Agenda item

This report updates members on issues related to the mangement of the Scrubs and makes recommendations for awarding a contract for the supply, installation, operation, and maintenance of three electric vehicle rapid charge points in the Scrubs Lane car park.

HS2 Bill – Proposed Wetland Mitigation Legal Agreement

Farrah Rossi provided an overview and noted that officers secured £3.9m in a legal agreement with HS2 for ecological/ environmental works to mitigate the loss of the ecological land along the HS2 route. A development manager with ecology experience would start on 15 January to oversee the project. The Chair requested that the development manager be invited to a future Wormwood Scrubs Committee meeting and introductions also be arranged with Friends of Wormwood Scrubs.

Councillor Joe Carlebach asked how the post would be funded. Farrah Rossi said that the post was funded by HS2, however the development manager was accountable to the Council.

HS2 Bill – Re-Routing Stamford Brook Sewer Legal Agreement

Farrah Rossi provided an update and noted that as part of the water monitoring works a compound would be set up around each borehole temporarily for 1-3 days. The investigatory work would take 2-3 weeks in total and was programmed to take place between March-June. Officers would be working closely with HS2 and their contractors to ensure that Scrubs users were informed through erecting information notices around the site, leaflet drops to nearby properties and providing information on the HS2.

Councillor Joe Carlebach asked for an update on the HS2 Bill and details of how it was progressing. Farrah Rossi said that the Bill had been approved and discussions were held around the business case and operational planning. Councillor Joe Carlebach said that this would have a significant impact on the Scrubs depending on how works were carried out. Farrah Rossi said that officers would continue to update the Committee members on any further progress.

OPDC Local Plan Consultation Responses

The Chair noted that he was in touch with OPDC who had accepted the Trust’s late submission of the consultation response. The OPDC were reviewing all the consultation responses and would address the key issues in redrafting the local plan document. The results would be published when the OPDC submit the Local Plan for examination in public in Spring 2018.

Farrah Rossi noted that the OPDC officers presented a report to OPDC Board earlier in November summarising the key consultation issues which would be circulated to the Councillors.

Action: Farrah Rossi

Kensington Aldridge Academy

Ian Ross provided an overview and noted that the school was now fully open and operational. Eight parking permits had been issued, to run until July 2018. Officers had a walkabout on the 22 November to primarily discuss the reinstatement arrangements. A draft list was tabled at the meeting outlining the key issues.

The Chair agreed that that a separate meeting would be arranged with Mark Jones and himself to discuss how these issues would be addressed in further detail.

Councillor Joe Carlebach asked if there was an opportunity to contact the school and ascertain whether they would be interested to undertake a biodiversity related project at the Scrubs. The Committee agreed that this was a good suggestion. Ian Ross said that he would contact the school and feedback would be provided at a future Committee meeting.

Action: Ian Ross

Electric Vehicle Charging Points

Mark Jones noted following the evaluation of the rapid charge point call-off concession framework, the Charitable Trust was asked to consider the recommendation to approve proceeding with awarding the contract under the rapid charge point concessionaire framework for the supply, installation, operation, and maintenance of three electric vehicle charge points in the Scrubs Lane car park. The Committee noted and approved the recommendation.

Community Safety Update

The Chair said that a resident known to himself had noticed a number of drug users on Braybrook Street. The Chair suggested that additional patrols be carried out by parks police around this area.

Ian Ross noted that between 1 June and 30 September 2017, parks police dealt with 21 incidents on Wormwood Scrubs and carried out 11 patrols. Incidents included the usual issues around dogs and a complaint regarding one ‘professional’ dog walker who was walking 11 dogs. He was later tracked and issued with an £80 fixed penalty ticket. Stephen Waley-Cohen noted that not all dog walkers behave well and this was an ongoing issue and asked if this could be managed better within the borough. The Chair suggested exploring how other boroughs dealt with this matter and to consider what their regulations and enforcements were and if something similar could be implemented in Hammersmith and Fulham.

Action: Ian Ross

Grounds Maintenance and Site Management Update

Ian Ross noted that the number and location of bins had been questioned. There were some arguments that the more bins provided the more litter was generated. Officers would review the number and location of bins; however, views were sought from the Committee. The Committee agreed that the best option was to better place the bins to minimise the amount of litter generated in the future.

Action: Ian Ross

Stephen Waley-Cohen expressed some concerns about the increase in litter at the football pitches after games. The Chair said if this continued, for pictures to be taken of offenders, warnings to be issued and spot checks to be carried out. Ian Ross said that he would explore this with Idverde.

Action: Ian Ross

Financial Forecast 2017/18

Mark Jones provided an overview and reported that the Trust’s opening cash balance for 2017/18 was £235,431. The latest forecast anticipated adding £95,291 to the current cash balance (40% of the current cash balance), which gave a cash balance of £330,721 to carry forward to 2018/19. This was £152,480 better than assumed in the budget.

The temporary relocation of the Kensington Aldridge Academy on the Scrubs site had generated income of £186,667 for renting the site and £8,000 for the temporary building compound. This had taken the overall income for activities for generating funds to £257,415 which was £167,303 better than budget.

The income for UKPN (£193,542) was not included in the projection, as an agreement was expected but had not yet been signed. Mark Jones would follow this up with the council’s property officers.

Legal Comments

There were no legal implications to be noted.

RESOLVED

That the Committee noted all matters in the report and approved proceeding with awarding the contract under the rapid charge point concessionaire framework for the supply, installation, operation, and maintenance of three electric vehicle rapid charge points in the Scrubs Lane car park.