Agenda item

Report of the Superintendent of Hampstead Heath.

The Committee received a report of the Superintendent of Hampstead Heath that provided Members with an update regarding the following management and operational activities across the Heath, Highgate Wood and Queen’s Park since July 2016.

Affordable Art Fair

The Committee discussed the proposal to move the Affordable Art Fair to an earlier date. A Member queried whether the contract with the Fair could be changed to allow for the Corporation to receive a percentage of revenue as part of the license fee.  The Superintendent confirmed the licence fee related to the area of the Heath that was set aside to permit the event on the Heath.  However, it was noted that the Heath and Hampstead Society would not object to more revenue being generated from an existing commercial operation. A report on the review of 2016 Events Programme would be coming to the next meeting of the Committee.

Noting the support of the Consultative Committee, the Committee approved the change to the time of the Fair.

Zippo’s Circus

It was confirmed that the online petition was still to be received. Approximately 600 petitions were thought to relate directly to the Heath as part of a wider petition against the circus. 6000 people had attended the 12 performances. It was noted that cats would not be included in the performances going forward, and the circus had up to date animal welfare checks. Members were supportive of the recommendation from the Consultative Committee to develop a policy against which applications from circuses could be considered.

Open Spaces Bill

The Open Spaces Bill completed its Opposed Committee stage in the House of Commons on Tuesday 15 October.  The Committee determined that there should be one addition to clause 12 (Community Protection Notices), regarding the use of FOI.  Officers are currently considering this.  The next step is the Report Stage and the Third Reading of the Bill in the Commons, the timing of which has not yet been settled.

Capital Projects

The Capital Project reports for the East Heath Car Park, The Hive and the Adventure Playground would progress through the Consultative Committee and the Management Committee in January, with Gateway 2 reports to be presented to Projects Sub Committee in February 2017.

Cafés

The Café Working Group was due to meet on 21 November 2016 to discuss the initial results from the consultation exercise. A report would be presented to the Committee in January with recommendations to guide future decisions on the café leases.

The Committee discussed the consequences of the withdrawal of the tenant of the Lido Café. It was confirmed the tenant was still within the six month rent free period, and Members asked Officers to investigate introducing a 12 month half rent period instead, to allow for some income to be collected in similar instances. The Consultative Committee’s suggestion for pop-up facilities being installed in the interim period was supported.

Drones

Following a recommendation from the Consultative Committee it was confirmed that the Drones Policy would include the pathway for commercial use authorisation.

Members discussed the pros and cons of introducing a change to the bye-laws to enforce the ban on drone usage. It was noted this could leave all the bye-laws exposed to enforced changes. It was felt that consideration should be given to the introduction of a regulation as opposed to a bye-law to allow the Heath Constabulary to enforce the drone’s policy banning them on the grounds of the Heath being a “congested area”. The introduction of the regulation would be investigated with the Comptroller.

Staff Consultation

The changes to staff rotas had gone into effect on the 1^st October and it was felt to have been successful. Changes to the contracts for the Lifeguard team, the Hampstead Heath Constabulary and on the use of the lodges were now at the personal consultation stage.

Planning

• Planning permission had been granted for Athlone House.
• The Heath House application would be considered at the London Borough of Camden Development Control Committee on the 15^th December. The Superintendent would be objecting on the grounds of the impact on the Metropolitan Open Land.
• The applicant at the Water House has submitted an against the refusal to grant planning permission.  The Superintendent is awaiting confirmation of how the Planning Inspector intends to hear the appeal.  Along with interested parties the City will be writing to the Inspector to recommend a site visit and local hearing would be relevant in this case.
• Planning permission had been refused White Stone House.
• A Planning application for 46 apartments had been submitted for 114-120 West Heath Road. An objection would be submitted on the grounds of the impact of Golders Hill Park and the West Heath.
• The Superintendent is continuing to monitor the redevelopment proposals at Parliament Hill and William Ellis Schools.  It was confirmed a representative from the Open Space’s Department sat on the Community Working Group for the project.

Learning

Members congratulated the Open Space’s Department on the success of the Learning Programme launched in April 2016.

The Superintendent informed the Committee that two written representations had been received regarding the use of Golders Hill Park by Heathside High School. Meetings had been held with the school to discuss their use of Golders Hill Park and the wider Heath.  It was confirmed their use of the tennis courts did not prevent other patrons from making bookings.

The Committee noted the successful year for Hampstead Heath, Highgate Wood & Queen’s Park in the Green Flag, Green Heritage and London in Bloom awards.

RESOLVED  - That the report be noted.