Agenda and minutes

Apologies were received from Barbara Newman.

There were no declarations received.

To agree the public minutes and non-public summary of the previous meeting of the West Ham Park Committee on the 15^th of July.

The Committee considered the public minutes and non-public summary of the West Ham Park Committee held on 15 July 2019.

RESOLVED – That the public minutes of the previous meeting of the West Ham Park Committee on 15 July 2019 be agreed as an accurate record.

The Director of Open Spaces to be heard.

The Director of Open Spaces provided Members an update on the impact of the Brexit process on the management of West Ham Park. The Director noted that due to the fluid nature of the situation there was no substantive updated to be provided.

RESOLVED- That the update be noted.

Report of the Director of Open Spaces.

The Committee received a report of the Director of Open Spaces on the management and operational activities at West Ham Park since July 2019. The Director of Open Spaces clarified that the Newham’s biggest leaf pile event was now due to take place on the 17^th of November 2019.

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 Bringing Communities Together event. The Report sought approval for the organisers to hold the event on an annual basis in West Ham Park for the coming three years at the same size, scale and duration.

Replying to a query from a Member of the Committee the Director of Open Spaces clarified that the fees charged for the event would be reviewed on an annual basis by the Committee. The Chairman noted that the approval for the event to be held on for the proceeding three years was for reasons of continuity.

In response to a point raised by a Member of the Committee the Director of Open Spaces explained that the organisers of the event had contacted a variety of different community organisations regarding possible involvement with the Bringing Communities Together event.

It was commented by a Member that Hampstead Heath held a number of similar events annually which were both successful community events and effective sources of revenue for the management of the open space. In addition, it was commented that Officers should look into the viability of holding more events of this type at West Ham Park.

A Member of the Committee commented that he would be working in his capacity as the London Borough of NewhamCabinet Member for Environment to increase engagement between the West Ham Park management team and the London Borough of Newham.

RESOLVED- That: -

1. The HAFS Academy and Irvin Leisure delivering a ‘Bringing Communities Together’ event at the same size, scale and duration as in 2019 in West Ham Park annually in July for the next three years from 2020 to 2022 be approved; and
2. That authority be delegated to the Superintendent to finalise details of each event,

Report of the Director of Open Spaces.

The Committee received a report of the Director of Open Spaces regarding the Three-year review of the Open Spaces Department’s ‘Green Spaces, Learning Places’ programme.

The Committee commented on the quality of the programme and commented that more should be done to publicise the educational work undertaken by the Open Spaces Department at West Ham Park. A Member replied to this point by noting that they would liaise with the London Borough of Newham’s Cabinet Member for Education regarding engagement of local schools with the programme. 

RESOLVED- That the report be noted.

Further to Standing Orders of the Court of Common Council, whereby all questions of order are decided at the Chairman’s discretion, the Chairman did not approve that a question from a member of the public be heard on the grounds that no prior notice of this question was given. The Committee voted to not hear the question from a member of the public. Six Members voted against the motion and seven voted in favour including the Chairman who, in accordance with Standing Order 29 (1) (c), cast the deciding vote.

There was no urgent business which the Chairman considered urgent.

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.

The Chairman provided a brief outline of the reasons why the report at Item 12 regarding the West Ham Park Nursery site had been included in the non-public section of the agenda. The Chairman explained that the report contained exempt material relating to the business and financial affairs of the City of London Corporation and the West Ham Park Charity which if made publicly available at this early stage would have seriously detrimental implications. He emphasised that the Nursery site was not part of the Park and there was no public access to it. The Committee also needed to be able to speak openly and candidly about the available options. In addition, the Chairman noted that the Committee membership included a substantial number of Members external to the Court of Common Council including representatives of the local community and reminded Members that they were acting on behalf of the City of London Corporation in its capacity as Trustee of the West Ham Park Charity.

The Chairman moved that the Committee consider the exclusion of the public. The Committee then proceeded to vote on the motion to exclude the public from the remainder of the Committee meeting as specified in Section 100A (4) of the Local Government Act 1972. Six Members voted in favour and Five voting against the motion, with one abstention. Accordingly, the motion to exclude the public from the remainder of the Committee meeting was carried.

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 of the West Ham Park Committee on 15 July 2019.

The Committee considered the non-public minutes of the meeting of the West Ham Park Committee held on 15 July 2019.

RESOLVED- That the non-public minutes of the meeting of the West Ham Park Committee held on 15 July 2019 be approved as an accurate record.

Joint report of the Director of Open Spaces and the City Surveyor.

The Committee considered a joint report of the City Surveyor and Director of Open Spaces on the West Ham Park Nursery.

RESOLVED-That the report be agreed.

There were no questions considered in the non-public session.

There was no urgent business considered in the non-public session.