Agenda item

Report of the Superintendent of Hampstead Heath.

The Group received a report of the Superintendent of Hampstead Heath that provided an update on the operational work and accomplishments of the Queen’s Park team since June 2016. Members noted and considered the following matters:

Donation Box

A new design for the donation box was being considered as it was hoped donations would be increased with an interactive design. A Member (Queen’s Park Area Resident’s Association) felt that this was an unnecessary expense. It was confirmed by the Park Manager that the old box would be relocated to another location within the Division.

Café

The Superintendent reported that ‘Minkies’, the proprietor due to take over the lease for the Park Café, had withdrawn their tender. The Corporation had worked with them to assist in the transition and it was not felt that Officers could have done more to ensure the transfer was successful. A thirteen month lease was being recommended by the Superintendent to the existing tenant to allow for user engagement to be carried out, followed by a new procurement process.

Members queried whether the TUPE arrangements were prohibitive for a small business. It was not felt that the business had more staff than was to be expected, and the TUPE of staff was required by law.    

Members further queried the extension of the lease to the existing provider for what was considered a long period of time, given the poor perception of the provision by the community. It was reported that the time frame had been developed to fit in with the work of the Café Working Party, already undertaking a review of the arrangements at Hampstead Heath and Highgate Wood. Officers felt it would be detrimental to the community for the café to be closed while the process was undertaken. It was also noted that Minkies could not receive preferential treatment against the other providers from the procurement process. However Officers agreed to undertake to investigate the possibility of bringing forward the timeframe for the Queen’s Park Café procurement and separate it from the other, wider, consultation process.

It was agreed that the procurement process needed to be very clear to potential bidders on the impact of the TUPE arrangements. It was confirmed that Officers would continue to work with the present occupier to ensure the level of service was maintained during the interim period.

Members were supportive of the suggestion that a special meeting of the Committee be convened in January to discuss the café procurement prior to the meeting of the Management Committee due to be held on the 30^th.

Operational Management

The Superintendent reported that a response from the London Borough of Brent was still outstanding in relation to the funding for Christmas tree collection. A Member (London Borough of Brent) asked Officers to make him aware of any ongoing issues.

Visitors and Community

·         Attendance figures for the Nomad outdoor cinema screenings were slightly less than the previous year.

·         The brass band concerts had proved to be popular.

·         The play area and concerts continued to be provided at no cost to the park users.

·         Queen’s Park Day had proven a success and the Chairman thanked the Queen’s Park Area Residents’ Association for their hard work.

·         Local schools had recently taken part in bulb planting in the Park. It was hoped this would foster a greater sense of ownership and discourage flower picking by younger park users who had been involved in the planting.

·         Small scale filming continued to bring in revenue. It was confirmed that bookings were only taken for weekdays and impact was minimised.

Children’s Play Area

Plans developed by the consultants based on the outcome of the consultation were tabled. Members discussed the designs, but acknowledged that not all options would be viable within the allocated budget. Costings and final plans would be available at the special meeting of the Committee in January.

Members discussed the options for the redevelopment of the toilet block to meet the needs of the community as set out in the consultation responses. Whilst the project for the development of the play area and sandpit would be included in the 2016/2017 work programme (with delivery by March 2017), the toilet block would be considered in the 2017/18 programme.

Ecology and Environment

·         Oak Processionary Moth had been found in the park in 2015 and 2016, despite efforts to remove the nests. There was a possibility of an experimental control method using nematodes being trialled in the Park in 2017.

·         Massaria had affected many of the London Plane Trees, causing a safety hazard with the potential for limb loss. The spread was monitored and more resources would be focused on the issue in future.

·         A member of staff from the Divisional ecology team would be undertaking a survey of the local hedgehog population.

·         The possibility of controlling the squirrel population would be considered based on the outcome of the trial at Highgate Wood.

Awards

Queen’s Park had received one of only five 20^th year Green Flag awards. A plaque had been placed on the park café. The park had also been awarded a gold standard in London in Bloom and a Green Heritage Award.

Management Plan

The Superintendent advised that written comments on the work programme were welcome prior to the meeting of the Management Committee on 21 November 2016.

Sports and Recreation

·         The majority of tennis bookings were now completed through ClubSpark the online booking application.

·         The possibility of installing a tablet in the café to allow patrons to book tennis courts was being investigated

·         There had been an increase in the revenue from coaching sessions in comparison to 2015.

·         The London Borough of Brent had offered the City of London funding for the installation / maintenance of trim trail equipment in the Park. 

Fenced Area for Dogs

The Committee discussed the proposal for the creation of a fenced area to allow for dogs to be let off the lead. Members felt that Tiverton Park provided a suitable provision for dog walkers, and that accepting the proposal may have an impact on the Park achieving the green flag award. The suggestion that the pitch and putt course be turned into a dog area at certain hours was raised, but this was not widely supported by the Committee.

It was confirmed the Hampstead Heath Constabulary were delivering the message to walkers that their dogs must be kept under control and on the lead at all times when in Queen’s Park.

RESOLVED - That the Superintendent investigate the possibility of a shorter timeframe for the café procurement process, and that, the proposal to create a fenced area to allow dogs to be allowed off a lead not be supported.