Agenda item

Report of the Town Clerk.

The Committee considered the report of the Town Clerk on the West Ham Park Committee’s Terms of Reference. The Town Clerk explained that as part of the post-implementation review of the changes made to the City Corporation’s governance arrangements in 2011 Committees are required to review their terms of reference annually. It was explained that two changes to the Committee’s Terms of Reference were recommended; updating the details of London Borough of Newham representatives and removing the reference to ‘the management of a Nursery’ to reflect the fact that the nursery is no longer in operation.

A member of the Committee expressed concern regarding the removal of the reference to the management of a Nursery and stated that the alternative wording ‘management of a disused Nursey’ should be considered. The Chairman replied that the Committee’s Terms of Reference needed to accurately reflect the responsibilities of the Committee therefore, as there was not an operational nursey in West Ham Park, the change was appropriate. The Deputy Chairman commented that it was important to have clarity in the Committee’s Terms of Reference which the replacement of the existing text with wording on the management of a former nursey would not achieve. In addition, a Member observed that the Terms of Reference did not individually list all assets under the Committee’s responsibility and therefore specifying the management of a disused Nursey site was not required.

A Member clarified that the proposed change would not remove the former Nursey land from the Committee’s responsibility. Replying to this a Member observed that the Terms of Reference made clear that the West Ham Park Committee had continued responsibility for the totality of the Park, including the former Nursey site. A member of the Committee expressed that they were still concerned that the removal of the reference to ‘the management of a Nursery’ would represent a removal of this land from the Committee’s responsibility. The West Ham Park Committee proceeded to vote on the recommendation to remove the ‘the management of a Nursery’ to reflect the fact that the nursery is no longer in operation. Six Committee members voted in favour and three Committee members against the recommendation. Accordingly, the recommendation was agreed.

Replying to a query from member of the Committee the Town Clerk clarified that, as the Committee had not requested any change to the frequency of meetings, the West Ham Park Committee would continue to meet on the same frequency.

RESOLVED- That: -

1. The reference to ‘the management of a Nursery’ be removed from the West Ham Park Committee’s Terms of Reference to reflect that the nursery is no longer in operation and that the approval of the Policy and ResourcesCommittee and the Court of Common Council be sought accordingly; and
2. That any further changes required in the lead up to the Court’s appointment of Committees be delegated to the Town Clerk in consultation with the Chairman and Deputy Chairman; and
3. That Members approved no change is required to the frequency of the Committee’s meetings.