Agenda item

To receive an update on Parks Management and Maintenance.

RECEIVED a progress report on Parks Management and Maintenance.

NOTED the details of the update published with the agenda.

IN RESPONSE the following comments/questions were received:

Q.        How long with the trialled recyclable bins be in force?

A.        This is an ongoing project, being checked monthly, working jointly with the waste team. By mid-summer we will compare data with our neighbouring boroughs, working with Goodparksforlondon.

Q.        Are there specific days where the surgeries will take place?

A.        Surgeries take place Thursday afternoons once a month.  There are only 8 being offered at the moment but are due to increase later in the year. Invitations are sent to all the Friends of the Parks Groups.

Q.        Does the 4-week work programme – one size fit all, in relation to the vastness of Trent Park?

A.        This is specific to the landscape.  The data for the work programme for Trent Park has been in place and is independent of the others.

Q.        Please clarify the specific habitat maintenance?

A.        Proposals are being considered by the Council. There is a specific conservation supervisor and a stand-alone team, holding an “at risk” register.  The Council is audited by Natural England and given a rating of performance. There is an expectation to deliver to that legal agreement directly by our work force over a 4-week period, with a stronger focus on Trent Park.

Q.        Is Mossops Creek in the east of the Borough a park, as fencing is an issue?

A.        Yes, it is with works included in the work programme.

Q.        How are the solar panel bins going? Are they in parks and green spaces?

A.        These are being trialled at Town Park presently.  They work better in areas of high footprint and would not work in parks such as Trent Park. These should reduce the frequency of waste collections.

Q.        Update on Beavers please?

A.        2 new beavers have been introduced before Christmas, Sonny & Cher and they have settled well. A press release will be prepared once they have fully settled into their new habitat. These are two new beavers as one of the previous pair died and they had to remove the remaining one due to aggressive behaviour.  The two new beavers are doing well.

Q.        How is the Recycling Park going, how is waste collected and vehicles used etc?

A.        There are presently only 8 recycling bins installed in 4 parks. They are collected by a lorry once a week.  This is working well.

Q.        What is the cost analysis of the bins against benefit?

A.        Data has only just been collated in Summer 2022 to be able to provide a true comparison.

Q.        Later collections are better as a early morning collections give a bad impression of rubbish being left.

A.        Some bins do not have lids and current later collections work well in line with park closing times, running from now until the end of September.

Q.        Please update on the overgrown state of the New River.

A.        There is capital funding for the New River and a commitment to improving as part of a long-term project, working closely with the Enfield Society.

Q.        General waste management at Forty Hall is an issue as waste gets out of hand.

A.        If there is an event taking place at either Forty Hall house or Capel Manor, and not a council event, discussions with the Parks Service take place to establish responsibility.  Seasonal maintenance is built into the work programme in line with the seasons. Focus and direction is established with core staff for certain regular maintenance such as the pond at Forty Hall and other more specialised works.