Agenda item

Report of the Superintendent of Hampstead Heath (copy attached).

The Superintendent of Hampstead Heath introduced a report on maintenance works and future proposals at the Hill Garden and Pergola, noting that it was a good example of the City of London Corporation investing in the maintenance of its existing assets. He stated that, notwithstanding the work carried out, some areas of the Pergola required further investment. For example, timbers along the paviour path were decayed and held in place with braces, necessitating the paviour path to be closed in the event of 15mph+ winds, and that part of the pergola structure was currently fenced off and closed due to subsidence.

He went on to note that the Open Spaces Departmental Business Manager had been approached by the Superintendent Registrar of Camden who was very keen to investigate the possibility of the use of the Hill Garden and Pergola as a wedding venue. The Superintendent told Committee members that the use of the area as such a venue, in income generation terms, would require some oversight by the Committee at a future date in the event of a successful application being made.

In response to a question from a member, the Superintendent confirmed that Camden Council was happy for the lavatories at Golders Hill Park to serve as the necessary lavatory facilities required at wedding and civil ceremony venues.

In response to the warning from the Superintendent of the need for continued investment in the maintenance of the Hill Garden and Pergola, a member suggested that contact be made with Unilever to gauge their willingness to become involved in any future maintenance works on the garden and pergola, given the company’s presence in the City and that it is the successor to Lever Brothers, established by Lord Leverhulme, original owner of the Hill Garden.

A member concurred with this suggestion, noting that it was important such an approach be pursued proactively and that proper consideration be given to how members of the Committee could usefully assist in such an approach, rather than expecting the Superintendent and his staff to be experts on fundraising, stepping in as a last resort in the event of serious deterioration to the Pergola  

RESOLVED, that:

·         The ongoing repair and maintenance works undertaken in the Pergola during the last ten years be noted;

·         The approach to use the Hill Garden and Pergola for marriage and civil ceremonies be endorsed, recognising that the details of such an approach will form the basis of a separate report to a future meeting of the Committee, once the views of the Hampstead Heath Consultative Committee have been received.