Agenda and minutes

MINUTES OF THE WELSH HARP JOINT CONSULTATIVE COMMITTEE

Held as an online meeting on Thursday 27 July 2023 at 6.00pm

Members Present (In Remote Attendance)

Councillor Krupa Sheth (Chair)     London Borough of Brent

Councillor Alan Schneiderman     London Borough of Barnet

Councillor Parvez Ahmed   London Borough of Brent

Cassie Bridger (Officer)      London Borough of Barnet

Leslie Williams (Officer)      London Borough of Brent

Adam Woods (Governance)          London Borough of Brent

Sian Palmer-Ferry    Canal & River Trust

Ben Watt        Cool Oak Group

Lewis Elmes  Environment Agency

Daniella Levene       Friends of Welsh Harp

Leila Taheri   Friends of Welsh Harp

Dale Langdale          Hendon Rifle Club

Dianne Murphy        London Wildlife Trust

Phil Atkinson Phoenix Canoe Club

Diane Mitchell          Silver Park Jubilee Residents Association

Hannah Reid Thames 21

John Shepherd        Welsh Harp Sailing Association

Manfred Starkl          Welsh Harp Sailing Association

Liz Hall           West Hendon Allotment Society

1. Election of Chair and Vice Chair 2023-24

As the meeting was the first of the 2023/24 municipal year, in accordance with the Welsh Harp Joint Consultative Committee Constitution, the Committee were required to appoint a Chair from Brent Council and a Vice Chair from Barnet Council. Consequently, Councillor Krupa Sheth from Brent Council was nominated by members and unanimously appointed to the position of Chair, and Councillor Alan Schneiderman from Barnet Council was nominated and unanimously appointed to the position of Vice Chair. As a Chair and Vice Chair had been appointed, Councillor Krupa Sheth was handed chairing responsibilities for the meeting and members turned to consider the substantive items on the agenda.

2. Apologies for Absence and Clarification of any Alternate Members

Apologies for absence were received from Councillor Saqib Butt (London Borough of Brent), Councillor Mary Mitchell (London Borough of Brent), Councillor Rishikesh Chakraborty (London Borough of Barnet), Councillor Ernest Ambe Esq (London Borough of Barnet), Councillor Andrea Bilbow (London Borough of Barnet) and Derrick Chung (West Hendon Residents Association).

3. Declarations of Interests

There were no declarations made.

4. Deputations (If Any)

None.

5. Minutes of the Previous Meeting

It was AGREED that the minutes of the previous meeting held on Thursday 16 March 2023 be approved as an accurate record.

6. Matters Arising

None.

7. Management Plan (Barnet)

Cassie Bridger (Assistant Director, Greenspaces and Leisure, Barnet Council) presented the report, which provided an update to the Committee on the activities of Barnet Council during Quarter 1 (Apr-June 2023) in relation to the Welsh Harp and West Hendon Playing Fields.

In highlighting the key details of the report, the Committee were informed that Barnet Council had concluded a procurement exercise and awarded the contract to develop a new Parks and Open Spaces Strategy and a Local Nature Recovery Plan (LNRP had replaced Biodiversity Action Plans) to Land Use Consultants (LUC). Although Barnet Council were in the early stages of the commission, members were advised that there would be opportunities to contribute to the development of the documents through public consultations and engagement exercises.

Similarly, following the conclusion of the two stage design competition in partnership with the Landscape Institute, Barnet Council had awarded the contract  ...  view the full minutes text for item 1.