Agenda and minutes

There were no apologies for absence.

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 the minutes of the meeting held on 21^st June 2023 as an accurate record

Matters Arising

In respect of the consultation for low-level wooden fencing around equipment on Braybrook Street, Stephen Waley-Cohen (Co-opted member) suggested that it might be more effective to proactively invite interested parties who used the equipment frequently to respond to the consultation.

RESOLVED

The minutes of the meeting held on 21 June 2023 were agreed as an accurate record.

HS2 works on the Stamford Brook Sewer site

Vicki Abel (Advisor to the Trust) gave an update on the HS2 works on the Stamford Brook Sewer Site. She informed the Committee that since the last meeting on 21 June 2023 the fencing to the site had been removed which allowed access to Lesters Embankment. The removal of the fence had allowed visitors to get closer to the embankment.  It had also allowed for contractors to create access routes to be cut through vegetation on the embankment to the top of the slope to be able to treat some of the Japanese Knotweed. A programme of treatment would be established to try to reduce and eventually eradicate the Knotweed.

Stephen Waley-Cohen (Co-opted member) said that consideration should be given to replacing some of the chainlink fence panels on the eastern end to protect the embankment. Vicki Abel agreed to examine the extent of replacement panels needed along with hedging to be introduced as part of the masterplan work. The Chair noted that there were other parts in the area requiring further work too.

ACTION: Vicki Abel

The Committee noted the update.

Alternative Ecological Mitigation Masterplan Procurement and Planning

Vicki Abel updated members on the Alternative Ecological Mitigation Masterplan Procurement and Planning.

Faye Thomas (Co-opted Member) raised a question around the impact the works would have on bird nesting.  Vicki Abel reassured the Committee that contractors would work around wildlife. She added that the planning application cost around £2000.

Responding to the concerns of Councillor Dominic Stanton and Faye Thomas about the planning application, Vicki Abel noted that it was unlikely for the application to be rejected as the authority had followed the advice of OPDC closely in working out the planning documents and justifying the proposals in the plan. She explained that if there were major objections and a re-application was needed, it could impact on the project’s timescales.

Stephen Waley-Cohen said that some objections such as the location of the proposed pond might be expected.  The Chair noted that the plan covering some 200 acres had been extensively consulted on.

The Committee noted the update.

Local nature reserve establishment – Wormwood Scrubs Meadow

Vicki Abel noted that the documents were with H&F Council’s legal team for sign-off. Once complete, the formal consultation process with Nature England could proceed. A subsequent update would be provided to the Committee at the December meeting.

The Committee noted the update.

Linford Christie Stadium – Maintenance of Athletics Facilities

Simon Ingyon (Assistant Director Parks and Leisure) updated the Committee on the maintenance of the athletic facilities at the Linford Christie Stadium. He highlighted that following a review of the athletic track at the stadium, both tracks and the floodlighting system required urgent refurbishment to ensure they remained fit for purpose and met UK Athletics Track certification. The track had not been refurbished since 2005. The proposed athletic facility improvement works would take around 18 months to complete.

Stephen Waley-Cohen expressed the strong support of  ...  view the full minutes text for item 4.

To note the date of the next meeting:

·       12^th December 2023

The Committee noted the date of the next meeting scheduled to be held on 12 December 2023.

The Chair and members of the Committee extended their thanks to Stephen Hollingworth, former Assistant Director, Leisure, Sports and Culture for his past contribution as Advisor to the Wormwood Scrubs Charitable Trust.