Minutes of JAN 2011 Meeting 

Date: Wednesday, 26th January 2011 Venue: Pub on the Park (Upstairs Meeting Room)

Attendees: MM, AH, MC, MD, JL, MR (Little London Fields), LD (Little London Fields)

 
Apologies: 
Jonathan McShane (Councillor), Bruce Irving (Parks Development Officer), Michael Calderbank (Hackney Environment Forum), Trevor Douglas, Theo Brueton.
 
Funding
MM and MC confirm that although the LFUG is officially recognised by Hackney Council, it’s not a registered charity, so it was suggested we couldn’t access charity funding. Fortunately this in not so; other park user groups get charity money. It is a matter of going through all the hoops and filling all the applications. Part of Bruce’s remit is trying his best to secure funding for projects for user groups.
 
There were some people talking about opening a bank account. But while we have no source of income this is a pointless endeavour. Bank accounts are easy to open when you have funding – we have none. MC said he will consult with a Councillor Jonathan McShane about the potential of the LFUG opening a bank account.  This can be an agenda item in the next meeting. MM also noted that this matter could also be discussed with the Hackney Parks Forum Treasurer who would be able to bank any cheques we received for us.
 
The Hackney Biodiversity people have been trying to get funding to plant bulbs and suitable wildlife plants in the wooded area by the P on the P. Bruce confirmed via MM, prior to the meeting that he is still trying to secure this funding. He also said he may be able to get some British native trees for us. There is also an organisation who funds orchard trees in parks.
<http://www.thelondonorchardproject.org/>
 
Children’s Play Area: Prior to the meeting, Bruce confirmed to MM the availability of £4K - £5K, which is very small beer forchildren’s play equipment. Bruce has passed a comprehensive website catalogue on to the LFUG for viewing and discussing <http://www.unitedplay.com/webcatalogue/>. He suggests we make our minds up rapidly so that he can price it up before the money gets lost. The installation of tree trunks and boulders were discussed and it was noted that the tree trunks were more likely to be available because they came free of charge from the tree surgeons, unlike the boulders which are pricy.
 
Web Site
Privacy: It was suggested that meeting minutes that were posted onto the LFUG web site, should have minimal mention of people’s names. And so we have decided to only place initials on the web site. This does not apply to Councillors and council officials.

AH confirms that he has:
·      created a link from the LFUG web site to the Safer Neighbourhoods web site

·      posted a list of proposed LFUG projects on the LFUG web site


Toilet Facilities
It was noted that LBH have funding confirmed to replace the frequently vandalised toilet fittings with stainless steel fixtures. But most importantly the old pre-war underground sewage pipes urgently requires  replacement. This is due to commence early this year.

Multi Use Games Area (MUGA)
Due to the £44 million government cutback in Hackney we have been unsure if this new facility would be built. Bruce Irving has confirmed that the current MUGA plans, including proposed basketball court, do allow for the old Redgra field to be grassed over and that there would be provision for a lockable gate on the MUGA if it is allowed to be built. Since the meeting Bruce confirmed that the council will be able to complete the MUGA.
 
Events
Background: In autumn 2010, the Events team at Hackney Council, invited interested parties to apply for outdoor event licences in London Fields in the summer of 2011, with a view to up to three applicants being granted licenses for their proposed events.  Numerous applications have been submitted to Hackney Council and the successful applicants will be notified at the end of March 2011 (at the earliest).  The LFUG have been sent details of all the applications and these applications have been distributed to the LFUG Committee and other interested parties.  There has been a mixed reaction to the applications.

Post meeting note: MC confirms the following: 
 
Trish Brooks (Hackney Events Team) confirms that notifications of proposed events can/should be sent to all LFUG members and she is happy that resident response be sent directly to her without the need for you to collate responses for all members and forward them on to her.
 
Obviously, members can still send responses and comments internally within LFUG, but this at least enables a much wider notification of proposed London Fields events in the interim until the new policy in place.
 
Given that many of the proposed events will be put to the HEAT committee in a few weeks’ time MC suggests all three current active proposals that we are aware of for the summer should be distributed to all LFUG members as soon as possible with instruction to provide comments to Trish Brooks.
 
Regarding the new draft LBH events policy, Trish believes you should have already received it earlier this week. If not let me know and I will chase and distribute.

Representatives from two of the Proposed Event Organisations (Laurence Daw and Mel Robins from Little London Fields, plus Jeremy Ledlin and Kenny Connor from Let Them Eat Cake) were present and they presented further details on their proposed events.  Following the presentations, both organisations answered questions and discussed matters about their proposals.  The main items discussed were as follows
·      Control of attendance figures

·      Noise issues involving early evening music as well as early morning setting up and late night packing down of equipment

·      Is fencing around events a good idea as it contradicts the whole idea of common land

·      Crowd dispersal at the end of an event, particularly if the day is sunny and park visitors choose to stay in the park making noise until the wee small hours.

·      How to clear up rubbish as soon and as efficiently as possible, with particular attention to children’s play areas, cricket and other games areas.


Both event organisations acknowledged that should their applications be successful, they must learn from and improve on past event issues on London Fields.  Both event organisations also acknowledged that addressing the above issues in detail, are crucial to the preservation of London Fields and they recognise that there are many local residents whose opinions need to be considered prior to and during their proposed events. Both event organisers are committed to engaging with resident groups to achieve best results.
 
JL noted that the decision to programme outdoor events on London Fields rests with Hackney Council.  Comments on the proposals can be passed back to Trisha Brooks, Interim Events Coordinator, Hackney Council.
 
AOB

It was agreed that the police would be invited to the next LFUG meeting, to discuss any forthcoming summertime 2011 issues - Wed 30th March.
 
It was agreed that Nicola Baker (Assistant Director, Culture, which includes parks and other things) be invited to the next LFUG meeting, Wed 30th March, to discuss the potential to restore and re-open the derelict park keepers lodge.
 
Date, Time and place of the next LFUG meeting

Wednesday 30th March, 8pm, Pub On The Park meeting room, 30 Martello Street E8 3PE