Agenda and minutes

There were no apologies for absence received.

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.

There were no declarations of interest.

To approve as an accurate record, the minutes of the meeting held on 8^th September 2021.

RESOLVED:

That the minutes of the meeting held on 8^th September 2021 were approved.

Steve Waley-Cohen (Co-opted Member) noted that the following amendment be made to the previous minutes

Amend

Stephen Waley-Cohen (Co-opted Member) expressed his concerns on the delay of the project timetable and asked the Trust advisors to explore options on how this could be brought forward by Spring 2022 if possible.

This report presents the Wormwood Scrubs Charitable Trust Annual Trustee’s Report which includes the draft 2020/21 financial accounts (Appendix A).

Chris Harris, Advisor to the Trust, presented the report and provided a brief overview of the key points arising from the Statement of Account and Trustee’s report 2020/21. It was noted that the Trust delivered a surplus for the year of £48,984. This surplus was substantially underpinned by the additional income from the Kensington Aldridge Academy’s occupation of the Scrubs.  

Joe Sale (MHA MacIntyre Hudson) provided a summary of the Audit Findings report for the year ended 31^st March 2021, noting the following key points:

-       The audit was conducted remotely, and MHA MacIntyre Hudson had liaised with the finance team virtually whilst examining accounting books and records which were sent digitally.

-       MHA MacIntyre Hudson remained independent to the Trust within the meaning of regulatory and professional requirements.

-       An overview was provided on the key areas of audit focus which had been identified as part of the overall audit strategy and how they had been resolved.

-       The audit work on the financial statements was now substantially complete and the Auditors anticipated issuing an unqualified audit opinion for the year ended 31^st  March 2021 for the Charity.

-       The audit findings and the areas reviewed were outlined, these included audit misstatements, risk of fraud and error in the financial statements, accounting policies and accounting estimates.

-       The fee for the audit of the financial statement of the Trust for the year ended 31^st March 2021 was also summarised.

Miriam Shea (Co-opted Member) felt that the audit process appeared to be clearer and improved in comparison to last year. Referring to page 12 of the Trustee’s report (Appendix A) she asked for further clarification to be provided on risk 4 as part of the risk assessment schedule. In response Steve confirmed that there was no live agreement in place to repair the Wormwood Scrubs car park with the hospital.

Miriam Shea (Co-opted Member) noted that the hospital carpark lease was last renegotiated in 2013 and asked officers to ascertain when the lease was due for renewal and for this matter to be revisited at a future Committee meeting.

Action: Steve Hollingworth

Referring to the Trustee’s Annual report (Appendix A) Stephen Waley-Cohen (Co-opted Member) made suggestions to update the document with further information regarding the Compulsory Purchase Order issued by HS2, further consultation being held on the conservation management plan, protestors leaving the Scrubs in September 2021 and the discussions held with the Kensington Dragons Football Club to improve their facilities on the Scrubs. He also requested that the charity correspondent address on page 17 of the Trustee’ Annual report be updated.

Action: Steve Hollingworth

Stephen Waley-Cohen (Co-opted Member) asked for further clarification to be provided on the treatment of the rental income for the pony centre and the single-story parks depot and asked if this would be credited to the Trust. In response Chris noted that a response would be circulated to the Committee once this had been investigated.

Action: Chris Harris

RESOLVED:

That the Committee:  ...  view the full minutes text for item 4.

The Committee is asked to approve and note all matters in the report.

Steve Hollingworth, Advisor to the Trust, presented the report.

Update on Kensington Dragons Grant Agreement

Steve noted that the funding agreement between the Wormwood Scrubs Charitable Trust and Kensington Dragons Football Club (KDFC), to award grant funding of £250,000 to the Club had been completed. This was to contribute to the delivery of upgrading and providing new sports pitches and circulation areas on the Trust’s property at the Linford Christie Stadium.

The presence of trees on the southern boundary and the Football Association’s requirement for larger run-off areas to the pitches had required a revision to KDFC’s proposals. Proposals were included as Appendix 1 to this report, which provided one larger pitch rather than two smaller ones and a spectator area. The Committee was recommended to delegate the final realignment to the Trust Manager in consultation with the Chair.

The Committee unanimously agreed this recommendation.

HS2 Bill Alternative Ecological Mitigation -Master Plan

Heather Marsh, Advisor to the Trust noted that a contract had been tendered for a specialist consultant, to carry out in-depth public consultation and engagement on the biodiversity masterplan. The tender closed on 1^st November with one bid submitted at a cost of £22,540. The bid was from a community company with considerable experience in community engagement, including projects concerned with the natural environment. The consultant had understood the brief well and appeared capable of carrying the commission. The Committee was recommended to approve the appointment of this consultant, subject to satisfactory references and standard checks.

Stephen Waley-Cohen (Co-opted Member) noted that he was in favour of this proposal and asked for further clarification to be provided on the timelines. In response Heather noted that if the Committee agreed to this recommendation, then the appointment of the consultant would take place in early January 2022, with an aim to carry out an engagement programme in Spring 2022.

The Committee unanimously agreed this recommendation.

HS2 Update

The Chair noted the following typo on page 61 of the agenda pack:

-       Stamford Brewer Sewer needed to be amended to Stamford Brook Sewer

Heather provided an update and noted that HS2 had started the construction of the UTX site, the access road, and the Stanford Brook Sewer site. She updated members on the current progress and programme for the following key areas, Stanford Brook Sewer and haul route, UTX site, temporary trackway from Braybrook Street and easements

Stephen Waley-Cohen (Co-opted Member) requested that sufficient explanatory signage be put in place when the low rope fencing was completed.

Steve provided progress update on the preliminary notice of Compulsory Purchase Orders served by HS2  for the areas adjacent to Old Oak Common Lane and the UTX site. Further details of the plans were included under plan 2, 3 and 3.1 of the Manager’s report. The Trust had responded with a number of clarifications and queries, including confirmation that the land would be returned following the completion of work.   

Stephen Waley-Cohen (Co-opted Member) noted that it was essential for the Trust to  ...  view the full minutes text for item 5.

This is a covering report accompanying the final report and recommendations of Hammersmith & Fulham’s resident-led Parks Commission (Appendix A).

The Committee discussed this item under item 5 (Manager’s report).

RESOLVED:

That the Committee noted, and commented, on the final report and recommendations of  the resident-led Parks Commission.