Agenda item

A report of the City Surveyor setting out a provisional list of cyclical projects being considered for Hampstead Heath in 2014/15, under the umbrella of the “additional works programme.”  The draft cyclical project list for 2014/15 totals approximately £0.78m and if approved, will continue the momentum that has seen a significant improvement in the maintenance of the property and infrastructure assets.

That the Consultative Committee’s views are sought on the provisional list of works.

Simon Lee (Superintendent, Hampstead Heath) introduced a report before Members relative to a provisional list of cyclical projects being considered for Hampstead Heath in 2014/15 under the umbrella of the “additional works programme.” The Committee was advised that the draft cyclical project list for 2014/15 totalled approximately £0.67m for Hampstead Heath, as opposed to the figure of £0.78m specified in the report and which included Highgate Wood and Queen’s Park.

Richard Litherland (City Surveyor's Department) invited the Committee to comment on the proposed list ahead of submission through the usual decision-making channels.  He advised that the list reflected cyclical maintenance rather than improvement works and had been informed by a sound dialogue with the Superintendent of Hampstead Heath in order to maintain a collaborative approach to undertaking works on the Heath.  In respect of some of the proposed works, it was noted that further work had been proposed at the Lido and the Athletics Pavilion, as well as a more strategic approach to footpath works.

In response to a question concerning funding of the proposed cyclical and major works at the Lido, Richard Litherland explained that the works were funded through different streams and that as the funding programme was reducing in scale, future funding constraints were likely to have a longer term impact on the volume  of works that could be undertaken. 

Following a query about how works were prioritised, the Committee was advised that a range of criteria were used to determine priority such as whether or not a building was Listed, when work had last been undertaken and how urgent works were.  In respect of other issues such as the Pergola, whilst the Masterplan set out a phased approach to the works, the bid in the additional works programme would release money so that additional works could be undertaken.

In respect of the differentiation between cyclical and core works, the Committee was advised that as the core funding stream was limited, the additional works programme provided much need additional funding.  Following a question about remedial action in respect of the erosion of some pathways, the Superintendent advised that large areas of the Heath had been eroded as a result of the exceptional weather.  Whilst acknowledging that this would be a significant piece of work, it was proposed that temporary fencing be erected to prohibit public access and thus enable the open spaces to recover. 

RESOLVED:- That the Consultative Committee’s views on the provisional list of works be submitted to the Superintendent or the City Surveyor’s Department by no later than 29^th April 2013.