Issue - meetings

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

Noted the verbal updates provided from the following individuals and organisations who had requested to speak at the meeting:

·            Councillor Lorber – (representing the Friends of Barham Park Library) highlighting concerns in relation to out dated signage around the complex and arrangements for the Fire Alarm test, which he advised were in addition to the points raised in a separate email he had also submitted.

·            Debbie Howe (Brent Dementia Hub – Project Manager) highlighting the work being provided through the Dementia Memory Lounge and Café supported through the Dementia Hub Project.  In addition, The Trust were advised that the Hub were keen to explore the potential to enable temporary use of part of Unit 7 within the Barham Park Building in order to complement the support already being provided through the provision of an additional dedicated space for small private advice & guidance sessions using part of the NCIL funding already allocated, in order to bring the Mess Room area back into use.

·            Mahendra Desai (representing the Barham Park Veterans Club) regarding the current state of repair and upgrade of the boiler within Unit 2 of the Barham Park Building.

The Chair advised that the issues raised had been noted and would be responded to as appropriate.  In moving on to then consider the General Update report it was RESOLVED:

(1)    To note the issues set out in the report.

(2)    To authorise that the day to day Trustee functions and decision making of the Barham Park Trust be delegated to the Council’s Director of Environment & Leisure following the Council’s senior management restructure process and to authorise any previous decisions of the Trust Committee to delegate authority to the Operational Director of Environmental Services that have yet to be exercised to be delegated to the Council’s Director of Environment & Leisure.

Chris Whyte, Director Environmental & Leisure, introduced the report providing an update on operational issues at Barham Park along with current progress on a range of projects.  As context to the update provided, members were reminded of the decision made by the Trust on 27 January 2022 to appoint an architect to undertake an initial options appraisal of the Barham Park building as part of a strategic property review.  The architect had subsequently been appointed and work was now progressing on the review with the proposals, once finalised, due to be reported back to the Trust Committee in order to consider the way forward.  Pending this process being completed the position regarding the existing Units within the building would remain as previously reported.

Members were then provided with operational updates in relation to the following issues:

·             Following a recent senior management restructure within the Council it was noted that delegation of the day-to-day trustee functions and decision making in relation to operational aspects of the Trust’s activities would need to be updated from the Operational Director Environmental Services to the Director Environment & Leisure to reflect the change in post title.

·             Security and anti-social behaviour - as detailed within section 3.2 of the report, with members noting that littering continued to be an issue alongside concerns relating to the feeding of pigeons.  Members noted the work being undertaken with Veolia (as the operational grounds maintenance contractor) to maintain the cleanliness of the park working with volunteers, who were thanked for their efforts and support.

·             Rough sleeping with the Park - as detailed in section 3.4 of the report, with members noting the ongoing work being undertaken with StreetLink and St Mungo’s to address the issue and support those individuals sleeping rough to access accommodation and other assistance according to their needs.  Members were advised that the east side recessed porch area of the Barham Park building had been used by one or more persons sleeping rough during the year.  When vacated the area had received a thorough clean and jet-wash with anyone concerned about the welfare of rough sleepers being encouraged to report these via StreetLink London.

·             Gated access – as detailed within section 3.5 of the report, with members advised that in response to security concerns officers had been investigating the feasibility of requests received from Unit 8 (Children Centre) and Units 3 & 5 (ACAVA) for a gate to cover the recessed porch area within each of the units.  These proposals were being reviewed as part of the wider strategic property review in order to provide enhanced security to better assist with management of the Barham Park building.

·             Park events – as detailed within section 3.6 – 3.7 of the report, with members having noted and welcomed the enhanced range of events successful hosted within the Park including the return of Irvin’s Fun Fair, as well as Brent Let’s Grow (a training event for young people organised by Young Brent Foundation) and also the Shree Gurupournima Utsav festival.  In addition, members  ...  view the full minutes text for item 8