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 Hampstead Heath, Highgate Wood and Queen’s Park since November 2016:

Staffing

The Director of Open Spaces, Sue Ireland, was due to retire at the end of February, and her replacement Colin Buttery was in attendance at the meeting. The Committee wished to thank the Director for her outstanding leadership and dedication to the Department over her years of service.

Cafés

Meetings of the Café Working Party were ongoing, with the next meeting due to be held in February 2017. The Working Party had been presented with the report detailing the results of the engagement and consultation process and were discussing the outcomes from the survey.

Service Standards were being developed against the outcomes and Performance Indicators would be drafted to assist the leaseholders to understand what they are being asked to provide and to establish a mechanism for the City and the leaseholders to jointly monitor performance. The next steps were detailed to be:

-       A workshop in February to develop the Service Standards

-       Service Standards presented to the Consultative Committee in March for discussion

-       A report to be presented to the Management Committee in May on the draft Service Standards and options for the café leases.

The Lido café would be run on a different timescale to allow for a provider to be in place by summer 2017. A separate survey had been conducted, a short-term lease would be offered with flexibility to extend through the winter season. The lease would then be brought into the same timescale as the four other cafés. In response to a query from a Member, it was noted that the tender process should be as simple as possible to not deter small businesses from applying.

Eruv

Two sites were under consideration for the installation of an Eruv. It was noted the Consultative Committee were supportive of the proposals in principle but were concerned about the visual impact of the structures required. A detailed land registry search had been conducted to determine the ownership of the land that would be affected by the proposal at Windmill Hill.

Members discussed the possibility for the in-filling of hedges on Hampstead Lane as an alternative to fence installation, as planning consent may not be required for this. It was confirmed that the possibility was being further explored; however, shading from overhanging trees often prevented growth. It was confirmed that the cost of the works and maintenance would be covered by the applicant. The City Corporation would not be contributing financially.

It was reported that the application at Windmill Hill had been submitted to the London Borough of Camden; however, the Highgate and Muswell Hill application was still in consultation. The amended, less visually intrusive, designs would be submitted to the Consultative Committee for re-consideration.

Planning

-       The Water House appeal hearing would be taking place on 21^st March 2017 and it was anticipated it would last for two days with a third for a site visit. Counsel had been appointed to present the case, and technical witnesses on the environmental impact would be heard.

-       It was confirmed that a representation would still be submitted against the application at 114-120 West Heath Road.

-       A representation had been made against the Heath House Planning Application, which was still to go to Camden Development Control Committee.

A Member (London Borough of Camden) updated the Committee on the application for William Ellis School. The Ribbon Building would now be a floor lower, due to budgetary constraints, and it was felt this would be beneficial in lessening the visual impact on the Heath.

London Borough of Camden Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL)

A number of bids had been submitted for the money allocated to Hampstead Town Ward, including some relevant to the Heath, and three submitted by the City Corporation. The Superintendent had requested that bids affecting the Heath being considered at this time be postponed as the applications had not been scrutinised by either the Consultative or Management Committee. The three bids submitted by the Superintendent had not been progressed.

A Member (London Borough of Camden) informed Members that the successful bids had been for Keats Community Library and Burgh House. It was reported that no other wards had available funds.

In response to a query from a Member, the Superintendent confirmed that projects funded by a successful application for CIL money would still need to complete the Corporation’s Project Gateway procedure.

Constabulary

In response to a query from a Member, the Superintendent confirmed that the victim surcharge which made up a proportion of the fine for offenders went to a fund to support victims of crime, and not individuals. As such, the surcharge was still raised against crimes not involving a victim.

Petition

The Superintendent informed Members that an online petition was being promoted requesting a memorial bench for George Michael be erected on the Heath. The petition currently had 1200 signatures, and was one of ten relating to the pop star currently in circulation. Members felt that the waiting list for benches should be strictly followed and exceptions should not be made.

Land at Vale of Health

The Heath and Hampstead Society were preparing to submit a joint bid for the land at the Vale of Health with the aim that the land becomes part of the Heath.

RESOLVED – That Members support the appointment of a provider for the Lido Café, on a lease or licence basis, for summer 2017, with the option to extend the arrangement until 12 January 2018.