Agenda and minutes

Apologies for absence were received from Karina Dostalova

There were no declarations.

To agree the public minutes and non-public summary of the meeting of the Open Spaces and City Gardens Committee held remotely on the 13^th October 2020.

The Committee considered the public minutes of the Open Spaces and City Gardens Committee meeting held on the 13th of October 2020.

RESOLVED- That the public minutes of the Open Spaces and City Gardens Committee meeting held on the 13th of October 2020 be approved as an accurate record.

Report of the Director of Open Spaces.

The Committee considered a report of the Director of Open Spaces on the Biodiversity Action plan.

RESOLVED- That the timetable of actions for the Biodiversity Action Plan consultation process, as set out in Table 1 of the report, be approved.

Report of the Director of Open Spaces.

The Committee considered a report of the Director of Open Spaces on the Open Spaces Department Business Plan for 2021/22. The Director of Open Spaces highlighted the performance of the Department’s KPIs and the new report template.

RESOLVED- That the high-level Departmental Business Plan for Open Spaces for 2021/22 be approved.

Report of the Director of Open Spaces.

The Committee received a report of the Director of Open Spaces on the Open Spaces Departmental Risk Management.

A Member requested further information on the reduction of the risk OSD 005 Pests and diseases to Amber from Red. The Director of Open Spaces explained that the work undertaken by the Department to reduce this risk and that the seasonal effect that had reduced this risk. In addition, it was confirmed that, despite OPM’s exponential growth, the Open Spaces Department was confident that the risk to the public was manageable.

Responding to a query from a Member the Director of Open Spaces explained that the engineer’s report for the Wanstead Park Reservoirs had demonstrated that the project would not be as expensive as first thought, however, the Risk remained red.

RESOLVED- That the report be noted.

Report of the Director of Community and Children’s Services.

The Committee received a report of the Director of Community and Children’s Services on the City of London Joint Health and Wellbeing Strategy. The Director of Community and Children’s Services introduced the report and noted the Strategy’s connection to the Open Spaces.

RESOLVED- That the report be noted.

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Report of the Director of Open Spaces.

The Committee recived a report of Director of Open Spaces on the Departmental Business Plan 2020/21 Six month performance update for April to Sept 2020.

RESOLVED- That the report be noted.

Report of the Director of Open Spaces.

The Committee received a report of the Director of Open Spaces on the City Gardens update. The report provided an update to Members on the management and operational activities across the City Gardens section since October 2020.

The Chairman highlighted the contribution of the City Gardens team which had been particularly important in 2020. The Deputy Chairman commented that social media would be utilised to recognise this contribution and that she was happy to liaise with Members on this matter.

The Committee discussed opportunities for Member visits to the City Gardens noting the requirements of social distancing rules. The Director of Open Spaces noted that options for arranging these visits, in both the short term and after the easing of the COVID restrictions, would be explored.

RESOLVED- That the report be noted.

The Town Clerk to be heard.

The Committee heard an update from the Culture Mile Manager on Culture Mile activities. The Culture Mile Manager outlined the key details of Culture Mile’s proposals for the 2021-3 period, in line with the Culture Mile and City of London Corporation Cultural Strategy, and highlighted the connection to the City of London Corporation managed open spaces. 

A Member disputed on the designation of an installation as a bench which was located in the Beech Street garden and noted her belief that an insufficient degree of consultation had been undertaken on its implementation. The Culture Mile Manager responded by confirming that, as with all projects, lessons would be learnt from any mistakes made and factored into future work. In addition, it was confirmed that the signs highlighted by the Member were temporary.

The Deputy Chairman thanked Officers for their work developing the Culture Mile Learning plan and requested that consideration be given to incorporating open spaces into this learning plan in future.

RESOLVED- That the update be noted.

Report of the Chamberlain.

The Committee received the report of the Chamberlain on the Resetting of departmental Budgets 2020/21.

RESOLVED- That the report be noted.

Report of the Director of the Built Environment.

The Committee received a report of the Director of the Built Environment on the St Alphage Gardens Enhancement project. The Chairman explained that the Streets and Walkways Sub-Committee had previously agreed this report.

The Committee commented on the improved situation at the site and commended Officers for their work.

RESOLVED- That the report be noted.

Report of the Remembrancer. 

The Committee received a report of the Remembrancer on the Planning White Paper.

A Member requested further information on how the City of London Corporation would be providing its views on the Planning White Paper. The Remembrancer explained that the City of London Corporation would be providing a formal response on the White Paper to the Government, appropriate select committee and that it would be a discussed at the Policy & Resources Committee Chair’s meeting with the Minister for London.

The Chairman commented that he would not allow one inch of development on open space while he was Chairman of the Committee.

RESOLVED- That the report be noted.

Report of the City Surveyor.

The Committee considered a report of the City Surveyor on the CWP 21/22 Updated Bid Report.

A Member of the Committee asked if the reduced funding would continue beyond the 2021/22 year. Responding to this the City Surveyor confirmed that the reduced funding would only be for the year specified and was due to the impact of COVID on the City of London Corporation’s finances.

RESOLVED- That the report be noted.

Report of the Town Clerk.

The Committee received a report of the Town Clerk on the Summary of key Open Spaces media coverage: October to November 2020. The Chairman noted that the increased media coverage of the Open Spaces was reflective of a busy year.

RESOLVED- That the report be noted.

There were no questions received in the public session.

The Committee thanked Officers for their contributions over 2020 which, it was noted, had been a extremely challenging year.

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 non-public minutes of the meeting of the Open Spaces and City Gardens Committee held remotely on the 13^th October 2020.

The Committee considered the non-public minutes of the Open Spaces and City Gardens Committee meeting held on the 13th of October 2020.

RESOLVED- That the non-public minutes of the Open Spaces and City Gardens Committee meeting held on the 13th of October 2020 be approved as an accurate record.

Joint report of the Chamberlain and the Director of Open Spaces.

The Committee received a joint report of the Chamberlain and the Director of Open Spaces on the Debt Arrears Invoiced Income for Period Ending 30^th September 2020.

RESOLVED- That the report be noted.

There were no questions considered in the non-public session.

There was no urgent business considered in the non-public session.