Agenda item

Report of the Remembrancer.

The Committee considered a report of the Remembrancer informing Members they previously agreed that local consultation should be carried out with a view to the promotion of a private Bill in Parliament to make changes to the legislative framework governing the City Corporation’s Open Spaces. In the light of that consultation and following further internal discussion, a number of provisions as described in the main body of this Report are now being put forward for the Committee’s consideration.

Members noted that the principal aims of the changes would be to clarify and expand the management powers available to the Corporation, to increase opportunities to generate revenue for the benefit of the Open Spaces (consistently with their status as public places of recreation and enjoyment), and to strengthen enforcement powers. Members noted that the responsibility of considering proposals such as events and setting of charges would remain with the appropriate management committee.

Members noted that the general tenor had been positive. A number of specific concerns had been raised, but it was considered that these could be satisfactorily dealt with as matters of practical implementation rather than general principle. In

particular, local concerns would be reflected in the detailed drafting of the Bill,

through appropriate management plans and policies, and through local

engagement in decisions taken about the exercise of the new powers.

Members noted that the proposed powers for inclusion in the Bill would apply to Epping Forest, Hampstead Heath, Highgate Wood, Queen’s Park, and the various commons and other spaces managed under the City Corporation Act 1878. However, it would not be appropriate to include West Ham Park within the scope of the proposals at the present time.

The Committee noted that the proposals would be submitted to the Policy and Resources Committee before being sent to the Court of Common Council in September 2015 for Members to authorise the sealing of the petition which would be deposited to Parliament in November this year.

Resolved – that the Committee approved a recommendation, subject to the

concurrence of the Policy and Resources Committee and the Court of Common

Council, that a City of London Corporation (Open Spaces) Bill be promoted to seek

the legislative changes described in this Report.