Agenda item

Report of the Superintendent of Hampstead Heath.

Members considered item 9 next, an update report of the Superintendent regarding matters affecting Hampstead Heath and the following points were made.

City of London (Open Spaces) Bill

·         The Director of Open Spaces noted that the Bill had been delayed by the June 2017 General Election but had now passed both the First and Second Reading in the House of Lords. It would now be considered at Committee in the Lords, which could take up to a couple of months. He noted that if and when the Bill became and Act, it would enable the City to deliver improved commercial services in its Open Spaces, such as longer term leases for its cafes.

Cycling

·         The Superintendent noted that the consultant’s report referenced within the report had now been completed, and would be discussed at the meeting of the Pedestrian and Cycling Working Group at its meeting on 28 November 2017.

Planning

·         Wallace House, Millfield Lane. The Superintendent briefed Members on a new planning application not referenced within the report concerning Wallace House in Millfield Lane. He noted that it was a basement development that would potentially affect drainage from the Ladies’ Pond, and representations would be made accordingly.

·         William Ellis School. The Superintendent briefed Members on a planning application not referenced within the report concerning a major £30m development at William Ellis School on Highgate Road. He noted that the Operational Services Director sat on the community consultation group for the development, and representations would be made on the forthcoming planning application.

·         The Water House, Millfield Lane. The Superintendent noted that officers would be meeting with the developer to determine how best to protect veteran and mature trees on Millfield Lane during the construction period.

·         The Superintendent noted that officers enjoyed effective collaboration with local stakeholders and societies when responding to local planning applications affecting the Heath.

Constabulary

·         The Superintendent noted that New Year’s Eve was proving increasingly popular on the Heath, in particular on Parliament Hill.  Consideration would therefore be given to service levels such as opening hours of public lavatories.

Koi Herpesvirus (KHV)

·         The Superintendent noted that the Hampstead chain of Ponds had been reopened and disinfectant provided for anglers to clean their nets and rods with. Discussion was underway on whether the Highgate chain of Ponds could be safely reopened for fishing. Heath anglers had established a Facebook group to improve communication.

Hampstead Heath Ponds Project

·         The Superintendent noted that the Ponds Project had already won three construction awards and had been nominated for a further three. Moreover the new changing facilities at the Ladies’ Pond had been nominated for the Camden Design Awards.

·         Members noted that the number of awards won for projects on the Heath should be reported to a future meeting of the Court of Common Council.

RESOLVED, that the report be noted.