Agenda and minutes

Apologies for absence were received from Robert Cazenove.

There were no declarations of interest received.

To receive the Order of the Court of Common Council dated 16 July 2020 appointing the Committee and setting its Terms of Reference.

The Committee received the Order of the Court of Common Council dated 16 July 2020 for the West Ham Park Committee.

RESOLVED- That the Court of Common Council be noted.

The Committee are invited to elect a Chairman in accordance with Standing Order 29.

The Committee proceeded to elect a Chairman in accordance with Standing Order No. 29. The Town Clerk informed the Committee that Oliver Sells as the only Member expressing their willingness to serve was therefore duly elected Chairman for the ensuing year and took the Chair.

RESOLVED- That Oliver Sells be elected Chairman of the West Ham Park Committee for the ensuing year.

The Committee are invited to elect a Deputy Chairman in accordance with Standing Order 30.

The Committee proceeded to elect a Deputy Chairman in accordance with Standing Order No. 30. The Town Clerk informed the Committee that Caroline Haines as the only Member expressing their willingness to serve was therefore duly elected Deputy Chairman for the ensuing year.

RESOLVED- That Caroline Haines be elected Deputy Chairman of the West Ham Park Committee for the ensuing year.

To agree the public minutes and non-public summary of the previous meeting of the West Ham Park Committee held on 16 July 2020.

The Committee considered the public minutes of the West Ham Park Committee meeting held on the 16^th of July 2020. A Member requested that a typographic error in item 4 of the draft minutes.

A member of the Committee extended their apologies for the meeting on the 16^th of July.

RESOLVED- That the public minutes of the West Ham Park Committee meeting held on the 16^th of July 2020, subject to the corrections specified, be approved as an accurate record.

Report of the Director of Open Spaces.

The Committee received a report of the Director of Open Spaces which provided an update to the Members of the West Ham Park Committee on the management and operational activities at West Ham Park since February 2020. The Director of Open Spaces introduced the report and highlighted to the Committee the retention of the London in Bloom Competition gold award.

It was noted that further discussion of the Nursery Site project would need to take place in the non-public session due to its relation to financial matters.

The Committee discussed the factors causing an increased loss of trees at West Ham Park. The Director of Open Spaces replied by confirming that appropriate tree species and tree strategy would be investigated to minimise loss of tree numbers.

RESOLVED- That the report be noted.

Report of the Director of Open Spaces.

The Committee received a report of the Director of Open Spaces which provided an update on the West Ham Park Playground Project.

The Committee debated the extension of the Playground’s fencing to increase its size. The Director of Open Spaces commented that there was a number of factors to consider in relation to extending the fence boundary, primarily the funding requirements. A Committee member commented that they were reluctant to approve a project option which had not been fully costed. The Director of Open Spaces confirmed that the City of London Corporation funding remained in place however the impact of COVID had caused external funding opportunities to be significantly reduced. In addition, it was confirmed that the extending of the Playground fencing would be explored appropriately. The Chairman indicated that the approved funding should be used to process the project without delaying to reconsider the project scope. A member of the Committee stated that that opportunity to extend the Playground area should continue to be considered.

RESOLVED- That the report be noted.

There were no questions received in the public session.

There were no further business considered in the public session.

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 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

12                                                                                                                                3

To agree the non-public minutes of the previous meeting of the West Ham Park Committee held on the 16 July 2020.

The Committee considered the draft non-public minutes of the West Ham Park Committee meeting held on the 16^th of July 2020.

RESOLVED- That the non-public minutes of the West Ham Park Committee meeting held on the 16th of July 2020 be approved as an accurate record.

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

No further business was considered in the non-public session.