Agenda item
Updates on Mile End Park
- Meeting of King George's Field Charity Board, Tuesday, 12th December, 2017 5.30 p.m. (Item 3.1)
- View the background to item 3.1
The board is asked to consider:
·
Update on free to access
community activities in Mile End Park 2017
Report on commercial activity in Mile End.
· Update on repairs required to Ecology Lakes
· An amended proposal for the installation of a statue by third party into Mile End Park (decision deferred from last meeting requesting more detail)
· The current guidelines and application form for proposals to put memorials/statues in Parks.
Decision:
DECISION:
That the King George’s Field Charity Board:
1. Notes the information update on free to access activities in Mile End Park
2. Agrees in principle that the Friends of Mile End Park be allowed up to six free days’ hire of park facilities each year, subject to legal advice.
3. Notes the summary of commercial activity in Mile End Park
4. Notes the update on the lakes by the Arts and Eco Pavilions and asks that officers prepare a more comprehensive analysis of the issues, options and projected costs regarding the water loss and methods to rectify it.
5. Rejects the proposal to erect a statue of Swami Vivekananda in Mile End Park, primarily on the grounds that the application does not evidence a direct link of the subject to the site.
6. Agrees that the proposed guidance for applying to place statues, plaques etc as presented at Appendix 5 of the report should also apply to lands managed by the King George’s Field Charity Trust, but asks that a tailored version of the guidance is submitted to a future meeting of the Board for formal approval.
7. Asks that guidance is prepared to inform the Board of their powers and duties as Trustees of the King George’s Field charities and how this differs from their role as Members of the Council.
Action by:
CORPORATE DIRECTOR CHILDREN’S SERVICES (D. Jones)
(Stephen Murray –Head of Arts, Parks and Events).
Minutes:
Stephen Murray, Head of Parks and Events, introduced the report.
The Mayor noted that there had been a submission to the Board by the Friends of Mile End Park (FOMEP) in relation to several of the matters discussed in the report and he invited Mr John White, Chair of FOMEP, to address the meeting. Mr White advised:
i. An informal arrangement is in place to provide FOMEP with occasional free access of Park facilities. He believed that an arrangement had previously been discussed which would provide the Friends with six days free use each year, but this was not always honoured. Officers advised this arrangement has not been formally agreed by the Board. The Board agreed the six days free use proposal in principle, subject to legal advice. It understood a community lettings policy may have been proposed in the past and would welcome revisiting this idea.
ii. FOMEP is concerned with the report pertaining to the repairs at the lakes as it feels there may be alternative options available to solve this issue that are not presented in it. The Board also felt that the report lacks sufficient detail on which to base a decision and asked that a more comprehensive analysis of this matter is brought to a future meeting.
iii. FOMEP would welcome an arrangement for the annual Park Life event to be organised by FOMEP but funded by the Park. He estimated the costs of the event at around £5,000-£6,000. Officers expressed some concern as to the legal ramifications of such a proposal. The Board asked that a meeting be arranged between FOMEP, officers, Councillor Denise Jones and Councillor Abdul Mukit to discuss this proposal.
The Board felt the requests by FOMEP had exposed some of the distinctions between Board members’ roles as both Councillors and trustees of the charities, so asked for a note to help them manage this dual role.
The Board noted the guidance for applying to place statues, plaques etc and indicated it would welcome its application to lands managed by the King George’s Field charities. Regarding the proposal to erect a statue of Swami Vivekananda in Mile End Park, the Board discussed the new information that had been provided by applicants since this proposal was last discussed. Members noted the application did not evidence a direct link between Swami Vivekananda to the proposed site. The Board therefore determined that the application did not fulfil the guidance criteria and so should be refused.
The Board asked that future updates include greater financial information such as management accounts, projected income and comparisons to previous years.
RESOLVED:
That the King George’s Field Charity Board:
1. Notes the information update on free to access activities in Mile End Park
2. Agrees in principle that the Friends of Mile End Park be allowed up to six free days’ hire of park facilities each year, subject to legal advice.
3. Notes the summary of commercial activity in Mile End Park
4. Notes the update on the lakes by the Arts and Eco Pavilions and asks that officers prepare a more comprehensive analysis of the issues, options and projected costs regarding the water loss and methods to rectify it.
5. Rejects the proposal to erect a statue of Swami Vivekananda in Mile End Park, primarily on the grounds that the application does not evidence a direct link of the subject to the site.
6. Agrees that the proposed guidance for applying to place statues, plaques etc as presented at Appendix 5 of the report should also apply to lands managed by the King George’s Field Charity Trust, but asks that a tailored version of the guidance is submitted to a future meeting of the Board for formal approval.
7. Asks that guidance is prepared to inform the Board of their powers and duties as Trustees of the King George’s Field charities and how this differs from their role as Members of the Council.
Supporting documents:
- Update on Mile End Park, item 3.1 PDF 99 KB
- Appendix 1 - KGFT free events, item 3.1 PDF 53 KB
- Appendix 2 - KGFT Commerical activity, item 3.1 PDF 55 KB
- Appendix 3 - Report on lakes in Mile End Park, item 3.1 PDF 55 KB
- Appendix 4 - Report statue, item 3.1 PDF 509 KB
- Appendix 5 - Guidelines on Artworks and Memorials in LBTH Parks and Open Spaces, item 3.1 PDF 152 KB