Agenda item

Report of the City Surveyor.

The Chairman introduced a report of the City Surveyor on the proposed bids for Additional Works Programme funding for 2015/16, noting that the bids for West Ham Park totalled £221,500.

            In response to a question from a member over the level of funding likely to be secured, the City Surveyor noted that the bids had been achieved in full for 2012/13 and 2013/14.

            In response to the Chairman noting that most bids involved routine maintenance works, a member agreed and commented that to not spend monies on maintenance represented false economy. The Director of Open Spaces added that the Open Spaces Department – in keeping with departments across the wider City of London Corporation – was being challenged to consider the efficient use of assets and therefore routine maintenance helped to achieve this.

            The Chamberlain commented that the Additional Works Programme was a relatively recent stream of funds and represented ‘new’ money for West Ham Park, and its allocation did not detract from funds already allocated within the operations of the Park.

            In response to a question from a member the Superintendent replied that the resurfacing works referred to within the report did not apply to the block paving in the ornamental gardens, as those works fell in the current financial year. In response to a further question he replied that the term ‘garden structures’ referred to items such as rose arbours and the pergola.

            In response to a question from a member the Superintendent confirmed that the works to the park toilets had been completed.  

RECEIVED