green+spaces+-+The+Friends+of+parks+Forum+-+Forum+minutes+-+5th+July+2008

Haringey Friends of Parks Forum

=**Minutes of Forum General Meeting 5 July 2008**=


 * Present** Sally Billot (Chair) - Finsbury Park; Ulla Lefmann - Ducketts Common; David Warren - Parkland Walk; Cliff Rhodes - Belmont Rec; David MacDonald (DMD) -Downhills Park; Catherine Stenzl - Woodside Park; Paul Crook - Finsbury Park; David Morris (DM) - Lordship Rec + Chestnuts Park; Sue Smith (Notetaker) - Queens Wood; Paul Ely - LB of Haringey Parks Dept (part of meeting)


 * Apologies** Ros Abrams - Crouch End Open Spaces; Quentin Given - The Paddock; Joan Curtis - Lordship Rec; Adam Coffman - Fairfax Open Space + Ducketts Common; Ceri Williams - Chestnuts Park; Linda Alliston - Coldfall Woods


 * Minutes of last meeting agreed**

Joan Curtis has resigned as secretary due to pressure of other work and issues. SB to write and thank her for 4-5 years service as secretary. The Forum now needs a new secretary. Notetaking is rotated. The secretary’s address is used to receive Forum mail. Usually the secretary is also press spokesperson but this could be separate function. Forum members to be emailed to ask for someone to volunteer for one or both roles. Action SB


 * Matters Arising**

Forum website has been set up and updated by CS. Help with developing the website as resource welcome. Friends groups are asked to ensure that their own websites feature a link to the Forum website at http//haringeyfriendsofparks.org.uk. Contact info@haringeyfriendsofparks.org.uk.

Better Places Partnership with the new arrangements the Forum is no longer on the Board. SB for the Forum and DM for the Federation of RAs to email Cllr Brian Haley (Lead on Environment) to ask to be included/co-opted onto the Board.

Open Spaces Standards National standards have been developed over last 5 years proposing minimum standards for any new developments to contribute ... money and/or capital towards open spaces. Some consider it’s unrealistic to achieve these standards in London. FoPF want to ensure standards are met in any new developments. Unclear in this document if these standards also apply to areas without new developments, although this has been confirmed verbally.

Website for published standards ?


 * Publicity - 3 local news items**

· Interview with Joan Curtis in Green Space Magazine on the history and role of the Forum · Interview with Robbie Sucedo in Haringey People on the expansion of sports facilities in Albert Rec · Feature on campaign to save Bull Lane playing fields. Malcolm from Community Action Sports in Haringey Advertiser.


 * Discussion document (draft) on Haringey Friends of Parks “Towards strengthening local support and involvement in green spaces” by Ashley Grey.**

Fuller discussion needed at next meeting & Ashley to be asked to come and present. Action SB

DM highlighted some recommendations that hadn’t been included or could be amended. Returns on the survey had been low - only 4. Recommendations disagrees with need to log volunteers hours but suggest estimate of hours worked is recorded for match funding purposes. Recommendation on annual reports shouldn‘t be imposed.

Council has difficulty understanding role of voluntary sector and so need to improve profile and representation. Small groups are vulnerable. Involvement of other stakeholders more important for larger groups and useful if applying for funding.

Suggested change of emphasis be made in report to give guidance rather than implying requirements. It was agreed a toolkit for Friends Groups eg on constitution etc would be helpful and this could go on the website. Following discussion various amendments were discussed and a general approach to the proposals agreed. Dave to type up and circulate the document before the next meeting. Action DM

Some concern expressed that the numbers attending the Forum had fallen over the last years.

PE Neighbourhood Management to be encouraged to include Friends Groups and to help publicise and inform.


 * Local Reports**


 * Finsbury Park** Still setting up User Forum to include café etc. This will function as a support group using email. Haringey and FoFP have presented a united front re MacKenzie Pavilion a converted toilet block which is now a Community Information point for Park. Except for some controversy about one particular artist, there has been agreement about use of the Pavilion for various activities. FoFP are consulted but cannot veto applications for use.


 * Finsbury Gardens** With money from Making A Difference the middle flower bed has been replanted. New noticeboards have been put up with space for contact details. They are still trying to resolve problem getting key for the playground. They are still waiting (18 months now) dog bins, 2 seat and children’s games. Some frustration that the more done by FFG, less Haringey seems to do. Conditions applied to suppliers of plants. PE offered to check this as should be possible to allow for value for money purchasing. Action PE


 * Woodside Park** Very alarmed about proposed Woodside House development when alterted by press enquiry. Council is considering moving functions from the Civic Centre to Woodside House which would be refurbished. Civic Centre then demolished. Concern is the House and car parking would be extended into Park. Information not forthcoming from Council. Executive to decide on Tuesday, 8 July. PE to submit enquiry for Friends and to circulate Cabinet report if possible. Action PE


 * Chestnuts Park** Planned work has been completed in the last year including playground, terracing and concrete area turned into meadow. Due to start Phase 2 and involving stakeholders and Friends chairing Strategy Group. Plans include removal of semi-derelict playcentre building. Festival was held to celebrate completion of Phase 1, attended by 8-900 people - it was organised by the Strategy group and co-ordinated by the Friends.


 * Lordship Rec** Funding allocated of £4.1 million from lottery funding as long as an additional £2.5million is raised as match-funding by Haringey in 15 months. A project officer is being recruited for the regeneration of Lordship Lane Rec and work is due 2011-12 if all the conditions are achieved. Other progress has included new noticeboards, celebration day for completion of new path/Woodlands, new play equipment due in October (from a pool of lottery funding). There will be a Community Festival on 13 September. Back to Earth is a new organisation developing ideas a City Farm and Environmental Centre is being planned, with related projects already started at the Broadwater Farm Community Centre. There will be training days/cooking/food cooperative involving local people.


 * Downhills Park** Breathing Spaces funding of £3,500 to improve wild flower meadow. A lottery bid failed last year for the café. There will be an Art in the Park event on 13 July. There is an ex-NHS modular building that is redundant and being considered for use. Some trees that were planted with MAD funding failed and were replaced by Haringey. Vandals and dogs caused damage to new trees.

PE is to look into a consistent policy for tree replacement and the protection of newly planted trees.


 * Parkland Walk** Work funded by TfL for 2007-8 is now almost finished on access, drainage and surfaces. Generally very successful although some surfacing has become slippery when wet. This will be reviewed as part of 2008-9 work for which more TfL funding has been agreed. 2 organised walks one in June has 40-50 people attending. Next week there is to be a bat walk. Much time is being spent dealing with planning development and encroachment issues. LBH now has a new encroachment policy which it is hoped will improve procedures.

PE Some people with properties backing onto the Parkland Walk had leased some of this land from LBH and they are to be asked to pay full price as land can‘t be given back.


 * Ducketts Common** There is a new play area. Problems reported with litter and vandalism. A key is needed for the noticeboard which has out of date information. Although the flower bed has been cleared recently for an event, this needs regular weeding. Lighting is now badly obscured by trees which need pruning. Action PE


 * Belmont Rec** Groundwork secured £60K for tree planning which is currently underway with aim to continue 8 years works towards open air nature classroom. Playground renovation to start in the autumn funded by LBH. New green space being created at the northern entrance also funded by LBH and have successfully prevented further building development. Perimeter path is well used by walkers, joggers and cyclists and there has been no antisocial behaviour reported so far this year in the corner of the Rec. Soon to hear of Green Pennant award for Belmont Friends Community Project in Mannock Rd Allotments only 77 sites across the country have the award. Also very pleased to hear that Moselle Upper (special needs) School has started to use the study space and are planning growing opportunities for next year.


 * Queen’s Wood** Events Family picnic 29 June was well attended activities for children included painting, photography and scavenger hunt. Bat walk on 6 July at 8.30pm. Monthly working parties continue work included litter clearing, path clearing, containing spread of holly and coppicing of small areas with dead hedging to allow fresh grown. Work is starting on repair of Capital Ring path, funded by Walk London. Haringey have agreed a grant of £1000 will be released if we are successful in getting a SITA grant of £10,000 for coppicing of larger areas. Lucy Roots has been elected as the new Chair. FQW membership is now about 200. Members are the eyes and ears of the neighbourhood reporting damage to trees, any fires. We are concerned about fires. Parks police have been seen cycling at speed. We have considered charitable status but decided against this at present. Ongoing projects include some frog pond areas and considering the feasibility of developing the old paddling pool as a more natural pond. www.fqw.org.uk.


 * Andrew Gill is to replace Don Lawson as Parks Manager.** Interim appointment for 18 months.


 * Haringey Biodiversity Action Plan** - the plan is being reviewed and updated this year to extend awareness and good practice. Ian Holt is leading the review. Quentin Given, Lucy Roots and David Warren from Friends groups are assisting and would welcome comments.


 * Haringey has been designated a tennis hotspot** this year with funding for improving tennis amenities. Courts have been improved and Albert Rec was recognised as best tennis park by the Tennis Development Plan.


 * There is additional central government funding for playgrounds.** Ronnie Roach, Play Officer, is looking at how funding can be bid for and spent. Deadline for applications is in October.


 * Park Force** This important review is scheduled to go to Cabinet for a decision in September. Lead is John Morris. Friends of Coldfall Woods have emailed to express concern about loss of Parks Constabulary. Agreed on need for resources to be put into more frontline staff and for a protocol to clarify responsibility as unclear on role of Safer Neighbourhood teams and Parkforce. To display tel contact numbers of SNT’s on parks noticeboards. SNTs for Crouch End, Hornsey and Stroud Green are based in Crouch End. There is some space in parks buildings that could be used for SNTs. PE will be involved in negotiating to ensure Parks get fair share (?of funding) and to get assurance from Lead for SNTs in Haringey re cover for green spaces.


 * Volunteers** Concern about role of volunteers and how overlaps with Friends. The Forum had discussed this with John Morris at our last meeting.


 * Contractors** John Morris had also agreed there's a need to review how we work with contractors in parks.


 * BTCV** At present funding is subject to annual agreement so it is hard to retain staff. Council aim is to have longer term relationship.


 * AOB.** Friends of Finsbury Park have developed a consultation policy and sent to LBH. Will circulate to Forum and present at next meeting. Action SB

Date of next meeting Saturday, 6th September, 10am at Bruce Castle Museum, Tottenham.