Agenda and minutes

Apologies were received from Ruby Sayed, Rachel Evans, Councillor Thomas Gardiner, Graeme Doshi-Smith, Oliver Sells QC.

There were none.

To agree the public minutes and summary of the meeting held on 13 November 2019.

RESOLVED, that the public minutes of the meeting held on 13 November 2019 were approved as a correct record.

Members were advised that the planning application appeal for the North Fairground Site was dismissed by the inspector. The Superintendent thanked the Heath & Hampstead Society and the London Borough of Camden for their support.

Joint report of the Chamberlain and the Director of Open Spaces

The Committee considered a joint report of the Chamberlain and Director of Open Spaces regarding the Departmental and Service Committee Budget Estimates and high-level summary Business Plan 2020/21 for the Open Spaces Department.

Members were advised that the budget was broadly equal to the current budget despite the Fundamental Review.

The Superintendent was happy to confirm the East Heath Carpark resurfacing project was approved at the recent Resource Allocation Sub Committee meeting. It was noted that Capital Project bids for 2020/21 had been resubmitted for the East Heath Car Park Resurfacing, Queens Park Public Toilet Rebuild and Parliament Hill Athletics Track Resurfacing.

In response to a query concerning a reduction in the provision for the Cyclical Works Programme (CWP) and whether this was sufficient to cover these costs, Members were advised that the CWP Programme spanned over three years which accounted for the differences and that the project costs were monitored by the Corporate Asset Sub Committee. Members indicated that they needed to be kept aware of any projects that were slipping and the reasons why. Members were advised that there had been a recent prioritisation of projects on public delivery, e.g. toilets, playgrounds, but that the RAG ratings were reviewed and reprioritised quarterly.

RESOLVED – That Members:-

·         review and approve the Hampstead Heath, Highgate Wood and Queens Park Committee’s proposed revenue budget for 2020/21 for submission to Finance Committee;

·         review and approve the Hampstead Heath, Highgate Wood and Queens Park Committee’s capital and supplementary revenue projects budgets for 2020/21 for submission to Finance Committee;

·         authorise the Chamberlain in consultation with the Director of Open Spaces to revise these budgets to allow for any further implications arising from the Fundamental Review, Corporate Projects, other reviews and changes to the Cyclical Works Programme;

·         agree that minor amendments for 2019/20 and 2020/21

Report of the Chamberlain.

The Committee considered a report of the Chamberlain concerning the Hampstead Heath Trustee’s Annual report and Financial Statements for the Year Ended 31 March 2019.

RECEIVED.

Report of the Chamberlain.

The Committee considered a report of the Chamberlain concerning the Highgate Wood and Queen’s Park Trustee’s Annual report and Financial Statements for the Year Ended 31 March 2019.

RECEIVED.

There were no questions.

There were no urgent items.

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.

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 meeting held on 13 November 2019.

RESOLVED, that the non-public minutes of the meeting held on 13 November 2019 were approved as a correct record.

The Superintendent to be heard.

The Committee received a verbal update from the Superintendent of Hampstead Heath concerning the Swimming Review.

There were no questions.

There was one item.