Venue: Committee Room 3 - 2nd Floor West Wing, Guildhall. View directions
Contact: David Arnold Email: David.Arnold@cityoflondon.gov.uk
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Apologies Minutes: Apologies were received from Karina Dostalova and Councillor James Denselow (London Borough of Brent).
Chairman’s Welcome
The Chairman welcomed Ann Holmes as a new Member of the Group and noted that Councillor Neil Nerva and Councillor Eleanor Southwood, although not present, would in future both represent the London Borough of Brent.
The Chairman also noted that Kensal Rise Residents’ Association and Transition Town Kensal to Kilburn had been invited to observe this meeting, with a view to nominating a representative to become a member of the Group, but were not present. They would continue to be invited to observe meeting(s) and then consideration would be given to their addition to the Group as members.
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Members Declarations Under the Code of Conduct in Respect of Items on the Agenda Minutes: There were none. |
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To agree the public minutes and summary of the meeting held on Wednesday 4 June 2014. Minutes: RESOLVED – That the minutes of the last meeting held on 4 June 2014 be agreed as a correct record.
Matters Arising
Licensing of Commercial Activities The Queen’s Park Manager advised that legal advice was being sought from the Comptroller and City Solicitor’s Department regarding fees for commercial activities, such as football coaching, taking place at the Park. He reported that charges for these activities should come into effect by spring 2015.
The Chairman added that private legislation regarding licensing of all commercial activities across the Open Spaces Department was being considered. The earliest a Private Bill could be deposited would be November 2015.
Recreation In response to a member’s question, the Park Manager advised that there had been a delay to maintenance of the paddling pool due to slower than expected response times from the contractor.
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Superintendent's Update Report Report of the Superintendent of Hampstead Heath. Additional documents: Minutes: The Consultative Group received a report of the Superintendent of Hampstead Heath that provided an update to Members on management and operational activities in Queen’s Park over the past six months. The Park Manager advised that the Park had been very busy and well-used by the local community; there had been 978,450 visits to the Park between October 2013 and September 2014. This included 194,382 to the playground and 100,136 to the Farm.
Ecology and Environment Members were advised that a Sustainability Audit was completed in May 2014, which had informed a Local Improvement Plan for the Park. Electric vehicles were being used extensively in the Park to move machinery, supplies and equipment, and the Park had also invested in quieter battery-powered hedge cutters and blowers to benefit park-users, local residents, and the environment. The Park Manager also advised that a compost tumbler had been purchased which had the capacity to compost up to 650 litres of garden waste and would enable the Park to produce as much as 4,000 litres of compost yearly.
A poppy meadow was seeded in the summer of 2014 as part The Centenary Poppy Campaign, a national initiative by the Royal British Legion to commemorate the hundredth anniversary of the start of World War I, but the bund at the bottom of the Park had been seeded with limited success.
Sports and Recreation Members were advised that tennis coaching sessions had attracted 31 participants during summer 2014, compared with 51 participants in 2013. The sessions were well-advertised through banners and posters. Consultation would take place with the tennis coach and the Hampstead Heath Sports and Leisure Manager to maximise income potential in 2015.
The Park Manager advised that he had met with the City Surveyor’s Department to discuss maintenance issues on tennis courts five and |
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Fees and Charges report Report of the Superintendent of Hampstead Heath. Additional documents: Minutes: The Group received a report of the Superintendent of Hampstead Heath that set out the proposed increase to fees and charges for Petanque, Pitch and Putt, and tennis at Queen’s Park in 2015/16. Members were advised that a more fundamental review of fees and charges, including full benchmarking, would be carried out by the end of 2015.
Members were advised that the charges for children’s football coaching would not be included in the proposed changes to fees and charges as they would become part of the licensing regime with effect from spring 2015.
RESOLVED – That the proposed fees and charges for 2015/16 be noted
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Questions Minutes: In response to a question from Helen Durnford regarding the financial challenge, the Chairman advised that the annual Hampstead Heath, Highgate Wood and Queen’s Park Committee dinner was an important function to thank all local stakeholders who contributed to the management of the North London Open Spaces over the past year. He and the Deputy Chairman added that discussions were taking place within the Open Spaces Department to assess the appropriate level for such hospitality.
A second question was raised by the same member regarding the financial challenge and the provision of a large lunchtime meal at the winter meeting of the Group.
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Any Other Business That the Chairman Considers Urgent Minutes: The Chairman thanked members of the Group for their hard work and assistance towards Queen’s Park matters over the past three years, as this was his last meeting as Chairman of the Group.
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Dates of Next Meetings To note the date of the next meeting of the Queen’s Park Joint Consultative Group, to be held on Wednesday 10 June 2015. Minutes: RESOLVED – That the date of the next meeting of the Queen’s Park Joint Consultative Group, to be held on Wednesday 10 June 2015, be noted.
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