well

received by local people.

 

In response to a query it was noted that minimal damage was caused to the park’s grassland area which has also undergone reparation works to relieve compaction. The organisers would like to repeat the event in 2018. The Committee agreed that the event helped to bring new people to the park who might not otherwise visit it. It was noted that the event was open to all communities and should not be seen as an event for one community only.

 

Resolved – that Members:

· Approved the proposal to repeat the event in 2018

· Delegated authority to the Superintendent to finalise details of the 2018 event,

event fee (including deposit and reinstatement), cancellation policy and

pricing structure for fairground rides, food and other items to be sold by stall

holders.

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

6.

West Ham Park Playground refurbishment pdf icon PDF 206 KB

Report of the Director of Open Spaces.

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

Additional documents:

Minutes:

Members noted that West Ham Park is a 77 acre award winning park in East

London owned and managed by the City of London Corporation. It receives 1.3 million visitors per year and is the largest green space in the London Borough of Newham. The playground and paddling pool are popular facilities with

383,000 visitors being recorded in 2016.

 

In response to a query it was noted that a playground has been provided in West Ham Park since 1937. The last refurbishment took place in 1986 when all equipment was replaced and safety surface added. Members were also informed that a master plan was created in 2010 and 10 items of equipment were replaced with external funding. The remaining 15 items of equipment are now over 20 years old and require urgent replacement. The 2010 master plan does not reflect the changes in play design and safety standards that have taken place in the intervening years. Therefore a complete strategy refresh is required in order to meet those changes and provide a facility that is fit for purpose.

 

Officers informed Members that the playground contains a supervised paddling pool which has been provided since 1966 and is currently open daily in the summer. The cost of supervising the paddling pool with a first aid qualified member of staff and the maintenance costs associated with its upkeep mean that its future is being considered and alternative methods of water play sought.

 

Resolved – That Members approved the gateway 1 and 2 proposals.

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

7.

Year 1 review of Learning in Open Spaces pdf icon PDF 265 KB

Report of the Director of Open Spaces.

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

Additional documents:

Minutes:

Members noted that the Green Spaces, Learning Places, the Open Spaces Department’s new innovative learning programme, was launched in April 2016 and has reached over 45,000 children, young people and adults in the first year of delivery. This programme represents a key method for the City of London to contribute to the health and wellbeing of residents of some of London’s most deprived communities through connecting them more powerfully to their local green spaces.

 

The programme has achieved overwhelming success as highlighted in the first year

evaluation report. However, the future of the project remains at risk due to uncertainty over the long term funding arrangements for the core areas of the

work.

 

Resolved – that the report be received.

 ...  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:

The Superintendent informed the Committee that he had received a B107 Registration Notice based on adverse land possession. Members noted that this small area of land lay outside of the park boundaries and had been transferred to the City in 1978 from the London Borough of Newham. The Comptrollers and City Solicitor’s Department had registered an objection to the notice whilst a full investigation took place.

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