Agenda and minutes

Apologies for absence were received from Ray Booth (Barnet Mencap), Susan Nettleton (Heath Hands), and Harunur Rashid Khan (Bangladeshi Social Forum).

David Walton (Representative of Clubs using Facilities on the Heath) declared a non-pecuniary interest in item 6 as a member of the London Heathside Athletics Club.

To agree the public minutes and summary of the meeting held on 7 March 2016.

RESOLVED – That the minutes of the meeting held on 7 March 2016 be approved.

Matters Arising

Events

The Events Policy would be considered at the next meeting following consultation with members during September 2016.

Golders Hill Park

A new Zoo Team Leader had been recruited from the Zoological Society London. The New Team Leader would now engage with users to develop a new set of objectives for the Zoo.

To note the draft public minutes of the meeting held on 16 May 2016.

The Committee received the draft public minutes of the Hampstead Heath, Highgate Wood and Queen’s Park Committee meeting held on 16 May 2016. The Superintendent advised that the unveiling of the new Parliament Hill viewpoint sign had been delayed until September 2016 at the earliest. A date would be circulated once finalised.

Members noted that it was useful to receive these draft minutes so it was agreed that the Town Clerk would circulate a link to them after each Hampstead Heath, Highgate Wood and Queen’s Park Committee meeting.

RESOLVED – That the draft public minutes of the Committee meeting held on 16 May 2016 be noted.

To receive the public minutes of the Hampstead Heath Sports Advisory Forum meeting held on 16 May 2016.

The Committee received the minutes of the Hampstead Heath Sports Advisory Forum meeting held on 16 May 2016. The Chairman of the Forum congratulated Heath staff on a very successful Highgate Harriers Night of 10,000m event. The Leisure and Events Manager added that he had received a congratulatory letter for Lord Sebastian Coe thanking them for the event.

RESOLVED – That the minutes of the Hampstead Heath Sports Advisory Forum meeting held on 16 May 2016 be noted.

Report of the Superintendent of Hampstead Heath.

The Committee received a report of the Superintendent of Hampstead Heath that provided an update on management and operational activities across the Heath since March 2016 and sought input from members regarding a review of the consultation arrangements. Members considered the following matters:-

Consultation

·         The Superintendent wished to increase the levels of forward planning and consultation for the development of regular committee reports that could be adjusted for the Hampstead Heath, Highgate Wood and Queen’s Park Committee (Management Committee), taking into account Consultative Committee members’ comments after each meeting.

·         The management plan, which would be reported regularly to the Consultative Committee, would become more outcomes focussed so that members were aware of the steps taken since the previous meeting and the steps to be taken before the next.

·         Members were supportive of a change from three Consultative Committee and six Management Committee meetings to four meetings of each per year, with Consultative Committee meetings held approximately four weeks beforehand to allow feedback to be reflected in reports to the Management Committee – this should be piloted for a one year period if agreed by the Management Committee.

·         Some members (London Council for Sport and Recreation, Highgate Conservation Area Advisory Committee) suggested that reports to the Consultative Committee could be clearer on what members’ needed to comment on to allow the Management Committee to infer clear recommendations from Consultative Committee minutes as well as in the amended reports to the Management Committee.

·         Some members (Friends of Kenwood, Hampstead Conservation Area Advisory Committee) proposed that Consultative Committee minutes could include the results of members’ votes on required decisions, although others suggested that voting was unnecessary as minutes should just include a clear consensus on each decision summarised by the Chairman at the end of each item.

·         A member (Vale of Health Society)

Report of the Superintendent of Hampstead Heath.

The Committee considered a report of the Superintendent of Hampstead Heath regarding the guiding principles relevant to the provision of café facilities at Hampstead Heath and Highgate Wood and the creation of a Café Working Party to co-ordinate the public consultation of all three café leases.

The Chairman advised that a number of draft guiding principles for the new refreshment facilities had been developed and were being reported to the Consultative Committee for further consideration. She added that ensuring high Food Hygiene Rating scores and that staff were paid at or above the London Living Wage were agreed as final principles.

Members noted and considered the following matters:-

·         The guiding principles would feed into the deliberations of the proposed Café Working Party.

·         A member (Highgate Society) suggested that too many guiding principles could cause them to become too prescriptive or restrictive.

·         A member (Vale of Health Society) suggested that the current principles could become favourable towards the current incumbents in the event of an eventual tender process.

·         Following a short presentation from the Café consultant, members noted that community engagement would be an important part of the process.

·         Members believed that the proposed membership of the Café Working Park was too heavily weighted towards City Corporation Officers without enough local community involvement, which would be provided by the addition of the other lead petitioners – members therefore suggested that three petitioners (one for each café) be included on the Café Working Party.

·         The Consultative Committee appointed Nick Bradfield (Dartmouth Park Conservation Area Advisory Committee) and John Etheridge (South End Green Association) the Café Working Party as representatives of the Golders Hill Park and Parliament Hill Cafés and noted that Michael Hammerson (Highgate Society) may be the Highgate Wood representative depending on any other expressions of interest from the Highgate Wood

Report of the Superintendent of Hampstead Heath.

The Committee considered a report of the Superintendent of Hampstead Heath regarding a young athletics cross-country race to be piloted on the Hampstead Heath Extension in 2016/17. The Operational Services Manager advised that the chances of any potential damage to the ground caused by the race and been considered minimal as the race was for young runners and would be held in an area ideal for sporting activities. A member (Hampstead Rugby Club) added that the use of the Extension could promote an area of the Heath that young users might not have previously been aware of. The Committee also noted that a letter had been produced by the Heath and Hampstead Society in support of the pilot event, providing it met certain criteria. The Sports Advisory Forum were supportive of the letter and the event.

RESOLVED – That the holding of the event on the Heath Extension as a pilot, using the identified route to ensure that no permanent damage is caused, be supported by the Consultative Committee.

Report of the Superintendent of Hampstead Heath.

The Committee considered a report of the Superintendent of Hampstead Heath that informed members of a detailed work plan for managing Small Tumulus Field.

In response to members’ questions that had been posed during the Committee walk, the Ecologist advised that the purple-leaf plane tree and the Oak tree were not being removed.

RESOLVED – That the Small Tumulus Field Management Work Plan be noted and approved.

Joint report of the Ponds Project Director and the Superintendent of Hampstead Heath.

The Committee received a joint report of the Ponds Project Director and the Superintendent of Hampstead Heath that provided updates on progress, budget and the risk register for the Hampstead Heath Ponds Project.

RESOLVED – That the Ponds Project progress report be noted.

Report of the Superintendent of Hampstead Heath.

The Committee received a report of the Superintendent of Hampstead Heath that outlined the restoration work to be undertaken to create an attractive and ecologically more valuable landscape surrounding the Model Boating Pond and Tumulus Field. The Superintendent added that the habitat restoration proposals had been reported to the Community Working Group and their feedback had been taken into account.

In response to a member’s (Highgate Society) question, the Ecologist advised that hedgerow and tree planting would be carried out along the western habitat boundary.

RESOLVED – That the habitat restoration proposals for the Model Boating Pond and Tumulus Field be noted.

Report of the Superintendent of Hampstead Heath.

The Committee received a report of the Superintendent of Hampstead Heath regarding the performance of the Hampstead Heath Constabulary during the period 1 April 2015 to 31 March 2016, which members noted would be re-submitted to the next meeting for further consideration. The Superintendent added that the work of the Terrance Higgins Trust would continue and be reviewed annually.

RESOLVED – That the report be deferred to the next Consultative Committee meeting.

Report of the Director of Open Spaces.

The Committee received a report of the Director of Open Spaces that outlined the aspects of the Department’s Business Plan for the period 2016 to 2019 that related to Hampstead Heath, Highgate Wood and Queen’s Park. The Superintendent advised that a more detailed report regarding progress made towards the Business Plan, as well as the proposed objectives for the 2017-20 Business Plan, would be submitted to the next Consultative Committee meeting.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted and a further report be submitted to the next Consultative Committee meeting.

Report of the City Surveyor.

RESOLVED – That the report of the City Surveyor regarding the Cyclical Works Programme Bid 2017/18 would be deferred to the next Consultative Committee meeting.

Report of the Director of Open Spaces.

The Committee received a report of the Director of Open Spaces regarding the plans for Oak Processionary Moth management across London and the South East during 2016.

RESOLVED – That the Oak Processionary Moth Plan for 2016 be noted.

There were none.

The Chairman advised the Committee that the Hampstead Heath, Highgate Wood and Queen’s Park Committee dinner would be taking place during October 2016, with details of the location and date to be circulated shortly.

Members thanked Mary Port for her contribution to the Consultative Committee during her years of services and conveyed to her their good wishes for the future. The Committee then welcomed Nick Bradfield who would be joining the Consultative Committee as the member representing the Dartmouth Park Conservation Area Advisory Committee.

To note the date of the next meeting: Monday 7 November 2016.

RESOLVED – That the date of the next meeting, to be held on Monday 7 November 2016, be noted.