Issue - meetings

Verbal update

Councillor Kirsten Hearn, the Cabinet Member for Climate Change and Sustainability, reported that Covid -19 and the lockdown had disproportionately affected those within the community suffering from poverty and disadvantage and, in particular, Black and Minority Ethnic (BAME), elderly and disabled people.  The focus of her portfolio in this period had been ensuring that parks were safe and open to all and supporting safe and socially distant travel that was climate positive.  

The Committee received updates on developments that had taken place within planning policy, transport planning, the Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) and parks and then asked questions to the Cabinet Member and officers supporting her. 

Simon Farrow, Head of Parks and Leisure, reported that his service had worked very closely with Public Health colleagues when re-opening facilities within parks.  The view of Public Health had been that opening of football and basketball courts should not happen yet as it was not possible to practice social distancing within them.   It was acknowledged that tennis courts could have been reopened earlier though.  Playgrounds and open air gyms were being reopened at the moment.  The view had been taken that there needed to be sanitation and permanent signage at each site and this was why it was taking longer than in some other boroughs, who had not taken the same measures.  The additional cost of sanitation was £700 per week and three gardeners had been redeployed to undertake this work. 

In answer to a question regarding the opening of paddling pools, Mr Farrow reported that it was not clear until recently that it would be permissible.  They were now scheduled to re-open though.  It was nevertheless debateable whether it was worth spending the money necessary for this to happen as they would probably only be open for one month.  In addition, the parks budget was overspent by £1.5 million. 

In respect of Finsbury Park, the number of staff there had been increased to 11.5 from 1.5 due to the income that had been received from events last summer.  Staff in the park had been working very hard making sure park users observed social distancing and collecting litter, which had increased considerably.  All of the money to maintain the park would be coming from the Council this year due to the lack of events.

The Cabinet Member stated that keeping people safe was a priority and that was why sanitation of play and gym equipment had been undertaken in Haringey despite some other boroughs not doing the same.  It had also been felt very important to keep parks open for all and this had been achieved despite pressure to close them in the early part of the lockdown.  It was not yet clear how much the government would assist local authorities financially to mitigate the financial pressures. 

Mr Farrow reported that there had been an increased need for litter picking and bin emptying, which had impacted on the budget for the service.  Approximately £0.5 million was being spent on litter and additional staff  ...  view the full minutes text for item 36