Agenda item

Report of the Remembrancer.

The Committee noted that on 3rd November 2014, Members agreed that local consultation should be carried out with a view to the promotion of a private Bill in Parliament to make changes to the legislative framework governing the City Corporation’s Open Spaces. In the light of that consultation and following further internal discussion, a number of provisions were now being put forward for the Committee’s consideration.

In response to a query, Members were informed that the principal aims of the changes would be to clarify and expand the management powers available to the Corporation, to increase opportunities to generate revenue for the benefit of the Open Spaces (consistently with their status as a public resource), and to strengthen enforcement powers.

Members noted that land held solely in a private capacity and not under statutory regime, such as Epping Forest buffer land, would not be affected by the Bill. Members agreed that the issue of buffer land would require further investigation and it would therefore not be appropriate to include it as part of this work as the Bill was due to go through Parliament in November 2015. The Remembrancer assured Members that the City of London Corporation had become more au fait with promoting private Bills in Parliament and therefore Members may request Officers to address the buffer lands as a separate piece of work later in the year.

Members also noted that the report would be submitted to the Policy and Resources Committee, after which the Court of Common Council would consider the matter.

RESOLVED – that approval be given for the Bill to be promoted to seek

the legislative changes.