Agenda item

Report of the Remembrancer and Director of Open Spaces

The Committee considered a report on proposals to make amendments to the legislation governing the City’s Open Spaces. The amendments would clarify the City Corporation’s management powers, increase opportunities to receive revenue for the benefit of the Open Spaces and strengthen enforcement powers. The report recommended canvassing local opinion ahead of potentially promoting a City of London Bill in autumn 2015.

The Director of Open Spaces noted that the report was being submitted to each of the City Corporation’s Open Spaces Committees. The suggested possible amendment of the legislation arose from the need to tackle long standing issues regarding management powers, finance and enforcement in the Open Spaces. The Director added that it was advisable to consult the local communities on potential measures before taking any decision to bring forward legislation. The report provided an introduction to the issues involved.

The Director of Remembrancer’s Affairs added that it was customary to introduce Private Member’s Bills in November each year.  The proposals did not deal with electoral or constitutional matters but focused on matters of immediate practical concern. Subject to the views of the Committee, Officers would discuss with local interest groups and work up more detailed proposals which would be put to Members of the Committee in due course.

In response to a question from the Chairman, the Director of Open Spaces clarified that Officers were not proposing a formal or statutory consultation but rather informal consultation to get a sense of local opinion.

In response to a suggestion from a Member, the Director of Open Spaces agreed to circulate the minutes from local meetings to the Committee.

In response to concerns raised by a Member, the Director of Open Spaces confirmed that the fact that the City Commons Consultative Committees would not meet until early 2015 did not pose a problem for the proposed timetable.

In response to concerns raised by a Verderer that the proposed consultation was taking place too soon, and that instead more detailed proposals should be considered by the Committee, the Director of Remembrancer’s Affairs noted that the Parliamentary process would itself provide a formal public consultation process. The Director of Open Spaces emphasised that the purpose of the proposed informal consultation was to work up possible measures which would be reported to the Committee in due course.

RESOLVED, that Members instruct officers to test the views of local interest groups on possible modifications to the legislation, as described in the Report.