Agenda item

To receive an update from the Superintendent.

The Committee received the following update from the Superintendent of West Ham Park:

Budget – spending was in line with budget profile for the 1^st Quarter.

Staff - A temporary member of staff had started work in the Nursery replacing a fulltime contract. A temporary Keeper- Gardener had also been employed to assist with the patrol of the ornamental gardens on busy weekends and to undertake some basic gardening duties.  This was accounted for within the budgets.

Works update –The summer bedding was now all in place with a changed bedding scheme for the walled garden which was now 30% herbaceous perennials this would be infilled with spring bulbs (Crocus and Daffodils). The winter stem garden project had increased in size to the adjacent side of the bridge and this will be planted with ferns.  The paddling pool paving had been renovated and the building painted and with the recent warm weather had been open every day from noon.

Community & Events

The Gardening club was continuing with weekly sessions throughout the summer in the Jubilee Food Garden.

The educational sessions held in the Park continued.  As part of Newham Education Partnerships ‘Work Week’ scheme, children from Gallions Reach primary attended a session on 16 June looking at the role of gardeners and keepers and highlighting areas such as biodiversity and habitats.  As part of this same scheme, the Outreach, Sustainability and Biodiversity officer visited Gallions Reach Nursery School to carry out sessions on being a Gardener. 

Friends of West Ham Park held a ‘Poppies for Peace’ took place on  28th June – a day in commemoration of the centenary of the start of WW1.  This involved a guided tour of the meadows from one of the Friends members, a craft stall making your own poppy, a display on poppies of the world and an explanation of why the red cornfield poppy is of significance to WW1, and a peace tree for the public to write peace messages.  Despite the heavy rain approximately 60 adults and children attended.

On 8^th July the Outreach, Sustainability and Biodiversity officer judged flowers at Earlham Primary School as part of the London Children’s Flower Society competition.

St. Angela’s and St. Bonaventure’s 6^th form students returned to the Park on 10^th July to help weed and mulch a hedge line as part of their Community Action Day.

ActiveNewham 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.

The Lord Mayors visit was a great success on a beautiful June day (6^th) and she planted a foxglove tree (Paulownia tormentosa) by the tennis courts.

Green Flag judging took place on the 11 June and the Flag would be raised with a staff photo to celebrate Love Parks Week on the 29^th July, and hopefully this would be in the local press that week.

25^th July MP’s visit to WHP – Stephen Timms MP for East Ham, Lyn Brown MP for West Ham would receive a tour of the park and a talk from Linda Phillips (Roots and Shoots) on the successful apprenticeship scheme and Leonora Thompson on the Barbican.

Trees – a survey of the 2000 trees in the park was completed by Islington Tree Officers via a framework contract agreement we have with them.

Discussions ensued regarding the investigation into the recent cable strike at West Ham Park. Members agreed that this was a very serious incident which could have ended in disaster. As such, the Committee were in agreement that due to the nature of the incident that the contractor and sub-contractor concerned be prohibited from undertaking any further work with the City Corporation, pending a report from the City Surveyor reviewing the incident.

Resolved:

That the Committee agreed to delegate authority to the Town Clerk in consultation with the Chairman and Deputy Chairman to submit the City Surveyors report to the Project Sub Committee meeting in September 2014.