Agenda and minutes

Apologies were received from Jeremy Simons, Wendy Mead and Justin Meath-Baker.

There were declarations.

To agree the minutes of the previous meeting.

RESOLVED- That the public minutes and non-public summary of the meeting held on 4 February 2019 be approved as a correct record.

Matters Arising

Newham representatives on the West Ham Committee

The Director of Open Spaces informed the Committee that Councillor Mas Patel was to be nominated as the second representative of the London Borough of Newham. Members noted that Councillor Joy Laguda would no longer be serving on the Committee and questioned if any communication had been sent to thank her for her service. The Chairman confirmed that he had written to Councillor Joy Laguda formally thanking her for her service on the West Ham Park Committee and thanked Officers for their work in resolving issues on the Membership of the Committee. 

The Director of Open Spaces to be heard.

The Director of Open Spaces was heard in relation to an update on Brexit and the implications for West Ham Park. The Director explained that given the lack of clarity on the process the department were concentrating on matters within their control. In addition, the director informed the Committee that the City of London Corporation was in discussion with the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) to mitigate issues which could be caused by loss of European Union funded grants.

Replying to a Members query the Director Open Spaces informed the Committee that the City of London Corporation’s Human Resources department had a policy to assist members of staff who are from the European Union.

RESOLVED- That the update be noted.

Report of the Superintendent of Parks and Gardens.

The Committee received a report of the Director of Open Spaces which provided Members with an update from the West Ham Park manager.

It was noted by a Member that the learning programme would be subject to the fundamental review process which the City of London Corporation would be under taking.

A Member requested clarification on the issue of apprentice placement as the West Ham park management team appeared to have a number of apprentice vacancies whilst being told that apprentice placements were at capacity.  The Director of Open Spaces explained that some of the apprentices who had been allocated places had dropped out and that the City of London Corporation apprenticeship funding had been fully allocated for this year.

It was questioned whether the design work on the West Ham Park playground could continue despite the deferred funding of the project. The Director of Open Spaces clarified that some works, which were funded by previous gateway report, could continue despite the funding review.

RESOLVED- That the report be noted.

Report of the Director of Open Spaces.

The Committee considered a report of the Director of Open Spaces on the Open Spaces Department, City Gardens and West Ham Park Risk Management. The Director of Open Spaces highlighted to Members the sections of the report which were pertinent to West Ham Park.

RESOLVED- That: -

1. Risk scoring grid be noted; and
2. That the Departmental risk register outlined in this report be noted; and
3. That the West Ham Park elements of the City Gardens and West Ham Park risk register as outlined in the report be approved.

Report of the Director of Open Spaces.

The Committee received a report of Director of Open Spaces on the Final Departmental High-level Business Plans 2019/20 for the Open Spaces Department. A Member questioned why the Ultra Low Emissions Zone (ULEZ) Fleet Purchase was shown as a red risk when Members had just been told that the fleet was compliant. The Director of Open Spaces clarified that at the time of writing the report the Open Spaces Department’s vehicle fleet was not fully ULEZ compliant but that it had reached full compliance subsequently.

RESOLVED- That the report be noted.  

There were no questions received.  

The Chairman presented a proposed resolution regarding the City of London Corporation’s new Sports Engagement Strategy to be sent to the Policy & Resources Committee. The Chairman explained that the resolution had been supported by the Epping Forest and Commons Committee on the 11^th of March 2019, formally endorsed by the Hampstead Heath, Highgate Wood and Queen's Park Committee on the 13^th of March and the Open Spaces & City Gardens Committee on the 8^th of April. The Chairman suggested that the Committee send a resolution on this matter to Policy & Resources Committee the which would be followed by resolutions of other relevant Committees. A Member commented that particular importance should be placed on people within the sports strategy. Members supported the proposed resolution Policy & Resources Committee noting the importance of open spaces to the Sports Strategy.

RESOLVED- That a resolution be made from the West Ham Park Committee to the Policy & Resources Committee requesting involvement in the decision-making process regarding sports engagement in conjunction with other relevant Committees, as follows:

“Noting the creation of a new Sports Engagement Strategy, we are aware that the PRED sub-committee have resolved to recruit a full time Sports Engagement Officer. We, as the Chairmen of interested committees, would like to have a part in the decision-making process regarding the growth and implementation of the strategy, prioritisation of effort, and where funds are allocated. We feel that the committees that are responsible for sport (in its widest sense) should be involved in the overall process and have an involvement in the decision-making on the strategy.

We believe there are five pillars to the City’s engagement with sport to be considered:

1.    Open spaces, involving the community and local sports clubs

2.    Education with the City of London Schools (independent schools and

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 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 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 Local Government Act.

To agree the non-public minutes of the previous meeting.

RESOLVED- That the non-public minutes of the meeting held on 4 February 2019 be approved as a correct record.

One question was considered in the non-public session.

There were no urgent items considered in the non public session.