Agenda item

The Director of Open Spaces to be heard.

The Director of Open Spaces was heard regarding implications of Brexit for the management of Epping Forest and the City Common. The Director of Open Spaces informed the Committee that he would endeavour to keep the update brief noting that the various possible outcomes of the Brexit process made it difficult to give an exhaustive list of potential impacts of the process. The Director of Open Spaces highlighted that the central impact was likely to be the loss of income received through the Countryside Stewardship Fund which received funding from The European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development: Europe investing in rural areas. However, the Director of Open Spaces explained that the City of London Corporation was in discussion with the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) on plans to mitigate the loss of income. A Member asked for clarification on what percentage of the City of London’s Open Spaces Department’s income did the funding represent. The Director of Open Spaces replied that while the funding in terms of percentage was not huge as the amount was in the region of £200,000 and £170,000 for Epping Forest and the Commons respectively it was still important to note. 

RESOLVED- that the update be noted.