Agenda item

The Superintendent is to be heard.

The Committee received the following update from the Superintendent:

Budget – spending was in line with the budget profile across all areas for this time of year. The Nursery reserve fund had been adjusted to take account of last financial year’s budget deficit.

Staff – The West Ham Park Manager returned to work last Friday as part of a phased return. A small number of temporary staff were working in the gardens and nursery to help support the teams at this busy time of year, but these have been accounted for within budget.

Grounds maintenance – Final preparations were taking place for the Lord Mayor’s visit on Friday. Some of the larger, structural planting was in place for the winter stem garden but this would not be complete until phase 2 of planting this coming winter. The gardening team were also busy planting out the seasonal bedding within the ornamental gardens.

The nursery team were focussed entirely on providing bedding to all clients in a timely manner. A senior manager from The Royal Parks visited in May to check the quality of the product prior to dispatch. This was a very positive meeting.

Community & Events

The Gardening club resumed for the summer and launched with a public planting day at the beginning May which was reported in the Newham Recorder. These sessions would now continue in the Jubilee Food Garden throughout the summer. A volunteer day took place in May with twenty-two 6^th formers from a local school carrying out maintenance to the meadow areas.

ActiveNewham had organised a series of healthy activities to take place daily over the next 2 months, as part of the Park Lives initiative sponsored by a large drinks manufacturer.

Green Flag judges’ visit was scheduled for next Wednesday 11 June, and London in Bloom for 9 July.

Property

The main power cable to the park office was severed by a contractor working on site, resulting in a complete loss of power for nearly 2 days. The Superintendent was investigating why this occurred, especially given that a scan for underground services took place before commencing work.

City Surveyor’s contractors had been carefully replacing Oak timbers to the pergola in the ornamental gardens. Tiling, cladding and paving around the paddling pool has all been replaced as part of the scheduled repair and maintenance programme.

The Committee Members thanked the Superintendent and his staff for all of their work.