green+spaces+-+The+Friends+of+Parks+Forum+-+Forum+minutes+-+12th+Jan+08

= Haringey Friends of Parks Forum = @Tottenham Green Leisure Centre ** Present: ** Catherine Stenzl (Friends of Woodside Park), Dave Morris (Friends of Lordship/Chestnuts), Quentin Given (The Paddock), Joan Curtis (Friends of Lordship Rec), Ceri Williams (Friends of Chestnuts), Sally Billot (Friends of Finsbury Park), Adam Coffman (FoFairfax/Falkland Open Space, and FoDucketts Common), David Macdonald (Friends of Downhills Park), Ulla Lefmann (Burleigh Road RA/FoDucketts Common), Joyce Rosser (Friends of Priory Common and embryonic FoHornsey Gdns), David Warren (Friends of Parkland Walk), Alison Watson, (Friends of Queens Wood), Malcolm Springthorpe (Haringey Sports Council) //__And:__// Ashley Grey (consultant), Paul Ely and Don Lawson (both LBH Parks Dept) attended from 11am. **Apologies:** Edna and Adrian Skrebowski (Stationers Park Friends), Kate Huddie (FoRussell Park), Michael and Jasper (Friends of Woodside Park), Paul Crook (Friends of Finsbury Park) 1. Dave Morris agreed to **chair**. Quentin Given took **minutes**. 2. ** Minutes of last meeting ** - agreed. No matters arising other than on agenda. We have written to all councillors explaining HFoPF position. Concern that press reporting (fuelled by Met Police?) ramps up ‘crime in parks’ story rather than calling for effective on-site staffing. FoQW keen to see presence retained in nature reserves not just parks. Still need people to lock park gates at night. We expect safer neighbourhood teams to take up slack if Parks Police go. · Malcolm said there was strong community opposition to development of __Barclay Road__ site in North Tottenham. Haringey Council own the land just inside Enfield - space is much needed for children’s play area: need to lobby Enfield as planning authority. HFoPF have objected. · __ Bull Lane __. New 6th form centre keen to use as sports area, Enfield gave planning permission 4 years ago but will lapse soon. Weir Hall Action Group has been fighting to save this space for 20 years. We reaffirmed our support. //LBH response:// Parks are working with 6th form centre to develop sports facility and doing grounds maintenance. · __ Crouch End Hill. __ Following uproar over school application to annex this public green space by the roadside, the Council is pressing Coleridge school to withdraw planning application. We had sent in objection. · __ New River. __ Adam reported planning application for overgrown site near Penstock Path. Joyce to investigate. Malcolm said that 3 of 10 clubs in borough had closed due to falling membership. Sports Council is working with Parks Dept to open them up to new blood – the clubs have generally responded favourably and are keen to have more local involvement. Malcolm can provide contact names for Friends groups to liaise. Sally suggested using parks notice boards, Haringey People, Univ. of 3rd Age, local older people’s organisations to promote. · __ Woodside. __ Did bulb planting recently; water logging problem recurring; railings primed but not painted. Planning application for café – were Parks consulted, as Friends weren’t? //LBH response:// will paint in spring; will respond jointly with Friends re cafe. Planning Dept are supposed to consult Friends and Parks Dept (Ian Holt is Parks contact) on all relevant applications - but it’s not working. · __ Finsbury Park. __ AGM recently, Sally spoke at Beacon event. //LBH response:// Sal did good speech: critical but supportive is more convincing. · __ Downhills. __ Planted 8 limes, 5 oaks, 900 birch whips with students from Park View Sch helping; created steps from Midnight Alley into conservation area. Paths being relaid as part of Tottenham north/south ‘Greenway’ route. Problem in using ex-warden’s building for meetings because insurance policy says Haringey staff need to be present. Can LBH get this changed – Camden is doing so Ceri said. //LBH response:// HLF bid was unsuccessful for new building/café but hope to use £90k match funding to bid for other funds. Yes will look at insurance to see if can be changed. · __ Chestnuts. __ Work in progress on phase 1 improvements, including paths, play equipment, MUGA and café terrace. Next stakeholders strategy meeting 8 Feb. //LBH response:// Will have Green Flag application and new mgt plan when works done. · __ Lordship. __ Proposals/masterplan for £3.5m HLF bid agreed and circulated. Friends laid new woodchip path in woodland for £3k, 17 people involved. ‘Company of Cyclists’ due to move to Community Centre (then eventually into proposed new environment centre) and will use Model Traffic Area. Thames Water left big dip in path. //LBH response:// new staff are helping transform park. Hope they will deal with Thames Water. · __ Ducketts. __ New Friends group successfully established. Lew Taylor (Parks Dept) being very helpful. Friends/BTCV did bulb planting. Working out the key issues. · __ Fairfax/Falkland. __ Design by Groundwork looks good, based on good consultation. Need match funding. Doing tree survey in area. Nightmare getting EDF to turn on electric supply. Steve Hall very supportive. //LBH response:// Will try to move EDF. · __ Priory Common. __ Bulb planting with 30 people, embryonic Hornsey Gardens group did planting near Great Northern Hotel - need coordinator for this group. · __ Parkland Walk. __ After much consultation TfL works will start soon - lots of small improvements. Parks dept has set up group to oversee. · __ Queens Wood. __ Done coppicing near café. Paths still a problem. AGM 9 April in café - Ian Holt speaking. //LBH response:// have decentralised hygiene teams to area manager (Tony Healey) so should be more responsive ·<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal"> __ Russell Park __ (written report) This is on the Noel Park estate. Friends have lobbied to change name back to the original Russell Park rather than the confusing Noel Park– new dog bins and flower beds, funds from O2 and Safer Communities, most trees planted lost to dog bites. ·<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal"> __ Palace Gates Embankment Nature Reserve __ New Friends group. Group/Council working on encroachment by neighbours, and seeking to turn into nature reserve with controlled access. //LBH response:// Ian Holt doing report, to cabinet in March, on encroachment so should develop a more robust response. LBH also reported that __Wood Green cemetery__ and __Wolves Lane__ going for Green Flag this summer. Agreed to hold HFoPF picnic there in summer. To discuss more next meeting. LBH reported that 50,000 bulbs provided across borough of which 25,000 have been planted (mainly thanks to BTCV’s work with community groups, schools and Friends groups). Don described new procedures for applying for permissions for events up to 499 people and 500+, based on Royal Parks procedures. The aim is to reduce paperwork for smaller events. It will be piloted, LBH wants to tweak it in liaison with HFoPF, and maybe establish local guidelines for each park according to local wildlife, sensitivities etc. Friends groups will not be charged for applications, but for bigger events LBH will charge organisers for litter collection. Don said they were not using this to increase income but at same time keen to raise income where possible. Sally said it was important that big events don’t overlap with school holidays. There were concerns that form filling and bureaucracy will put off community groups – although they could of course still take part in informal events without official booking. Suggested that the new forms be trialled this summer and then we look at it together in September when we have had experience of it and with Martin Hall, the officer on the case. This was agreed. Don circulated notes on proposal which were going to cabinet on 24 Jan for consultation (25 Jan – 31 March). [Note: this has now been put back to start in March]. Main proposals is to cut Parks Police budget £438k, lose £200k of this (as an ‘efficiency saving’) and invest rest in improving mainstream staffing in Parks, directly and through other means. There would be more on-site staffing in significant parks. Savings come partly through scrapping 24-hr shifts and rationalising management. Evidence is that parks police do not get involved in many incidents so not v cost effective. Meanwhile Safer N’hood Teams set priorities locally and this can include parks issues [eg it currently does in Down Lane Park]. Ashley noted that Parks Police were set up 10 years ago to address issues in Finsbury Park but now it was right to review. Don said new model would facilitate better liaison between Friends and SNTs. Friends groups wanted to be sure that the budget for the parks constabulary would transfer to better on-site staffing, but this seemed very unsure now that the Council was planning massive cuts across all Depts. Proposals are for £200k cut from Police budget as above, £200k ‘efficiencies’ from grounds maintenance, and £35k from repair and maintenance budget. Plus, £200k income budget not achievable. This reflects wider council aim of 9% savings – the Parks and Leisure Dept is being told to find 9% cut of £16m gross expenditure **and** 9% increase in income of £9m. Some efficiency would come from reviewing existing contracted-out services eg tree pruning on streets, weed spraying, equipment maintenance. Cllr Adje had rejected idea of further tendering out. We agreed to welcome the UNISON union statement by parks staff opposing the cuts. And to continue to oppose cuts in budget and express concern about any furthering tendering out of services. Adam asked about income from Ducketts Common funfairs. Don to produce statistics about income from parks events. Income goes to relevant area of parks (West, Central, East). Consultation open until 24 January about setting standards for provision and quality of open spaces of all kinds (parks, nature reserves, play areas, sports fields, allotments etc). This positive move has come as a result of constant lobbying by the Haringey Federation of RAs and the HFoPF, backed by the Haringey UDP planning inspector. Draft proposals report accepts some GLA/national standards but waters others down eg the definition of an adequate open space is 0.25ha not 2.0ha as set by the London Plan. This will be to Haringey’s detriment, allow developers to get away with not providing. Joyce thought the formula was too complex and would allow developers to find loopholes. Paul Ely said that the London Mayor urged all boroughs to adopt standards, not that they should all be the same. The draft standards were an advance on current ones and were ambitious and would lead to more open space. Agreed to respond - Dave is drafting and will circulate. Ashley circulated proposals for strengthening Friends groups and Friends/Council partnership working. Questionnaire and two workshops before end of Feb, report by end of March. HFoPF liaison group (DM, QG, SB, D.McDonald) will consider questionnaire questions. One workshop on weekday, another at weekend. CLF was launched 9 Jan to encourage voluntary and community organisations to work together to advance good policies and practices, and lobby for adequate resources for residents’ needs. Dave M attended for the Haringey Federation of RAs. HFoPF are members too. Noted that HFRA, HFoPF, and Mobility Forum are already members of the Better Places Partnership Board, and they and Sustainable Haringey are proposed to be co-opted onto board indefinitely. Sally agreed to represent HFoPF, with Joan as reserve. (Dave M will attend as HFRA). ·<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal"> Dave (on behalf of HFoPF) attended a __national conference on community involvement in parks__ and green spaces. He and the B’ham Friends of Parks Forum proposed a network of regional Friends Forums – a web communication system is being set up in Jan. ·<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal"> __ Sustainable Haringey __ - next SH gathering 20 Jan. There is a Green Environment working group which Friends groups may wish to link up with. ·<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal"> __ Haringey Independence Day, 26th April. __ An event to promote independent grass roots groups and campaigns. We agreed to run a stall and host a meeting about Parks. ·<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal"> __ HFoPF e-list & website __ – Catherine agreed to take over from Hugh (thanks Hugh!), and also run/update the HFoPF webpages on the HFRA site – www.haringeyresidents.org/green+spaces Joan would like to retire as __Secretary__ if someone else can do it or help with it – agreed to circulate vacancy and send description of what’s involved. Tasks can be shared (eg minutes, responding to press enquiries etc). Thanks and congratulations to Joan on her work.
 * __ Report of HFoPF bi-monthly meeting - Saturday Jan 12th: 10am-1pm __**
 * 3.<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal"> **** Parks Constabulary and patrols.  **
 * 4.<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal"> **** Sites under threat. **
 * 5.<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal"> **** Bowling clubs **
 * 6.<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal"> **** Local reports **
 * 7.<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal"> **** Events in Parks **
 * 8.<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal"> **** Review of staffing. **
 * 9.<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal"> **** Budget cuts **
 * 10.<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal"> **** Open space standards **
 * 11.<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal"> **** Review of working with Friends  **
 * 12.<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal"> **** Community Link Forum. **
 * 13.<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal"> **** Other business **