Agenda item

The Superintendent of West Ham Park to be heard.

The Superintendent of West Ham Park delivered an update on recent issues and activities affecting the Park.

Staff

The Superintendent noted that interviews for the post of West Ham Park Manager would take place on 21 October, the results of which will be reported to the Committee in November. He took the opportunity to thank the interim manager, who had come from within the North London Open Spaces division, for their support of the West Ham Park team over the past six weeks. The Superintendent also noted that one of the Roots and Shoots work placement candidates had been appointed as an apprentice in the Park on a two year fixed term contract, and that the candidate will also be attending Capel Manor College to train towards their Royal Horticultural Society level 2 qualification.

Works

The Superintendent reported that summer bedding was about to be removed, with installation of spring bedding over the next fortnight. Work had commenced using the third and final year of City Bridge Trust funding to replace hedges around the tennis courts with native mixed species, replacing of pockets of perimeter shrubbery and increasing the number of native tree species. The final 1700m squared of wildflower meadow was due to be sown, to include thousands of native poppy (Papaver rhoeas) that will flower next summer to commemorate the 100^th anniversary of the outbreak of the Great War. The inclusion of poppy is part of the Royal British Legion Real Poppy Campaign and sees similar sowings in City Gardens and across North London Open Spaces. The Superintendent concluded the works update by noting that spring bedding from the Park nursery were due to be despatched shortly, and that preparations had been made for two functions at the beginning of November.

Awards

The Superintendent reported that the Park had been awarded its 15^th Green Flag and 5^th Green Heritage award, as well as a Gold award and ‘Park of the Year’ award from London in Bloom. Overall the Park dropped only 16 points out of 200 and came top among 17 candidates.

Events

The Superintendent updated the Committee on the visit of the Lady Mayoress to the Park on 5 September, which included her being presented with a jar of tomato jam by a Friend of West Ham Park. The visit received coverage in the Newham Recorder. Furthermore there had been a bat walk on 26 September involving 67 attendees of all ages. This was followed on 28 September by a volunteer day organised by The Challenge Network that saw 55 young people volunteer to help velar cuttings from the wildflower meadow. Lastly, the Dogs Trust held a dog agility and microchipping session in the Park on 2 October that included advice on responsible dog ownership.

Asset Maintenance

The Superintendent noted that he had met with the City Surveyor to discuss works still outstanding from the 2013/14 Annual Works Programme, including refurbishment of toilet blocks, making good pathways, redecoration of the paddling pool and redecoration to internal railings and wooden structures within the ornamental gardens. Finally, he reported that Virgin Media would be running new cables from Upton Lane to the Superintendent’s office using existing underground ducting as part of the IS Division’s Wider Area Network upgrade. It was expected that the works would involve minimal disruption and that the new network would be subject to a ten day testing period before the old system was terminated.

The Chairman thanked the Superintendent for his update and noted that the visit of the Lord Mayor’s Consort would take place on Friday 6 June 2014. He also informed the Superintendent that he would welcome to opportunity to visit Park staff to express his thanks for their work and effort personally.