Agenda item

Superintendent's Update Report

Report of the Superintendent of Hampstead Heath.

Minutes:

The Group received a report of the Superintendent of Hampstead Heath that provided an update on operational and management activities and the achievements of the Queen’s Park Team since the last meeting in November 2014. The Park Manager provided updates on the following matters:

 

Budget

£332,000 of savings had been identified across Hampstead Heath, Highgate Wood and Queen’s Park in 2015/16, as part of the Service Based Review proposals. Savings were being addressed through eleven programmes that focussed on specific areas. At Queen’s Park, income generation at the Children’s Farm would be reviewed as part of the Learning and Development programme and an online tennis court booking system would be considered as part of the Sports programme. A further update would be provided at the next Group meeting.

 

Café

The current three year Café lease was due to expire later this year. A meeting to discuss the procedure for tendering would take place shortly but there was already plenty of interest from several parties. The Park Manager would be advertising the tender in local and specialist media after consultation with the City of London Procurement Service.

 

Licensed Events

The Nomad outdoor cinema would be returning for four film screenings across August and September, which would provide useful additional income.

 

In response to a Member’s question, the Park Manager advised that a template had been produced by the Comptroller and City Solicitor’s Department for the introduction of charges to commercial activities. The regular football coach had been made aware that a charge would be imposed from July or August 2015.

 

Ecology and Environment

The London Borough of Brent (LBB) was no longer in a position to remove green waste from Queen’s Park, having reduced the number of vehicles in their fleet that managed this operation. The Park Supervisor was working with colleagues to review the removal of green waste from Queen’s Park. Consideration would be given to the most environmentally sustainable, cost-effective and efficient process to achieve this.

 

Sports and Recreation

The hedge to the north of the tennis courts had recently been reduced by one metre by Queen’s Park staff. During the autumn/winter of 2015, a contractor would be used to reduce the height of the hedges on the remaining three sides of the tennis courts. Tennis court no. six was currently in a poor condition and therefore out of use. The Lawn Tennis Association would be contacted to discuss future possible funding opportunities to improve court conditions.

 

The Park Manager had recently met with a representative from the LBB to consider the possibility of installing outdoor gym equipment in Queen’s Park, a proposal that would be dependent upon available funding. Consideration was also given to the maintenance and upkeep of this equipment. At its meeting on 18 May 2015 the Hampstead Heath, Highgate Wood and Queen’s Park Committee noted the resolution of the Open Spaces and City Gardens Committee that decisions on equipment funding offers should be made by the respective Management Committee, based on the principle that any offer should be self-funding for the lifetime of the equipment.

 

Members were not supportive of an outdoor gym but agreed for improved equipment to be added to the Trim Trail. The member representing the LBB agreed to discuss the possible funding opportunities for this with his colleagues at the LBB.

 

Children’s Play Area

New equipment had been installed recently which had been funded in part by a £2,000 donation from a local resident and £3,000 from the LBB. The new equipment would be opening soon.

 

Operational Management

The Bandstand continued to be used for children’s parties, available at a rate of £55 for a two hour period in the morning or afternoon. This charge would be reviewed with a view to increase income generation.

 

A meeting was scheduled to take place shortly to discuss the 2015/16 Additional Works Programme (AWP) with the City Surveyor’s Department. It was hoped that repairs to the paddling pool would be included in this AWP.

 

Visitors and Community

Queen’s Park Day would be taking place on Sunday 13 September 2015. A small fairground that took place over the Whitsun weekend provided some income supporting the Hampstead Education team delivering a learning programme at Queen’s Park in August 2015. In response to a Member’s question, the Park Manager advised that Temporary Event Notices were applied for for alcohol to be sold at events such as Queen’s Park Day.

 

RESOLVED – That the Superintendent’s update report be noted.

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