Minutes, 5 November 2011

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	Minutes of Friends Forum meeting, 5th November 2011 [Bruce Castle Museum]
	Present: David Warren (Friends of Parkland Walk), Anne Scott (White Hart Lane, and Bracknell Close), Dave Morris, Helen Steel and Joan Curtis (all Lordship Rec), Chris Chadwick (Priory Park), Lucy Roots (Queens Wood), Gordon Hutchinson (Alexandra Palace Park), Rod Wells and Mal Hawley (Downhills Park), Ros Abrams (Crouch End Open Space), Cathryn Appleby (Coldfall Wood), Robyn Thomas (Phd student). + From 11am: Council reps Paul Ely and Andy Briggs (LBH Leisure Services) Apologies: Joyce Rosser (Priory Common), Michelle Balgobin (Paignton Park), Ceri Williams and Marilyn Tye (Chestnuts), Adam Coffman (Fairland Park, and Ducketts Common), Deborah Cawkwell (Markfield), Michael Johns (Queens Wood) + Simon Farrow (LBH Head of Client Services)
	1. Minutes of last meeting Agreed. Matter arising: Joyce attended a Haringey meeting on conservation and biodiversity on behalf of the Forum. 2. London and national networking London Friends Groups Network Going well, with 2 or 3 Haringey groups attending. New Friends Forums like ours are developing in a number of boroughs. Very similar issues to ours are coming up in most London boroughs, although no-one seems to have suffered such brutal cuts as Haringey. The LFGN was recently given a special Green Flag award for promoting community engagement throughout London. Dave [as LFGN chair] attended the awards ceremony with around 150 local authority reps, green space professionals and the Under Secretary of State for the Environment (who said the Government 'fully supports' the Green Flag awards). Dave was asked to make an award acceptance speech and took the opportunity to oppose government-driven cuts and to call on the Government to release adequate funding to enable the effective management and maintenance of all the UK's green spaces. *National Federation of Parks and Green Spaces* Recently organised the first ever national conference of Friends Groups. A great success, attended by Dave (Mal unfortunately was too poorly to attend). There are now over 4,000 groups, of which maybe half are already linked-up through area Friends Forums like ours. *Radio 4 Interview:* Mal, Rod and Dave were interviewed by BBC Radio 4 re parks cuts generally, and some of the effects in Haringey specifically. Will be edited to 4 minute piece for PM programme. 3. Green Flag issues At the last meeting the Forum had wanted to be sure that if a park had a Green Flag then such standards were kept up all year. Green Flag monitors are able to compel maintenance to those standards. There are to be mystery visits to a quarter of the UK's GF-awarded parks this winter. More judges are urgently needed, and in fact people from Friends Groups can volunteer to be a judge if they have the appropriate skills/interest and undergo 2 days training - contact: www.keepbritaintidy.org/GreenFlag Dave apologised that he had not yet written the letter raising our concerns to the GF board, as agreed at the last meeting, but he was pursuing the issues on a strategic level. Rod Wells will now write one in relation to Haringey parks. The Forum also believe that GF standards are the minimum that ALL green spaces should aspire to and achieve. Our views were raised by Dave at the recent London FGs Network and also at the National Federation conference (see above) and have now been adopted by the Friends movement nationally. We have recently found out that there is to be a new GF 'Group' award for Councils who have a number of GF green spaces for 2 years or more. In response we propose that we need to make sure that if a council gets a group award they should have to have a policy that ALL their green spaces in that borough are working towards such minimum standards not just the Green Flag ones. However, the situation is very delicate as we do not want unscrupulous councils to pull out of the GF process (and thereby abandon minimum standards) or threaten to sell off spaces they've not earmarked enough resources to maintain properly. The National Federation has also decided that Friends movement should be integrated into the whole GF process and are in discussions with Awards Board members about how this might be done. 4. Buildings in parks On behalf of the Forum, Chris and Lucy met up with Simon Farrow and Paul Ely to discuss strategy for buildings in parks. The Council list of buildings was not comprehensive and was based mainly on commercial opportunities. 2 actions came out of meeting... a. Council to prepare a set of principles for leases – with commitment to public access / community engagement b. Audit of all buildings and facilities in parks done jointly by council and Friends. Council to produce a form for Friends to complete in relation to buildings etc in their own park. *Agreed:* We agreed that green space buildings should be considered and protected in terms of their usefulness to the park, park users and volunteering potential, rather than their commercial value. Council response: Paul Ely said that minutes of the recent meeting held with friends re buildings would be made available. The buildings audit would be ready for the January meeting of Friends Forum. Still working on scope of the project eg should it include tennis courts and similar facilities. The Council agree that the criteria for usefulness of buildings should be broader than just financial/commercial considerations. 5. Friends' Petition/Lobby Our 2,500-strong petition was handed over, and this received quite a bit of press publicity. The Council have therefore scheduled the first ever resident-led debate at a Council meeting - 21st November. There will be a 5 minute presentation from the Forum and then questions and a 15min debate. We need to send in a strong 5 person panel representing the whole borough, calling for the wholly unrealistic cuts to parks to be reversed in order that there is a viable parks dept (see item 12 below). Dave to coordinate organising the lobby to get a group of people together to agree the presentation and who will deliver it on the day. *Agreed:* We agreed to call on all Friends Groups to attend in support, and also to support the general anti-cuts rally outside from 6pm organised by the Haringey Alliance for Public Services. We also remain committed to working in partnership with the Council to improve green spaces. 6. LOCAL REPORTS Downhills – Friends had article in local paper re green flag and maintenance failures due to cuts. Feel that their publicity efforts helped persuade the Council to introduce more staff during the summer. Will be coordinating a meeting of local community groups to discuss the future community use of a disused Council building at the entrance to the park - positive response by the Council so far. Hold regular 2 monthly maintenance walkabouts/checks to keep parks manager informed. Council response: wardens hut situation will now be dealt with by Simon Farrow. Maintenance issues - litter should not be a problem now because a new regime has been put in place. The flower beds remain a problem for the present and the Council are exploring ways of dealing with autumn leaves. Alexandra Palace Park – Organised successful Bat, bird and bug walks. The Trust is looking for cuts and have had talks with Friends. Friends say they will continue to volunteer doing conservation work but will not agree to volunteer to tend bedding plants. There was a very successful National Cyclocross bike event held in the park. Parkland Walk – Developers on Hornsey Lane adjacent to the walk donated tools to Friends. Friends got insurance via BTCV and went on a BTCV risk assessment course so are fully covered and prepared for work sessions including the creation of a pond. Concern for condition of structures along the parkland walk ie bridges with large vegetation growing out of them. Could be a significant problem in years to come so need to find out in advance who is responsible for their upkeep. Council response: Will take back litter problem. Bridges issues may be looked at as part of the parks buildings review.. Queens Wood – Successful walks organised to look at birds, mosses and liverworts. Organised work days and were involved in a film. The Tree Trust will be doing a survey of the oaks in the wood. Litter problem has worsened again and graffiti on noticeboards. Still experiencing problems with cyclists creating tracks and digging up undergrowth. Need to speak with organisations who are still advertising the wood as a good cycling place. Want to check how byelaws can be used to protect wood. Council response: Council trying to mediate with cycle groups through Luisa Baker. The question of the byelaws would be the responsibility of Simon Farrow. Priory Park – Free tennis coaching sessions in October in partnership with local club. Café lease and Bowling club – shortlist of businesses to prepare business plan. Lease includes community use built in and Friends will get an office. Gates not being opened early enough for those who want to use the park as a cut through in the mornings. Putting in application to get metropolitan open land status. Case is strengthened by nearby greenway route so that Priory park becomes part of green chain. Looking for Council Support. Council response: Council have prepared a written response, possibly supportive of change to Metropolitan Open Land. Will send to Friends Group. Gate opening and locking for further discussion - the double gates are left open because Veolia use them. Lordship Rec – All the regeneration works are going pretty well, despite many complexities and issues cropping up. Users Forum now meet weekly and produce a weekly regeneration bulletin. Much of the park's green spaces are closed off although people can walk through and use playground and other play facilities. The new Moselle river channel is progressing well and the new bike track is going to open soon after a launch on December 3rd organised by the local Trax group. Friends continue to meet off site and most of the user groups are continuing to operate including a new Lordship Wildlife Group. Back 2 Earth group have created some beautiful and productive gardens around the Community Centre. OThe Users Forum organised a 500-strong Sporticulture event (sports and horticulture) in lieu of this year's community festival. White Hart Lane Rec and Bracknell Close – Annie reported she has been engaged in activities and canvassed the estate to get residents involved in their local spaces. Hired a fun bus to promote wildlife to local kids. Need to finalise the installation of a hose for watering the communal areas. Held a Halloween event, put tree faces on trees to help with tree identification. Want to work with council to protect trees. Concerned that the criteria for risk assessment and trip hazards is not the same for estates and park pathways. The criteria for park pathways seem not so strict. Feels the park needs lots of attention and improvements. Council response: BTCV could do work to encourage community involvement. Will ask Simon Farrow to get in touch with Anne to talk further. The disparity in criteria for trip hazards to be investigated by Andy. CREOS – North Middlesex club had their application to put in floodlighting turned down but have gone to appeal. CREOS trying to organise a management plan. The litter and vandalism problem seems to have much improved since the new head took over at Highgate Wood School. Coldfall Wood – The group is thriving and BTCV has been helping with coppicing. Some issues with water quality in the stream. Chestnuts – [Report in writing] A recent festival left a big mess in the park and it turned out the people who organised it were not the same as those who booked the event. Following prompting from the Friends the new entrance to the park from Cornwall Rd is now on track to be created. A private house put a gate into the park but the council took immediate action to stop it. The Friends are planning some bulb planting. Litter is bad again since the staff cuts, and the dilapidated pavilion is still awaiting demolition due to lack of council funds. The vehicle entrance is not locked so cars can get in and be burnt out. All agreed that burnt out cars and motorbikes can be a problem and create damage to paths. Council response: Simon Farrow to deal with the problem of the festival and looking for more secure ways of dealing with events. Pavillion demolition is part of the master plan for the park but the cost would be £100,000 which the council does not currently possess. Will give instructions to Park Manager and Community Centre to make sure the gates in Cornwall Road are locked to stop the possibility of further burnt out cars. 7. Green spaces on housing estates Homes for Haringey are discussing how to improve green spaces on estates, including biodiversity and edible landscapes. *Agreed:* The Friends Forum will support any moves to improve estate grounds and local groups could meet residents to talk about the work of friends groups in green spaces. 8. Moselle Walk 5 Forum members walked the entire route of the Moselle in preparation for a major borough-wide walk next spring. It can be done in sections. The walk will be organised by the Forum and backed by the Haringey Federation of Residents Associations and an aim is to actively involve Friends groups and Residents Associations along the route. Joan will design a map/brochure which will also be able to be used afterwards by anyone interested. Paul Ely said he will be attending a meeting called by the Environment Agency and they may know of sources of funding for the brochure for the walk. Unfortunately requests by community groups to take the opportunity to open up the Moselle in the new Heartlands development site have opposed by developers there and now have been been refused by the planning committee, although the reasons are unclear. 9. Aims and Aspirations We would like to know the results of the recent consultation asking Local Friends Groups to identify some of their long term aims and aspirations. Sarah Jones (LBH) is leading on this. 10. Waste Collection There is no decision yet to do away with dog bins but there will be a pilot in a few parks to co-locate them with ordinary waste bins so that emptying is easier for cleansing teams. This could be a problem as many waste bins tend to be sited next to benches. There's still no policy on the introduction of recycling bins throughout the borough, although some parks have them. 11. QE2 status A scheme for the Queens jubilee has been set up to give permanent protection to a few selected playing fields, and external funders will give priority to sites awarded that status. Council have put forward 4 sites: Muswell Hill Playing Fields, Lordship Rec playing fields, Albert Rec playing fields and Down Lane playing fields. They will be put to a public vote in competition with others in other boroughs and towns to see which ones get awarded QE2 status. Pressure is now on for more housing development so important to get as much protection as possible. However some Friends Groups (including Friends of Down Lane) view the scheme as controversial as they believe that all playing fields should get protection and resources, and also don't like the competitive approach. 12. Cuts and Volunteering Paul Ely presented a document called 'Bridging the Gap' which addressed the problem of how recreation services were trying to manage and maintain parks given the 50% reduction in budget. *Staffing:* Out of only 62 staff currently still left, most had to be employed to honour the contracts with Homes For Haringey (for housing estates) and the 3 Heritage Lottery Funded parks leaving only 17.5 staff (including only 3.5 trained gardeners) for 43 parks across the borough. Officers are floating ideas which have as far as we know never been tried before by a local authority where a wide range of basic maintenance and management tasks formerly done by trained staff are to be attempted through volunteering (including compulsory unpaid work). BTCV may be asked to try to bring in outside organisations with schemes like community payback and workfare. Community Payback could be tried in Bruce Castle, Markfield and perhaps Downhills. The Council may tender for an outside organisation to promote such volunteering. This could cost as much as £50,000 out of the limited budget available, and any 'volunteering' will have also to be supervised by overstretched staff, taking them away from their basic work. We expressed concerns over who is going to deal with the autumn leaves, bedding, litter and a whole range of other basic everyday issues, and the safety and management issues due to lack of staff presence. Also, this reverses the nationally-recognised 'parkforce' policy of trying to have the maximum number of parks staffed by dedicated workers who know and care for that space, and liaise with the public. *Maintenance:* It gets worse. The budget for maintenance has been slashed from £400,000 pa to £100,000 pa, all of which is contracted to the HLF parks. The other 43 green spaces have no maintenance budget. There is reference to a separate Maintenance Plan, but this does not yet exist as there is no budget for it. The document does not include any capital improvement projects or larger scale maintenance as the council no longer has any match funding available to be able to access outside funding sources. *Speaking out:* It is vital that Friends groups speak out and speak out now about these issues, and of course we will be raising them at the Full Council meeting on 21st November. There is to be a meeting with Councillor Canver on 16th November, 7pm at the Civic Centre, to discuss Friends views on the Council's budget cuts and volunteering strategies. 13. Next meeting 14th January 2012 Note 2nd Saturday of month as its just after xmas. Council to confirm booking.