Agenda item

Report of the Superintendent of Hampstead Heath.

The Committee considered a report of the Superintendent of Hampstead Heath that provided an update on management and operational activities across the Heath, Highgate Wood and Queen’s Park since November 2015 and sought approval to an additional charge to hire the Hampstead Heath Rugby Pitch at 2:00pm kick-off times.

Members were noted and considered the following matters:-

Property

Mixed Pond

Two temporary outside showers had been installed at the Mixed Pond. The start date for the Mixed Pond’s operation as a Ladies’ Pond until 2016 was not yet confirmed.

Lido

The boundary walls at the Lido had recently been rebuilt. Planning and Listed Building consent had been granted for a new guard on top of the wall which would provide better security and aesthetics.

Planning

Athlone House

The sale of property had recently completed and the new owners had submitted a planning application to the London Borough of Camden (LBC) for refurbishment and an extension.

Heath House

The LBC were expecting to receive a planning application to convert the House into six separate apartments shortly.

Water House

The planning application was expected to be considered by the LBC’s Development and Control Committee on 25 February 2016. The Superintendent would provide comments and representations to the LBC regarding the application by 4 February 2016.

Fees and Charges

In response to a Member’s question, the Superintendent advised that the Hampstead Rugby Club had not been in contact regarding the 2016/17 fees and charges approved at the last Committee meeting but added that they may provide comments at the next meeting of the Sports Forum in February 2016. The Sports Forum and Consultative Committee, which both included representatives of the Hampstead Rubgy Club, had been consulted during the process of developing the proposed fees and charges for 2016/17.

The Superintendent added that a report regarding the wider Open Spaces charging policy, which would include concessionary rates, would be submitted for consideration at a future Committee meeting.

Events

Members were invited to attend the Southern Counties Cross Country Championships being held at Parliament Hill from 11:00am on Saturday 30 January 2016.

Constabulary

A successful prosecution relating to cycling was taken to court in December 2015, where the offender was fined £133 and ordered to pay £350 in costs. The Superintendent also advised that an estimated 7,000 members of the public congregated on Parliament Hill to celebrate New Year’s Eve. The Constabulary were on duty until 2:00am, and no major incidences were recorded. The Constabulary were now contributing to the wider London review of the impact of charging for viewing the New Year’s Eve official firework display.

RESOLVED – That:-

a)    the Superintendent’s update be noted; and

b)    the proposed additional charge of £32.00 to hire the Hampstead Heath Rugby Pitch for 2:00pm kick-offs be approved.