Agenda and minutes

The Committee is asked to elect a Vice-Chair and agree the appointment of co-opted members for the 2016/17 municipal year.

Councillor Wesley Harcourt was elected Chair of Wormwood Scrubs Charitable Trust Committee for the 2016/17 municipal year.

To approve the minutes of the meeting held on 15 March 2016.

RESOLVED -

That the minutes of the meeting held on 15 March 2016 were agreed as correct record and signed by the Chair.

Apologies for absence were received from Ian Ross (Leisure Services Manager) and Farrah Rossi (Planning).

If a Councillor has a disclosable pecuniary interest in a particular item, whether or not it is entered in the Authority’s register of interests, or any other significant interest which they consider should be declared in the public interest, they should declare the existence and, unless it is a sensitive interest as defined in the Member Code of Conduct, the nature of the interest at the commencement of the consideration of that item or as soon as it becomes apparent.

At meetings where members of the public are allowed to be in attendance and speak, any Councillor with a disclosable pecuniary interest or other significant interest may also make representations, give evidence or answer questions about the matter.  The Councillor must then withdraw immediately from the meeting before the matter is discussed and any vote taken.

Where Members of the public are not allowed to be in attendance and speak, then the Councillor with a disclosable pecuniary interest should withdraw from the meeting whilst the matter is under consideration. Councillors who have declared other significant interests should also withdraw from the meeting if they consider their continued participation in the matter would not be reasonable in the circumstances and may give rise to a perception of a conflict of interest.

Councillors are not obliged to withdraw from the meeting where a dispensation to that effect has been obtained from the Audit, Pensions and Standards Committee. 

Councillor Wesley Harcourt declared an interest as a Planning Committee Member - Old Oak and Park Royal Development Corporation.

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Old Oak and Park Royal Development Corporation to provide a verbal update of plans for Wormwood Scrubs.

Monica Kaur and Tom Cardis from Old Oak and Park Royal Development Corporation gave a verbal update on developments.   A survey aimed at residents of the area will be conducted to identify what areas they would like to be focused on.

Tom explained that the survey would be done in two stages; the first being an online survey and the second being a door-to-door survey. He said that work on the survey had  started and that it would ideally be sent out in late October .

The Committee asked that a draft copy of the survey should  be sent to all members before it was sent out.

Councillor Carlebach suggested that the survey should also include  hospitals and schools in the area. Councillor Chumnery also suggested OPDC should talk to the Old Oak Community Centre about what can be done to support the centre and identify what is there.

RESOLVED –  The Committee noted the update

The Committee received a presentation by Julien, architect for OPDC, about  the creation of cycle lanes. The development focused on the South East Corner of the Scrubs, near Harrow Road, which is involved in HS2 public rail enhancement. The initial design was to improve the public realm and make the area a better and safer place for the public to move through. OPDC felt there was an opportunity to create better engagement with Woodland Scrubs. 

A two-way cycle lane on the west side of the road was presented with a design that would be closer to the Scrubland than the road but would not be within the trees. The proposed route would help link up green pockets of land and existing pedestrian routes next to the road.

Miriam Shea questioned the pedestrian use of the lanes, and raised the issue of encroachment of the cycle lane into the scrubland. The Committee expressed the view that any encroachment onto the scrubs would not be supported.

It was agreed that OPDC and the architect would attend a tour of the area, as well as friends of Wormwood Scrubs. To be planned for July time.

ACTION: Freya Jones

Councillor Chumnery expressed an interest in seeing more cyclists in the area and asked if there were plans to connect the proposed route to the Scrubs Community Centre. Tom replied that was being currently looked at.

The Committee thanked OPDC and the architect for coming and expressed their interest in the future plans for the route.

The LCA to update the Committee on their progress since the previous presentation in December 2015.

The Committee also received a presentation from the London Communication Agency, which gave an update on the development of the Old Oak Area.

The presentation was given by Chris Oughton and Riccardo Bobisse of the Agency who went through each area: the Central area where a new High Street would be built; the Grand Union Quarter, which would be a residential area with access to large public spaces and bodies of water through the adaption of the local viaducts, and; the Rolls Royce Area which would be used for business and work.

The main aim for the development was to create a residential area with a sustained number of businesses that had a strong presence, as well as increased connections to Brent and the North thanks to HS2.

Riccardo stated that the next steps for the project would be many design reviews, which the Agency hoped would bring about fresh ideas. A full consultation was planned. The Agency invited the Committee along, with details to be circulated shortly.

ACTION: Freya Jones

The Committee thanked the Agency for the presentation and looked forward to seeing more of their work.

RESOLVED-  The Committee noted the report. 

This report updates the committee on recent management activity.

The Wetland Mitigation discussions were still ongoing and waiting for a response from legal. Hopefully this should be done by the end of this year.

The HS2 legal agreements were still on going, regular meetings are still occurring. A full update would be given when done. The Committee commented on the slow process of the agreement.

Mike Rumble (Parks Inspector, ELRS) gave the Community Safety report which noted that there were illegal encampments on the sides of the railway embankment. Mike stated they are working closely with Border Control for its removal.  A day of work would be needed for the site to be fully restored.

Grounds maintenance reported issues with processionary moths in Oak trees, which can be harmful to people. A meeting with Network Rail was agreed to be arranged to discuss co-operation about moths and Japanese Knotweed

ACTION: Dave Page.

Councillor Harcourt requested that grass areas around the community centre and the football pitch should be cut for the Fun Day on 9^th July

ACTION: Dave Page

A date for a walk around the boundaries would be set shortly,  ideally in July time.  The Committee would like the architects from Old Oak to be invited.  Meeting on an evening or a Saturday morning was also agreed to be looked into

ACTION:  Freya Jones

Stephen Cohen thanked the officers for their responses to his questions about the Scrubs. He would like a bit more clarity on some questions.  A meeting was  agreed with Dave Page and Mark Jones for more information.

ACTION: Dave Page and Mark Jones

Joe McTrague introduced himself and the charity Access Sports which runs a BMX course in Woodmans Mews for the past two years. He stated that it has had great success working with community clubs and schools around the area.  Access Sports came to the meeting to express interest in investing in the area again and wanted the committee’s initial thoughts.

The club operates on weekends and works with schools during the weekdays. They wish to extend operations and involvement as much as possible. This would be done by investing in facilities of the track by providing a club hut via a converted container and low level flood lights.  Funding is already accessible and the charity would like to start as soon as possible.

The Committee agreed with the initial plans, stating that it was great idea. Miriam Shea raised that there might be some issues about the flood lights from the Pony Centre.  She suggested Access Sport to  talk to them. Councillor Harcourt also added that planning permission might also be needed for the flood lights.

Councillor Chumnery asked if Access Sport had connection with Old Oak Community Centre, the closest centre to the track, in which Access Sport replied they would like to increase connections. Councillor Chumnery invited them to come to the Wormwood’s Fun day on 9^th July and to talk to the Community Centre to increase involvement. 

RESOLVED – The Committee noted and agreed with the initial report. 

Re-arranged for 20th September at 7pm.