Agenda and minutes

Apologies were received from John Weston.

There were no declarations.

To agree the public minutes of the meeting held on 12 March 2012 (copy attached).

The public minutes of the meeting held on 12 March 2012 were approved.

MATTERS ARISING

Hampstead Heath – Public Sex Environment Outreach Work (item 3).

The Constabulary Manager confirmed that there were ongoing discussions with the Terrence Higgins trust with regard to a litter picking exercise that was scheduled to take place in November 2012.

Update on the Hampstead Heath Flood Management and Water Quality Management Project

In response to a query from Jeremy Wright, the Director of Open Spaces advised that the offsite emergency plan had been developed and, although officers from the City of London had provided assistance, this was the responsibility of the London Borough of Camden.

The Chairman amended the agenda order so that the “Flood Management and Water Quality Project - Communications Strategy” and the “Flood and Water Quality Management, Hampstead Heath - Progress and Procurement Structure Report” would be considered simultaneously prior to the Superintendent’s Update.

Report of the Superintendent of Hampstead Heath (copy attached).

The Committee considered a report of the Superintendent of Hampstead Heath that presented a Communication Strategy for managing all communications associated with the Flood Management and Water Quality project.

The Water Management Communications Officer made reference to the presentation that Members had received during a recent Consultative Committee visit. The Chairman advised that he had since received a range of comments and advised any further comments should be provided no later than Friday 13 July 2012.

In discussing the Flood and Water Quality Management paper, Richard Sumray suggested that one or more Members of the Consultative Committee should be involved in the tender process.

The Projects Director ran through the timetable for the appointment of the Design Team and advised that the appointment of a Strategic Landscape Architect was currently out to tender. The Strategic Landscape Architect would not be a member of the Design Team, but would provide challenge and influence over the design process, and ensure that designs were as far as possible sympathetic to the overall project vision and objectives.

The Projects Director summarised the required Design Team services and advised that it had not yet been decided whether the appointments should lie with a single or multiple contractors. There were advantages and drawbacks from each. A key issue was that using a single contractor could cost the City more money, but this option also had the potential to reduce costs over the lifetime of the project. A single contractor also had the benefit of allowing a single point of contact for the Design Team and could facilitate a more joined up approach, particularly with the landscape architect and ecologist.

Susan Rose proposed the following amendment to the Water Management Stakeholder Group draft terms of reference:

To inform and assist the Hampstead Heath Consultative Committee:

iii)   by

Report of the Superintendent of Hampstead Heath (copy attached).

The Committee considered a report of the Superintendent of Hampstead Heath that set out the progress made with several key appointments associated with the implementation of the Flood Management and Water Quality Project.

This item was considered earlier in conjunction with the previous item.

RECEIVED

The Superintendent to be heard.

The Hampstead Heath Management Team updated the Committee on the following matters:

·         A visitor 1 sculpture was scheduled to be installed on 11 July 2012, and would be removed in November 2012.

·         The National Grid gas works were progressing. Due to recent weather conditions, a temporary track had been placed over part of the Hampstead Heath Extension in order to aid vehicle use. One rugby pitch would be temporarily relocated. The works were expected to be completed by 15 November 2012. Works began at Cut Through Lane on 31 May 2012, with an expected completion date of 31 October 2012. Works were scheduled for Parliament Hill Fields in mid-September and were expected to last 22 weeks. 

·         There were the following on-going planning issues:

o   A new planning application was being proposed in Garden House, which featured a basement in the plans.

o   The Water House development had not yet submitted an application to the London Borough of Camden.

o   Proposed works to extend the East Heath Car Park had recently been approved.

o   A new planning application at Athlone House was expected in the near future.

·         The legal dispute over the “Green to Gold” copyright had recently been settled out of court. The phrase could now be used until 2013.

·         The Freedom Bill was likely to be enacted in the future and would revoke the City’s power to clamp vehicles that did not comply with the Heath parking policy. Alternative measures were currently being investigated. Members noted that a decision regarding the matter may need to be made outside of the Committee cycle and members were invited to forward their comments to staff once details had been circulated.

·         Massaria had recently been identified on trees in the City Gardens, Royal Parks and Stratford. Officers were currently seeking

Report of the City Surveyor (copy attached).

The Committee considered a report of the City Surveyor that set out a provisional schedule of cyclical projects being considered for Hampstead Heath in 2013/14 and 2014/15 under the umbrella of the “additional works programme”.

The Group Building Surveyor advised that the report highlighted essential maintenance works and asked for any comments to be forwarded to staff by 13 July 2012.

RECEIVED

Report of the Superintendent of Hampstead Heath (copy attached).

The Committee considered a report of the Superintendent of Hampstead Heath that presented detailed management work plans for the Sandy Heath ponds and Sandy Heath and Flagstaff gorse sites.

Jeremy Wright commended the report. In response to a question from Robert Slowe, the Director advised that the work plans were available online. Richard Sumray advised that a condensed version should be circulated to a wider audience.

RECEIVED

Report of the Superintendent of Hampstead Heath (copy attached).

The Committee considered a report of the Superintendent of Hampstead Heath that presented a detailed work plan for Pryor’s Field.

The Conservation Manager advised that a key objective of the plan was to inhibit the spread of invasive species in Pryor’s Field. Members were invited to forward any comments to officers by 13 July 2012.

RECEIVED

Report of the Superintendent of Hampstead Heath (copy attached).

The Committee considered a report of the Superintendent of Hampstead Heath that reviewed the main aims and background informing the ‘Wild About Hampstead Heath’ project and the current progress of the Heritage Lottery Fund Application to support this project.

Richard Sumray commended the proposed use of volunteers. Jeremy Wright advised that he believed the Cornfield Meadows to be too small to house a Kingfisher Bank, however Alix Mullineaux advised that she believed that a kingfisher had settled in the area in the past.

The Leisure & Events Manager advised that there were regular meetings between Officers and the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds. In response to a question from Mary Port, the Operations Service Manager advised that fencing would cordon off the sparrow meadow north of the bandstand at Parliament Hill Fields following the National Grid Works. Fencing for perennial planting would be in place for one year to aid establishment. Annual meadows would be fenced off permanently.

In response to a query from Colin Gregory, the Conservation Manager advised that the proposed project would engage largely with schools from the more deprived areas to the south of the Heath, but would also engage with local schools in Barnet.

RECEIVED

Report of the Director of Open Spaces (Copy attached).

The Committee considered a report of the Director of Open Spaces that advised Members on the success in achieving Secondary Authority status for the control of dogs.

The Director of Open Spaces advised that the City had recently acquired secondary authority status, which meant it could enforce stricter dog control orders. This would be trialled in Burnham Beeches, and could be considered for use in Hampstead Heath. The Home Office was currently drafting a White Paper that proposed abolishing the status. Ian Harrison commended the City’s obtainment of secondary authority status and advised that the measures should be used constructively on the Heath and well publicised.

The Chairman advised that, due to an erroneous internal memo, during a recent interview with the Ham and High he had advised that the City had failed in its attempt to acquire secondary authority status. This was not so.

In response to a query from Mary Port, the Director advised that the definition of an out of control dog was for the courts to decide.

RECEIVED

There were no questions.

To receive the minutes of the Hampstead Heath Sport Advisory Forum meeting held on 21 May 2012 (copy attached).

The Committee received the minutes of the Hampstead Heath Sports Forum held on 21 May 2012.

RECIEVED

At this point, the time limit for Committee meetings as set out in Standing Order40 had been reached, but there being a two-thirds majority of the Committee present who voted in favour of an extension, the Committee agreed to continue the meeting.

Report of the Superintendent of Hampstead Heath (copy attached).

The Committee considered a report of the Superintendent of Hampstead Heath that proposed to hold an event on Hampstead Heath for a 23 day period from 2 June 2013 to 24 June 2013, with the fair taking place between Wednesday 12 June 2013 and Sunday 16 June 2013. It also sought support to host similar events in 2014 and 2015.

Jeremy Wright commended the proposal. Ian Harrison supported the proposal but advised that there was scope to increase the charge for the event to be more in line with what other local authorities across London charged for similar events. Michael Hammerson queried whether it would be better to agree a three year contract in 2012.

RECEIVED

Members noted that the Superintendent of Hampstead Heath had recently undergone an operation and was consequently unable to attend the meeting. The Committee wished the Superintendent a speedy recovery.

To be held at 7pm on Tuesday 6 November 2012.

RESOLVED: That the next meeting be held on Tuesday 6 November 2012 at 7pm in the Hampstead Heath Education Centre.