Agenda item

Report of the Superintendent of Hampstead Heath.

At this point, the Chairman welcomed Michael Hudson to his first meeting as a new Member of the Committee.

The Committee considered a report of the Superintendent of Hampstead Heath that sought approval to the proposed fees and charges for a range of facilities and services provided at Hampstead Heath, Highgate Wood and Queen’s Park in 2016/17. Members were advised that a separate charge of £65 would be introduced for customers who required tables and chairs at the Bandstand in Queen’s Park. The charge without tables and chairs would remain at £55. These proposals were supported by the Queen’s Park Joint Consultative Group.

The Superintendent then advised Members of the concerns outlined in a letter from the Hampstead Rugby Club, which had been circulated to the Committee prior the meeting. He added that the Heath previously undercharged for the provision of many of its sports facilities. The proposed new fees and charges were now at a mid-point level compared with other local authorities, following a benchmarking exercise. In relation to the provision of rugby facilities, only 28% of costs were recovered as 72% was subsidised. A discount had also been provided for use of the changing rooms at the start of the recent rugby season due to the standard of the facilities.

Members suggested the reintroduction of 2:00pm kick off times alongside 1:00pm, with a higher charge for the later kick off time due to increase staff overtime costs at the end of the day. The Superintendent agreed that a report detailing the overtime costs to ensure they were recovered for 2:00pm kick offs could be submitted to the next Committee meeting.

In response to a Member’s question, the Director of Open Spaces advised that future consideration would be given to increase to concessionary over 60s age year on year to take into account the increasing retirement age.

RESOLVED – That the proposed fees and charges for 2016/17 be approved, including the introduction of a two-tiered charge for the provision of rugby facilities at 1:00pm and 2:00pm.