Agenda item

To receive the report of the Director of Open Spaces.

The Committee noted the revised Open Spaces Department Business Plan which detailed the aims and objectives of the department. Members noted the progress made in the first quarter of the new financial year as well as summarising performance in 13/14, with a particular focus on the final quarter of the year.

Members were informed that the year saw the delivery of a number of high profile projects including the completion of the final year of the City Bridge Trust funded

project ‘Inspiring Londoners through Landscapes and Biodiversity’, Heritage

Lottery Fund approval for stage one of the Kenley Revival Project and public

consultation on the Hampstead Heath Project. However, the timetables for a number of projects scheduled for delivery within the reporting year slipped. These projects included Introduction of Dog Control Orders at Burnham Beeches, the Epping Forest Management Plan, Golf Course Review at Epping Forest, the Grazing Strategy implementation, the Jubilee Pond relining project and the Land Registration Project.

In response to a query, Members were informed that the number of accidents in Open Spaces would no longer be reported as part of the Open Spaces Performance Dashboard, but would be considered in the form of an annual Committee report.

Members were informed that the City Churchyards management arrangements were being adopted by individual Churches when they came into contact with the City Corporation, for example when undergoing works to the area in or around the Church. The Superintendent informed the Committee that the arrangements were currently being implemented at St Olave’s and St Andrew’s Church.