Agenda item

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 introduced the report and invited questions from the Committee.

A Member requested further information on risks CR32 Wanstead Park Reservoirs and OSD 005 Pests and diseases. The Director of Open Spaces replied by confirming that the management of the Wanstead Park Reservoirs was one of primary risks for the Open Spaces Department and explained the current context of the project. It was explained that a panel engineer had been employed who would be producing a report on structure development options for the site. In addition, it was confirmed by the Director of Open Spaces that, while the risk at the Wanstead Park Reservoirs remains relatively high, Officers were confident that all required activities to mitigate this risk had been undertaken at this time.

In response to the Member’s second question the Director of Open Spaces informed the Committee that, while not as significant as the peak at Hampstead Heath, the Oak Processionary Moth remained present across all the City of London managed open spaces and would be considered fully in a committee report due to be finalised later in 2020. Replying to a Member’s additional question the Director of Open Spaces clarified that the problem of pest control in the City of London managed open spaces was a complex one with a varying degree of success against differing pests at each site. The Chairman noted that this would be an ongoing concern for the Open Spaces Department which must be viewed in a long-term context.

RESOLVED- That: -

I.   The Departmental risk register be approved; and

II.   That the City Gardens elements of the City Gardens and West Ham Park risk register be approved.