Issue - meetings

To update Members on operational issues at Barham Park and on current progress on projects.  

RESOLVED: that the issues detailed in the General Update Report be noted.

Leslie Williams (Barham Park Project Officer) introduced the report which provided an update on the operational issues at Barham Park, including an overview of project activity. Highlighting some of the longer term issues for the Park, Leslie Williams explained that the Barham Park building required considerable work to the exterior including the replacement  of windows, window frames, doors and skylights/canopies. The building was locally listed and therefore any works affecting its external appearance would require planning permission. An architect would be appointed  to prepare a design/schedule of works to support a planning application. Members were further advised that a number of improvements were required to the park and gardens. A successful grant application had been made to the Brent Neighbourhood Community Infrastructure Levy funding for the restoration of the Queen Elizabeth II Silver Jubilee Gardens. The hard standing area in front of the Borough War Memorial required re-surfacing and officers were currently investigating repair options. The committee was advised that improvements were also required to the Events Field drainage and the consent of Thames Water would be required prior to the commencement of works as the connection would be to the public surface water system. In concluding his introduction, Leslie Williams drew the committee’s attention to paragraph 5 of the report which set out the anticipated costs of the required improvement works, noting that the work to the building exterior could be packaged to reflect priorities.

In the subsequent discussion, the committee expressed that any works to the hard standing in front of the War Memorial needed to be completed before Armistice Day. If it was not possible to complete these works prior to this time, members directed that they be undertaken afterwards.

The committee then sought comment on the planned removal of some of the park’s trees, anti-social behaviour and the use of Public Space Protection Orders (PSPOs) in the park.

In response, Leslie Williams advised that some trees in the park would need to be felled but for others it would be possible to just reduce the size of the trees. Planting of new trees was being explored as part of the improvement works to the parks and gardens. It might be expedient to remove some of the trees that were situated close to the building to reduce any future risk to the premises and to restore the vantage of the park. Chris Whyte (Operational Director, Environmental Services) advised that the PSPOs were a new enforcement approach implemented across Brent’s parks and had enabled enforcement officers to tackle anti-social behaviour in new ways.

The Chair thanked the officers for their contribution to the meeting and requested that future update reports include an overview of anti-social behaviour in the park.

RESOLVED: that the issues detailed in the General Update Report be noted.