Agenda item

Report of the Superintendent (copy attached).

Members received a report of the Superintendent of Hampstead Heath that provided a review of the management operations and activities carried out on Hampstead Heath over the past twelve months as part of the 2012 Annual Work Programme. The report also outlined the new 2013 Work Programme.

In response to queries from Helen Payne and Xohan Duran, the Heath Conservation Officer advised that if the Ash Dieback fungal disease arrived on the Heath there was little that staff could do to restrict its spread. However, the Cabinet Office was currently investigating the recent outbreak and would issue guidance towards a national strategy to inhibit its spread shortly.

Jeremy Wright praised the report and hoped that all scheduled works could be completed over the ensuing year. The Superintendent advised that the programme was flexible and would be amended if any urgent matters required exceptional attention.

RECEIVED