Minutes 9 January 2010

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	Minutes of general meeting 9 January 2010
	Present: Joyce Rosser (Priory Common) – Chair, Joan Curtis (Downhills Park), Dave Morris (Lordship Rec), David Warren (Parkland Walk), Ulla Lefmann (Ducketts Common), Bob Hare ( Tree Trust for Haringey and New River Action Group), Michael Johns (Queen’s Wood) – note-taker. Items 7-11 Paul Ely (London Borough of Haringey) Apologies: Sylvester King (Ducketts Common), Ceri Williams (Chestnuts Park), Jasper Woodcock and Catherine Stenzl (Woodside Park) Sally Billot (Finsbury Park), Quentin Given (The Paddock) Catherine Price (BTCV) Minutes (revised) of general meeting - 9th January 2010 Present: Joyce Rosser (Priory Common) - Chair, Joan Curtis (Downhills Park), Dave Morris (Lordship Rec), David Warren (Parkland Walk), Ulla Lefmann (Ducketts Common), Bob Hare (Tree Trust for Haringey and New River Action Group), Michael Johns (Queen's Wood) - note-taker. Items 7-11: Paul Ely (London Borough of Haringey) Apologies: Sylvester King (Ducketts Common), Ceri Williams (Chestnuts Park), Jasper Woodcock and Catherine Stenzl (Woodside Park), Sally Billot (Finsbury Park), Quentin Given (The Paddock), Catherine Price (BTCV) 1. Minutes of last meeting Agreed 2. Matters arising - It was understood that the compost which had caused concern came from the Eco Park and was made from collected vegetable waste. It could smell for a day or two if it had not been allowed to settle on site, but the smell soon dissipated and the compost was good quality and met Soil Association standards. - Dave Morris was in the process of sharing information about the contact details of Friends groups and other useful parks people with the Council and it was hoped an up to date integrated database would be available soon. 3. Contacts with Parks staff Dave Morris had drafted a letter to the Unions suggesting closer partnership with the Forum in the light of the discussion at the previous meeting and it was agreed he should issue it on behalf of the Forum. 4. Council budgets It was likely, whichever party won the national and local elections, that there would be a tight squeeze on public expenditure and there was a risk that parks and green spaces would suffer disproportionately as there was no statutory duty on councils to maintain them. Haringey had earned significant recognition for its improvements on parks in recent years and the Friends had played an important part in attracting external funding towards the improvements. There was a risk that cuts on maintenance would undermine these improvements. It was noted that Philadelphia had undertaken a review which demonstrated the substantial value of public open spaces. It was agreed that the Forum would draft a leaflet explaining the value of open spaces towards meeting a wide range of council objectives, including health, education and social cohesion and would seek a meeting with the leaders of the two parties represented in Haringey to present their views. The leaders should be approached in time to influence their manifestoes but it would also be sensible to send copies to every candidate, inviting their support. 5. Wider Friends Forums Dave Morris, who represents the Haringey Forum on the London Friends Groups Network and the National Open Spaces Forum, had circulated to all members an account of the London Network's aims and activities. In particular, the London FNetwork had put together their own statement of the case for increased funding for open spaces and for the introduction of a statutory duty to ensure that green spaces are properly maintained and managed. 6. Sustainable Haringey A meeting had been held to link up sustainable food groups in Haringey. A fortnight of local activities had been organised to coincide with the Copenhagen conference. There would also be a Seed Swap Sunday at Bruce Castle Museum on 7 February where people could exchange seeds with each other. 7. Local Friends' Reports Lordship Rec. While Haringey had not as yet been able to provide the full amount of match funding sought by the Lottery Fund, it was hoped that it would be possible to proceed with the regeneration. Most of the design work was complete. New user groups were being set up, especially, a very dynamic cycle users group, Trax, which would be based in Lordship Rec, while providing activities across North London. The Friends were on the verge of getting funds for works to the island in the lake. The next community festival would be on Sat 11th September. Downhills Park The Community Interest Company (with a rep from the Friends) to manage the new café would have its first meeting shortly. The weekday service would be provided by people with learning difficulties; the Friends were trying to organise a volunteer led service at weekends. They had been awarded money from BIFFA for a wildlife pond, which would be a joint project with the proposed Frog Pool in Queen's Wood. Ducketts Common The Friends had secured funding for an apple orchard on the Greengate Common site with historic English varieties. It would be important that the trees were protected from the start with effective guards when there had been a similar project in Bruce Castle Park, the trees had all been stolen for people's gardens within weeks. There would be more discussion about the outdoor gym. There had been a number of fights on the Common but it was understood that a local pub might have had its licence withdrawn as a result. A memorial bench was proposed for a child who had died at a funfair on the Common; the Forum agreed that this was an appropriate response. Views were expressed that pressure for stone memorials outside proper cemeteries may be inappropriate and that any memorial could not point the finger of blame. Paul Ely said that a children's play area might be put in the relevant area and it might be possible to name the area after the child. Queen's Wood The Friends were grateful for the new notice boards but regretted the fact that these said that cars and motorbikes were banned but said nothing about bicycles. As there had been no action on requests for 'no cycling' signs they were taking this up at political level. Paul said that Sarah Jones who would be leading a review of byelaws and enforcement would contact the Friends. The Friends would be holding a number of events in 2010 to celebrate their tenth anniversary as a formal organisation. Joan asked if a note of their achievements over that period could be included in the next Forum Newsletter. Priory Common They had received some money for pruning shrubs which would be focussed on a few areas, given the number of volunteers available. Parkland Walk A Management Plan for the Islington section was now in draft and the Haringey section was expected to be produced soon. The new surface of the path would be tested by the Autumn's rain and the Winter's snow; it seemed generally sound, though there could be drainage problems in some of the cuttings. Encroachment remained a problem there was progress but it was slow. Paul Ely confirmed that Ian Holt was devoting a lot of his time to coordinating all the parts of the Council involved in this enforcement. Tree Trust of Haringey Over 100 people had turned up to their celebration at the end of November. Fruit trees had been planted in Priory Park. There would be a tree walk on the afternoon of 9 January and another on 7 February before the Seed Swap Sunday activity. A newsletter had been circulated. It was agreed to ask the Tree Trust when organising activities in local parks to notify the relevant Friends Group so they can liase and help publicise. New River Action Group The group was currently quiescent but it intended to get going again later in the year. Harold Road Gardens Joyce informed the Forum that a new group was now managing this space as a community garden. Other parks and green spaces See update/bulletin produced by Recreation Services, below (Appendix 1). 8. Other news from the council Update / Bulletin The Forum thanked Paul Ely for his very useful update which they would circulate to members. *Biodiversity Action Plan* The Council's Biodiversity plan had been approved and would be launched at Downhills Park on 22 February. Paul would send the Forum a link to the Council's webpage where the plan was to be found and Ian Holt would speak to the Forum and take questions in March. The Forum noted that it was at a level of general principles and did not carry a budget with it. Action needed to be taken by all concerned to put it into practice. *Bye-laws, events and enforcement* Haringey had delayed reviewing bye-laws in the expectation of guidance from Central Government. This still was some way off so a review would now be started by Sarah Jones, looking not just at bye-laws, but at all rules governing behaviour in open spaces and their enforcement. It was agreed that Joyce Rosser would liaise with Sarah on behalf of the Friends Groups. Sarah would want to know what the issues were in all types of open spaces. Paul Ely was keen to involve Friends Groups in monitoring problems on the ground as the Council could never do this alone. *Finsbury Park 5-a-side football* Haringey had just initiated a consultation process for an outdoor commercially-run 5-a-side football area in Finsbury Park. It would be a valuable facility and not encroach on any green space. The Forum noted that this would raise issues about the private management of facilities and would await the view of the Friends of Finsbury Park with interest. *Standards and satisfaction levels* Paul Ely said officials would like to talk about the annual Parks Survey at the next Forum meeting. He agreed to circulate the results of the last couple of surveys. The Council was in line for extra Central Government funding if it could meet targets in its Local Area Agreement for 12 Green Flag parks (already met), 7 Green Pennant sites (4 already achieved, more candidates sought) and a satisfaction rating of 77% in the survey. This funding was for general Council use however, not specifically earmarked to Recreation Services. Joyce Rosser suggested that Harold Road Gardens, which had just acquired a Friends Group, was a possible candidate for a Green Pennant. The Forum had circulated the details of how to apply for this. Contact: david.brown@haringey.gov.uk *AdiZone* Haringey had sponsored a planning application for an adiZone in Alexandra Park in order to provide a wide range of facilities including climbing, gym, and football, partly in response to the absence of any recreational facilities in the Campsbourne Estate. The planning application had been rejected on the basis that it was not an appropriate location, but the Council continued to believe that the adiZones were the right concept for leisure facilities if a good location could be found. *s106 'planning gain'* Paul was asked if the Recreation Department were always notified of developments where payments from planning gain to improve open space were appropriate and whether these were followed through. He said Ian Holt in his department should be notified, but it was difficult to be sure it always happened. *Parkforce staffing* Dave Morris asked how Parkforce was going and whether there was any progress in integrating the additional staff into the permanent labour force in the long term, rather than as a separate 'parallel' agency contingent. Paul said this was an issue which needed to be kept under review. The additional staff had been in place at a reduced rate over the previous winter months, but had now been terminated. They would be introduced again from April until the autumn when the need was greater. 9. Threats to Open Spaces Following the agreement at the last meeting, Dave Morris had written in support of Down Lane Park's Friends Group in opposition to the proposal to give up part of the existing park for development in return for an area elsewhere. The Haringey Federation of Residents Associations had backed the Forum's letter supporting the Friends proposal that the extra area should be added without loss of any existing parkland in view of all the additional housing being built. 10. Any other business Friends Tour It was agreed that our proposed minibus tour of Haringey parks and green spaces should be held on 22 May. Paul Ely thought the Council would be able to let the Forum have access to minibuses. Joan to investigate further. 11. Date of next meeting Sat 6th March at 10am at Bruce Castle. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Appendix 1 Recreation Services update for Friends Forum meeting, 9 January 2010 Markfield Park The main contractors have now finished in Markfield with the landscaping and bmx works now complete. The outstanding work that needs to be completed over the next couple of months includes some additional hard landscaping and the new gas connection to the pavilion still needs to be made. Without this, the pavilion cannot be opened and used. We anticipate that this work will be done imminently. A provisional date for the grand launch of the park has been set for Sunday 14th March. Russell Park The new contract to improve the Russell Avenue entrance, create a family area and improve the planting throughout the park, will start on site next month. It should be complete by the end of March. The contract is being managed by Groundwork. Paignton Park The new contract to improve the Paignton Road entrance and create a community square with seating and informal games space, will start on site next month. It should be complete by the end of March. The contract is being managed by Groundwork. Wood Green Common The draft masterplan has now been produced by Groundwork and consultation will start on the plan this month. Fund raising for the scheme is also being carried out but as yet, there are no funds available to carry out the work. Chestnuts Park A stage 2 bid to the Lottery’s Community Spaces award scheme is being submitted next month by the Friends for the sensory playground in Chestnuts. We are currently carrying out specific consultation with disabled groups to ensure that the equipment we select is suitable for children with profound disabilities. We should know if we have been successful with the application by the summer. Down Lane Park The landscape architect has produced a rough layout of the new playground with costings but the project has now been postponed until a decision has been made on wider area masterplan. Fairlands Park The overall green space at Fairlands Park will be improved by the following: · Re-landscaping of the existing grounds. · Creation of a new welcoming central space for local people. · Upgrading hard landscapes paths and adding new seating. · The installing new entrance gates. · Removing and replacing areas of planting this will include the planting of new trees. The improvement works will include new play facilities comprising of various new innovative traditional play opportunities for children and young people, in addition to the renovation of the playground, there will be some natural play interventions which will enhance children’s play experience. Work on this project will start in February and be completed in April 2010. Ducketts Common An award of £30k from London Marathon towards an Outdoor Gym was recently confirmed as being successful. £20k of S106 monies is also available. This will help towards taking forward the Park masterplan. Muswell Hill Playing Fields Works are due to commence on 11 January 2010. Finsbury Park An outdoor gym has been proposed for this site and should be completed within this financial year. Parkland Walk The first draft of the Management Plan has been received by Ian Holt. The final list of works under phase 3 is due to be discussed with the Friends on 18 January 2010. Downhills Park Café 4 tenders have been received recently for this scheme and these are currently being evaluated. A meeting of the CIC should take place before the end of January. Albert Road Rec Pavilion Tennis have received an award of £300k from the Tennis Foundation for resurfacing and floodlighting works. These should be completed by the end of March 2010. Lordship Rec The stage 2 submission to HLF will now occur in March 2010. Playbuilder Cabinet will consider a report on the 11 sites recommended for improvement via Playbuilder and Council capital resources. Capital spend for 2010/11 The Council, later in January, will consider its capital programme for next year. This will include funding for the following: Lordship Rec, tennis courts, tree planting, sports pitches, playbuilder, allotments and park improvements. At the March meeting, officers will be able to confirm funding.