Agenda and minutes

Apologies were received from Rachel Evans, Councillor Thomas Gardiner, Councillor Richard Cornelius, Oliver Sells QC, Graeme Smith, Deputy David Bradshaw, Alderman Prem Goyal and William Upton QC.

There were none.

To agree the public minutes and summary of the last meeting held on 5 June 2019.

RESOLVED, that the public minutes of the meeting held on 5 June 2019 were approved as a correct record.

Report of the Town Clerk.

Members noted the various outstanding actions and the updatess provided thereon.

Members were advised that action 1 would be carried over to the November meeting.

With regards to action 2, the Chairman advised that the Town Clerk sought legal advice concerning the request to change to the Committee’s Terms of Reference to include a disability representative. In principle, there were no legal reasons preventing a dedicated disability representative to the Committee and Officers agreed to progress with this addition and begin looking suitable charities to approach. 

Concerning action 4, the Chairman confirmed that the Committee’s views regarding the COL’s Sport and Physical Activity Strategy were expressed through the further consultation process. It was noted that the Strategy would be discussed at the upcoming Sports Forum meeting and the Corporate Strategy Manager would be in attendance.

A motion would also be put forward at the Court of Common Council meeting the following day concerning the City Corporation’s commitment around sport and physical engagement and the Chairman welcomed support from Members attending Court.

The Chairman advised that action 5 was complete and that a response from English Heritage had been received confirming they noted the responses to consultation and would not be supporting a memorial in the proposed location in Kenwood. Members were pleased with this outcome.

To receive the draft public minutes of the Hampstead Heath Consultative Committee meeting held on 8 July 2019.

The draft public minutes of the Hampstead Heath Consultative Committee meeting

held on 8 July 2019 were received.

Report of the Superintendent of Hampstead Heath.

Members considered a report of the Superintendent providing an update on matters concerning Hampstead Heath, Highgate Wood and Queen’s Park. The following points were made:

Management Framework

·         Members were advised that the Measurement Framework had been embedded into the Hampstead Heath Management Strategy 2018-2028 and would be the next area of focus.

City Surveyor’s Cyclical Work Programme

·         The Superintendent highlighted current projects within the Cyclical Work Programme including the Heath extension, public toilets and small meeting room on Parliament Heath which were seeking planning permission.

East Heath Car Park (A DP5)

·         The Superintendent advised that the project had reached Gateway 5 but was now frozen due to the Fundamental Review. It was noted that there would be an opportunity to bid for capital funds in November based on a criterion of five set characteristics and the Open Spaces Department was currently prioritising all of its capital projects.

·         The Director of Open Spaces stated that the majority of capital bids were currently on hold and the Department was keen for all projects with health and safety implications to be prioritised. All cases put forward in the annual bidding round would be well written and prioritised.

·         Members were concerned that by the significant risks of rain on the East Heath Car Park and agreed that pressure was needed to ensure this project was completed as a matter of urgency.

·         The Chairman and Deputy Chair highlighted the need for projects with health and safety to be prioritised as leaving them had potential reputational and liability concerns for the City Corporation. The Chairman requested clarity on the bidding process for the way forward as annual bidding would prevent Members and Officers from carrying out their day job.

·         A Member cautioned against the reliance on classifying projects as having health and safety implications noting that

Report of the Superintendent of Hampstead Heath.

Members considered and approved a report of the Superintendent of Hampstead

Heath in relation to two major events: The Affordable Art Fair and the Highgate Harriers Night of 10,000m Personal Bests.

Members were advised that each of these events has been assessed by the Officer Event Group and considered by the Hampstead Heath Consultative Committee. Members regarded both as key, well established events in the Hampstead Heath events calendar.

RESOLVED: That:-

·         Members of the Hampstead Heath, Highgate Wood and Queen’s Park Committee approve the Affordable Art Fair 2020 event (appendix 1);

·         Members of the Hampstead Heath, Highgate Wood and Queen’s Park Committee approve the Highgate Harriers Night of 10,000m Personal Bests 2020 event (appendix 2).

Report of the Superintendent of Hampstead Heath.

Members considered and approved a report of the Superintendent of Hampstead Heath providing Members with an update on the tendering of the Highgate Wood

Pavilion and the Queen’s Park Cafés.

Members were advised that the new tender process ensured that the best opportunity was found for the community. The Queen’s Park Manager confirmed that there had been lots of interest locally and initial work on user engagement would take place to inform the tender process with an aim for a new tenant by summer 2020. A temporary option would be in place during the winter months.

A Member recommended offering reduced rent over rent free in the negotiations.

RESOLVED – That Members agree the revised tendering timeline, as set out in Para 9.

Report of the Superintendent of Hampstead Heath.

Members considered and approved a report of the Superintendent of Hampstead Heath concerning the Annual Update for 2018-19.

Members were advised that the annual update was a commitment from the Management Strategy agreed by the Committee in November 2018. This detailed the progress made during its first year and set out the priorities for 2019-20.

It was noted that development of a Management Framework was in progress and HHCC Members had provided feedback on the draft at their last meeting. members were happy with the draft wording.  

RESOLVED – That Members approve the Annual Update 2018–2019.

The Director of Open Spaces to be heard.

Members received a verbal update from the Director of Open Spaces concerning Brexit planning.

Members were advised that the City Corporation had three priorities: 1) to represent and promote the best interests of the City; 2) to continue to deliver its statutory duties and 3) to ensure the continued success of the organisation.

The Director of Open Spaces confirmed that the City Corporation was carrying out significant work on an operational and departmental level in preparation for Brexit. With regards to the Open Spaces Department, work was ongoing with DEFRA to ensure a continuance of working across the Corporation’s Open Spaces and safeguarding EU grants that were previously agreed.

In response to a query concerning potential delays in equipment, materials, spaces, etc, caused by no-deal Brexit, Members were advised that there were weekly Chief Officer meetings which included discussions regarding supply lines, vehicles, fuel supply, etc, and there had been fundamental preparation and emergency planning to cover all eventualities of Brexit. It was noted that it was difficult to prepare for something that was uncertain.

Report of the Director of Open Spaces.

Members received a report of the Director Open Spaces providing Members with a review of the Open Spaces Department’s three-year (2016 to 2019) learning programme delivering learning, play and volunteering opportunities to local children and adults at Hampstead Heath, West Ham Park, Epping Forest and Queens Park. This review provides a measure of success against the original ambitions of the programme and the lessons learnt that will inform the future programme.

Members were pleased that funding had been secured to continue this programme. The Deputy Chair suggested inputting into local boroughs and other forums to expand and gain wider acknowledgement of this important work.

RECEIVED.  

Report of the City Surveyor.   

Members received a report of the City Surveyor concerning the Cyclical Works Programme Bid for 2020/21.

Members were advised that the draft cyclical project list for 2020/21 totalled £778,200 but £144k was added following consultation to keep up to statutory levels. The Chairman added that HHCC Members noted that statutory inspections were not included and had been added to the list.

RECEIVED.   

Report of the Director of Open Spaces.

Members received a report of the Director of Open Spaces providing Members with a review of the Open Spaces Department’s delivery of its 2018/19 Business Plan.

Members were advised that progress had been made against the Department’s fifteen programmes and projects and that performance against the 31 performance measures was comparable with previous years and only 19% of targets were missed by more than 10%. It was noted that there was a £13k overspend across the total local risk budget of £12million.

RECEIVED.

There were no questions.

There was no other 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 as follows:-

Item No.                                                         Paragraphs in Schedule 12A

RESOLVED, 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 they involve the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in Part

I of Schedule 12A of the Act.

To agree the non-public minutes of the last meeting held on 5 June 2019.

RESOLVED, that the non-public minutes of the meeting held on 5 June 2019 were approved as a correct record.

There were two questions. 

There were no urgent items.