Agenda item

The Superintendent of West Ham Park to be heard.

The Superintendent of West Ham Park updated the Committee on current issues affecting the Park:

Finance

The West Ham Park budget remains in line with expected expenditure for this time of year.

Staff

West Ham Park and Nursery remain two senior members of staff below complement, and existing staff were working hard to ensure core services remain uninterrupted. The two young people on work experience from horticultural charity Roots and Shoots continue to do well and will be completing their placement on 31 August. Over the next few weeks officers from West Ham Park and City Gardens will be meeting with colleagues from Roots and Shoots and The Royal Parks to choose which three candidates of the current six, will be taken on as full-time apprentices to train towards Royal Horticultural Society Level 2 over the next two years.

Works

Normal operational activity in the Park had been challenging recently due to the hot weather. Summer bedding had been planted around the ornamental gardens and office, whilst in the Nursery spring bedding plants have been ordered for all of the Park’s main clients, and are due to be delivered over the next two weeks.

Visits

The scheduled Green Flag inspection on 13 June did not take place, with the organisers Keep Britain Tidy instead committing to ‘mystery shop’ the Park at some point over the summer to assess its Green Flag status. The London In Bloom judge visited the Park on 11 July and results will be announced at an awards ceremony in Richmond on 18 September.

The Committee then addressed some questions and remarks to the Superintendent along the following lines:

·         In response to a question from a Member, the Superintendent confirmed that native perennials were being sown in the Wildflower Area.

·         In response to a question from a Member, the Superintendent confirmed that staff were taking necessary precautions in the heat, with hats, long sleeve shirts, kepis, suncream and water being provided to them.

·         In response to feedback from a Member, the Superintendent stated that the floor in the Ladies toilets would be upgraded and repaired either during the winter or at the start of the next financial year. The City Surveyor confirmed that such repairs would come under the Additional Works Programme.

·         In response to a question from a Member, the Superintendent confirmed that the contractor that carried out works on the changing rooms was one of the Corporation’s framework contractors.