Agenda and minutes

Venue: Committee Rooms - Second Floor West Wing, Guildhall

Contact: Richard Holt  Email: Richard.Holt@cityoflondon.gov.uk / 020 73323113

Items
No. Item

1.

Apologies

Minutes:

Apologies were received from Wendy Mead.

 ...  view the full minutes text for item 1.

2.

Declarations of interest under the Code of Conduct

Minutes:

There were no declarations received.

 ...  view the full minutes text for item 2.

3.

Minutes pdf icon PDF 66 KB

To agree the public minutes and non-public summary of the previous meeting of the West Ham Park Committee 14 October 2019.

 ...  view the full agenda text for item 3.

Minutes:

 

The Committee considered the public minutes and non-public summary of the meeting of the West Ham Park Committee on 14 October 2019.

 

Further to its mention within the public minutes of the previous meeting a member of the Committee questioned if there was a required notice period by which questions from the public were required to be received. The Chairman clarified that there was no provision in the Standing Orders of the Court of Common Council for questions from members of the public in attendance to be considered by the Committee and that the lack of prior notice of the question was one of the reasons why the Chairman had not deemed it not appropriate to consider the question from the public.

 

RESOLVED- That the public minutes of the West Ham Park Committee held on 14 October 2019 be approved as an accurate record.

 

 ...  view the full minutes text for item 3.

4.

PARK MANAGER'S UPDATE pdf icon PDF 357 KB

Report of the Director of Open Spaces.

 ...  view the full agenda text for item 4.

Minutes:

The Committee received a report of the Director of Open Spaces which provided an update on the management and operational activities at West Ham Park since October 2019.The Chairman commended the Park Manager for her work on events held within West Ham Park.

 

A member of the Committee requested further information on the next steps for the Nursey Project. The Director of Open Spaces explained that the Comptroller and City Solicitor’s Department had written to the Charity Commission regarding the proposed scheme. In addition, it was explained that, dependent on the response from the Charity Commission, the next stage for the Project would be a public consultation and a further committee report in July of 2020. Replying to a query from a Member the Director of Open Spaces explained that the Nursey Site was not within the public park and therefore was not in its totality parkland. The Chairman noted that the Nursey project report had been agreed by the Projects Sub-Committee and the Corporate Asset Sub-Committee.

 

RESOLVED- That the report be noted.

 

 ...  view the full minutes text for item 4.

5.

West Ham Park Fees and Charges review 2020-21 pdf icon PDF 150 KB

Report of the Director of Open Spaces.

 ...  view the full agenda text for item 5.

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The Committee considered a report of the Director of Open Spaces on the West Ham Park Fees and Charges review 2020-21. The report summarised sports activity in the Park throughout 2019 and outlined the proposed fees and charges for sports facilities to be provided at West Ham Park in 2020/21.

 

Replying to a Member’s comment the Director of Open Spaces explained that the population local to the park were comparably younger and used the park in a higher number than the OAP’s. The Chairman commented that he was content to be guided by Officers on managerial matters such as the setting of fees and charges.

 

A Member informed the Committee of the new leisure strategy that the London Borough of Newham was currently developing. The Chairman commented that every effort should be made to encourage an increase in physical activity in the Park noting the high levels of obesity present in the Borough.

 

RESOLVED- That: -

  1. That the proposed schedule of charges for sports facilities in West Ham Park for the 2020/21 financial year be approved; and
  2. Authority be delegated to the Superintendent to finalise details of the Tennis Annual Membership package with Newham Council prior to the start of the tennis season.

 

 ...  view the full minutes text for item 5.

6.

Trustee's Annual Report and Financial Statements pdf icon PDF 56 KB

Report of the Chamberlain.

 ...  view the full agenda text for item 6.

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The Committee received a report of the Chamberlain on the Trustee’s Annual Report and Finance Statement.

 

The Chairman highlighted the funding from the City of London grant to the management of the Park and as a result observed that the only viable option for the Nursery included combined usage due to the large increase in capital expenditure for the alternative option. A member of the Committee stated that the provision of housing within Newham was not the concern of the West Ham Park Committee. Further to this a Member stated that Officers should make clear in their communication with the Charity Commission that not all Members of the West Ham Park Committee agreed with the Nursey Project combined usage option and that only the summary of the consultant’s report had been considered by the Committee. A Member replied that it was standard practice within the City of London Corporation that Officer’s reports include their summary and recommendations with background reports available on request.

 

It was commented by a member of the Committee that the Nursey being in a derelict condition should be listed as a risk for the management of West Ham Park and should be included in the communication to the Charity Commission.

 

RESOLVED- That the report be noted.

 

 ...  view the full minutes text for item 6.

7.

2019/20 Business Plan performance update pdf icon PDF 181 KB

Report of the Director of Open Spaces.

 ...  view the full agenda text for item 7.

Minutes:

The Committee received a report of the Director of Open Spaces on the Departmental Business Plan 2019/20 Six-month performance update: April to Sept 2019. The report provided Members with an update on progress and performance against the 2019/20 Business Plan by the services which report to the various Open Spaces Committees.

 

Replying to a query from a member of the Committee the Director of Open Spaces explained that any mitigation required in the locality of West Ham Park would be considered by the London Borough of Newman as the relevant local authority.

 

RESOLVED- That the report be noted.

 

 ...  view the full minutes text for item 7.

8.

Questions on matters relating to the work of the Committee

Minutes:

A Member of the Committee commented on the Chairman’s statement on the Nursery Project made to the Newham Recorder which he did not feel was accurate and noted that the provision of housing in the Borough of Newman was not the concern of the West Ham Park Committee. In addition, it was requested that future statements are circulated to the Committee for information.

 

 

 ...  view the full minutes text for item 8.

9.

Any other business that the Chairman considers urgent

Minutes:

There was no urgent business considered in the public session.

 ...  view the full minutes text for item 9.

10.

Exclusion of the public

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.

 

 ...  view the full agenda text for item 10.

Minutes:

RESOLVED – That under Section 100A(4) of the Local Government Act 1972,

the public be excluded from the meeting for the following items on the grounds

that they involve the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in Part 1

of Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act.

 

Item No.                                                                                                        Paragraph No.

11                                                                                                                                3

 ...  view the full minutes text for item 10.

11.

Non-Public Minutes

To agree the non-public minutes of the previous meeting of the West Ham Park Committee 14 October 2019.

 ...  view the full agenda text for item 11.

Minutes:

The Committee considered the non-public minutes of the previous meeting of the West Ham Park Committee held on 14 October 2019.

 

RESOLVED- That the non-public minutes of the West Ham Park Committee on 14 October 2019 be approved as an accurate record.

 ...  view the full minutes text for item 11.

12.

Questions on matters relating to the work of the committee

Minutes:

The Committee considered one question in the non-public session.

 ...  view the full minutes text for item 12.

13.

Any other business that the Chairman considers urgent

Minutes:

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

 ...  view the full minutes text for item 13.