Agenda and minutes

Apologies had been received from Graeme Smith and George Abrahams.

There were no declarations.

To agree the minutes of the previous meeting.

Resolved: that the minutes of the previous meeting be agreed as an accurate record.

Verbal update by the Director of Open Spaces

The Committee received an update from the Director of Open Spaces informing Members that the visit to the Olympic Park on 3 October 2014 had been very well received.  A note of thanks had been sent to Mark Camley and Alistair Bayford.

Members also noted that the Epping Forest and Commons Committee had agreed the following Dog Control Orders to be implemented at Burnham Beeches coming into effect on 1 December 2014:

Schedule 1. Pick up dog faeces -  resolved to make The Fouling of Land by Dogs (Burnham Beeches) Order 2014, to be applied as proposed, across the whole site.

Schedule 2. Dogs on leads at all time - resolved to make The Dogs on Leads (Burnham Beeches) Order 2014 to be applied as proposed.

Schedule 3. Dogs on leads where requested - resolved to make The Dogs on Leads by Direction (Burnham Beeches) Order 2014 to be applied as proposed.

Schedule 4. Dog exclusion zones - resolved to make The Dogs Exclusion (Burnham Beeches) Order 2014 as proposed. Dogs would be excluded from the area around the café, as currently applied using the existing voluntary agreement.

Schedule 5. Maximum number of dogs per responsible person - resolve to make The Dogs (Specified Maximum) (Burnham Beeches) Order 2014 as proposed.

It was noted that Epping Forest and Commons Committee Members would receive an update from the Superintendent in July 2016 and a full review from the Superintendent in January 2017.  This was to ensure that those who objected could be content that the matter would be closely monitored and speedily amended if required.

The Director informed Members that a letter had been received from the Kennel Club, addressed to the Lord Mayor, stating that in light of the Epping Forest and Commons Committee decision regarding the

Report of the Remembrancer and Director of Open Spaces.

Members noted the possible modifications to the legislation governing the Corporation’s Open Spaces. The aims of the changes would be to clarify the management powers available to the Corporation, to increase opportunities to receive revenue for the benefit of the Open Spaces, and to strengthen enforcement powers against wrongdoers. If Members agree that such changes should be further considered, it was proposed that the views of local interest groups be canvassed. It was anticipated that more detailed proposals would then be drawn up for evaluation by Members with a view to the promotion of a City of London Bill (if appropriate) in the autumn of 2015.

Members informed Officers that the current document lacked detail and would need to be strengthened before any modifications could ne agreed. Members noted that they were being asked to agree a consultation at this stage, and any modifications to legislation would need to be agreed by the Grand Committee.

It was noted that modifications to this legislation would not affect the City’s ability to implement local bye laws. Members agreed that the shortcomings in current legislation meant that modification was necessary.

Resolved: That Members agreed to instruct Officers to test the views of local interest groups on possible modifications to the legislation, as described in this Report.

Report of the Director of the Built Environment.

Members were informed that on the 30th July 2014 the Mayor of London published for public consultation his draft London Infrastructure Plan 2050. The document summarized the significant growth expectations for London during this period and then suggests what infrastructure London will need, how much it will cost, and how we can fund and deliver it. Members noted that London’s resident population was projected to grow from 8.5 million now to over 11 million by 2050, its working population from 4.9 million in 2011 to 6.3 million in 2050, and its annual visitor numbers to grow from 15 million to 21 million during 2012-22.

The actual infrastructure projects delivered over this long timeframe may not be those identified by Officers at this stage but they identified six priority infrastructure types considered essential for London’s continuing success:-

1. Transport – a better connected city

2. Green infrastructure – forming a strategic network

3. Digital connectivity – fast and ubiquitous access to the internet

4. Energy supplies – secure, affordable and sustainable

5. Water supplies – secure and resilient

6. Waste management – moving from waste to reuse.

Members welcomed this pioneering and ambitious attempt to set out

the infrastructure implications of the significant future growth projected for

London and agreed that such long term planning is essential to the long term

success of London as a world city. Members agreed that the language in the report could be strengthened to highlight the City’s commitment to this plan. Officers informed Members that the content of the submission would come back to the Committee for sign off in due course.

Members agreed that the current document lacked reference to the beneficial effects open spaces have on health and wellbeing. Officers informed Members that this report had been well received by the Health and

Report of the Director of Open Spaces.

Members noted that the City of London Open Spaces Department had delivered education services over a number of years. Although these services were not a statutory element of provision, prescribed in the Open Spaces Acts, they had been viewed as playing an important role in encouraging visitors to sites and increasing understanding of the ecology and heritage of the sites. In recent years grant funding from the City Bridge Trust and the Heritage Lottery Fund, as well as work with partners, has led to the expansion and development of provision. This report outlined current services provided and the associated costs. It also outlined the medium term impact of the service-based review exercise on funding for education provision. The report proposed the development of a single learning programme across sites. It proposed priorities for such a programme which will constitute an education strategy for the department.

Members queried whether education work should be determined by the Education Board, as the City Corporation now had an over-arching education policy. Officers informed Members that the Board would be consulted on this work. The Committee would receive an annual information report regarding the education strategy. Officers said they met on a regular basis to share good practice and development with each other and so any overlap between duties would be highlighted at Officer level.

Members queried the role of the Epping Forest Field Studies Centre, and were informed by Officers that the Centre came under the remit of the Epping Forest and Commons Committee, however Officers would look into the educational opportunities offered by the Centre.

Members were advised that this package must be finalised before any funding or sponsorship could be sought.

Resolved: That Members:

· Agreed the proposed strategy for development of a departmental

education strategy.

· Delegate authority to the Director of

Verbal update by the Superintendent.

The Superintendent advised the Committee that a series of meetings had taken place between Officers and Crossrail recently. Officers had been advised that the Bowling Club that had resided here had not accepted any money from Crossrail and had not moved to Shadwell. Following the passing of the Chairman of the Club, Officers enquired whether the Bowling Club still wanted to reside at Finsbury Circus and were still happy to pay the costs involved with the running and maintenance of the Club. Officers had been informed that this was no longer the case. Therefore, the Committee would receive a report at their December meeting and would be asked to consider the future of Finsbury Circus.

The Superintendent of West Ham Park & City Gardens to be heard.

The Committee received an update from the Superintendent and noted the following:

Finance

The City Garden budget was in line with agreed budget profiles.

Staff

A recently recruited gardener had joined the team on a fixed term contract last week.

City, London and Britain in Bloom Campaign

On the 8^th September, officers attended the London in Bloom finalist award celebrations. The City won an overall Gold for the Town category and as a Special Award, won Borough of the Year.

The City also won the following award:

Town Category

City of London – Gold (assessing the overall impact of managing open spaces including: horticultural achievement, environmental responsibility and community participation)

Small Cemetery  

Silver Gilt & Category Winner- Bunhill Fields, City of London 

Small Park of the Year

Gold - Cleary Gardens, City of London

Gold - Festival Gardens and Queens Diamond Jubilee Garden, City of London

Gold - Portsoken Street Garden, City of London

Gold - Christchurch Greyfriars Church Garden, City of London

The Britain Bloom final awards presentations are taking place in Bristol on 16^th October 2014, officers from City Gardens will be attending.

As part of The London Garden’s Society awards ceremony which took place on 3^rd October, City Gardens won Certificates of Excellence for: Cleary Gardens, Christchurch Greyfriars and Festival Gardens.

Christchurch Greyfriars was awarded the Luder Cup as part of the Flowers in the City competition, awarded at the Mansion House by the Lord Mayor last week.

City in Bloom

A celebration event to recognise the contribution made by residents, schools and businesses to the City’s green spaces will take place on Monday 27^th October in Middle Temple.The event has been organised primarily by the Friends of City Gardens and sponsored by Helaba, a German Bank in memory of a

There were no questions.

There was no urgent business.

MOTION: That under Section 100A(4) of the Local Government Act 1972, the public be excluded from the meeting for the following items of business on the grounds that they involve the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in Part I of Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act.

MOTION: That under Section 100A(4) of the Local Government Act 1972, the public

be excluded from the meeting for the following items of business on the grounds that they involve the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in Part I of

Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act.

To agree the minutes of the previous meeting.

Resolved: That the minutes were agreed as an accurate record.

Report of the Director of Open Spaces.

The Committee received the report of the Director of Open Spaces.

Report of the Director of Open Spaces.

The Committee received the report of the Director of Open Spaces.

There were no questions.

There was no urgent business.