Agenda item

Verbal Update from the Superintendent of West Ham Park.

The Committee received the following update from the Superintendent:

Finance – the park budget is in line with profile at the ¾ stage of the year. The majority of spend in the nursery is in line with budget profile, however an underachievement in floral income means that budget will be in deficit at year end. Members noted that floral income accounted for 30%-40% of the total income at West Ham Park.

Personnel – 2 new appointments started work on 2 February; the West Ham Park Manager and the maternity cover for the Support Officer for outreach, biodiversity and sustainability. West Ham Park is about to recruit a full-time replacement keeper, and a temporary nursery gardener for the summer season. The latter is being recruited through Groundwork, a charity that provides training and creates jobs both for young people and those looking to get back into a working environment or to re-skill.

Community & Events

The Friends of West Ham Park organised an RSPB Big Garden Bird Watch on Saturday 17th January. Fifteen people attended and a wide range of birds was seen including both Green and Great spotted woodpeckers, and Goldfinches. Results will be shown on the website.

The Friends are holding their first stargazing event of the season on Thursday 19th February. These have become a very popular regular feature at the park and, as numbers have to be limited, tend to sell out within a few of hours of being advertised.

Throughout the year the Friends Group and staff collect feedback from visitors and attendees at events using a sixty-second-survey. Last year’s results have been collated and show that 14% of our users thought the park service was good overall, 40% rated it as very good and 43% as excellent, with 3% not answering this question.

Property – The City Surveyor’s team has refurbished the old potting shed replacing lighting, work benches, sink and painting and decorating, including a new non-slip, easy-to-clean floor coating.

Under the City Surveyors Additional Works Programme, the cricket net boards have been refurbished and the Victorian park shelters have been redecorated.  Maintenance of the brick pavers in the ornamental gardens was delayed because of frost, but the contractor will be starting work within the next 2 weeks.

In response to a query the Superintendent clarified that Star Gazing events were held often and were very popular. Members requested other Open Spaces to investigate whether they could host similar events.