Meeting documents
Birkenhead Park Advisory Committee
Tuesday, 18th September 2007
Present
Chair
George Davies
Councillors
JR Cocker, SA Holbrook, SE Kelly
Members
Jim McDonagh (Friends of Birkenhead Park)
Council Officers
Dave Cowling (Head of Parks & Open Spaces), Adam King (Senior Ranger), Martin McCoy (Birkenhead Park Manager)
Apologies
Graham Arnold (Conservation Officer), Juggy Landay (Tourism and Marketing), Professor W Lee (Friends of Birkenhead Park), Ian Lowrie (Volume Property Crime Manager), DE Roberts
Index to Minutes
- Minute 77 - APOLOGIES
- Minute 78 - MINUTES
- Minute 79 - MINUTES - MATTERS ARISING
- Minute 80 - BIRKENHEAD PARK - RESTORATION PLAN AND OPERATIONAL MANAGEMENT
- Minute 81 - MR LANCE FARLAM, PRINCIPAL OFFICER, PARK DEVELOPMENT
- Minute 82 - DATE FOR NEXT MEETING
Minute 77 - APOLOGIES
Minute Text :
As above.
Minute 78 - MINUTES
Minute Text :
The minutes of the previous meeting, held on 18 April, 2007 were accepted as a correct record.
Minute 79 - MINUTES - MATTERS ARISING
Minute Text :
(a) Cafeteria - it was noted that the cafe was now fully operational and had benefited from increasing numbers of visitors to the pavilion over the summer months.
(b) Promotional Work - D Cowling reported that Tourism and Marketing has been working closely with Cultural Services over the past few months, to raise the Park's profile / image. He referred to a recent email received from Juggy Landay highlighting the following:
- "Cappuccinos in the Park" was included in the Wirral Gourmet Trail and was highlighted on Radio Merseyside recently
- a Park leaflet was currently being produced in association with the Friends, as part of a family of heritage literature, and this would be launched at the St George's Hall Heritage Open event this weekend
- www.visitwirral.com has its own regularly updated Birkenhead Park section
- the Park was highlighted in the new Visitor Guide
- plans were being drafted to link the Park with the Celebrate Christmas event in Hamilton Square this year, subject to the availability of funding.
(c) Park Security Night time Access - M McCoy reported that the closing date for receipt of questionnaires seeking the views of local residents on night time closure of the park was 6 September, and he was now analysing the results. This would be the subject of reports to the Culture, Tourism and Leisure Overview and Scrutiny Committee and the Cabinet.
There was a general discussion concerning a number of security related issues.
D Cowling asked if members of this committee would wish to meet with the scrutiny committee to discuss these matters. He suggested that this joint meeting could be included within the scrutiny committee's forthcoming programme of site visits.
The committee asked D Cowling to make the necessary arrangements for this meeting, and also invite Merseyside Police and officers from Wirral Community Safety Team.
Minute 80 - BIRKENHEAD PARK - RESTORATION PLAN AND OPERATIONAL MANAGEMENT
Minute Text :
M McCoy reported upon the progress of the Birkenhead Park Restoration Plan, together with details of events and activities which had been undertaken since the last meeting, based on the Clerk of Work's progress report and the Volunteer Co-ordinator’s report. The report also included an update on the operational management of the Park and the work of Park Manager, Gardener, Security and Ranger Teams.
M McCoy summarised final stages of the various elements of the restoration:-
(i) The Park Pavilion was now fully operational and serving as the centre for education and interpretation as well as providing public conveniences and cafeteria and the operational base for the park’s management team.
(ii) Refurbishment and replacement of gates and railings was substantially complete with defects currently being addressed by the contractor, overseen by the Clerk of Works, Hilary Taylor Landscape Associates.
(iii) Conservation of the Grand Entrance, Swiss Bridge and Boathouse were complete and final inspections had been carried out by the Contract Administrator, Lloyd Evans Pritchard Ltd.
(iv) The main landscaping works, furniture and signage were now also substantially complete and were currently being maintained for a twelve month period by the landscape sub-contractor, Landscape Contract Services Ltd. These works were overseen by the principle contractor Balfour Beatty and the Clerk of Works.
(v) Defects and snagging works were being completed across the site as weather and circumstances allow and additional refurbishment of sports facilities, ineligible for HLF grant, were ongoing.
He reported that there were three main outstanding issues which were currently being pursued with the contractors relating to the main landscaping works, drainage, and the finish of pathways .
He responded to questions from members regarding some specific issues in relation to drainage and the pathways.
M McCoy gave an update on operational management. He reported that Birkenhead Park had been awarded both the Green Flag Award and the Green Heritage Site Award by the Civic Trust. These national awards recognised excellence against a set of key criteria which covered all elements of parks management, specifically:
• High standards of Management and Maintenance
• Sustainability
• Conservation and Heritage
• Community Involvement
• Marketing
The park was the first and only public park in Merseyside to gain the Heritage Flag Award.
The park depot at Ashville Road was now fully operational with the Assistant Manager and Gardens Team based in this location. It provided greatly improved facilities for operational staff and storage facilities for plant and equipment, mess facilities and waste management. Routine maintenance carried out under the annual work programme included grass mowing, fine turf operations, herbicide application (non-residual), litter picking, removal of waste, routine maintenance of sports facilities and minor repairs.
In addition to the site based teams of Gardeners, Rangers and Security staff the two newly appointed outreach workers, funded through the Friends of Birkenhead Park’s Birkenhead Park Heritage Education and Community Involvement Project, had been working closely with the Senior Ranger and his team to develop a range of events and activities for local schools and groups. This additional resource had allowed a wider range of public events and activities to be delivered during the summer months as well as the targeting of specific groups in the local area such as youth clubs and children’s centres.
A programme of volunteer activity days had also been developed with volunteers undertaking a variety of practical tasks in the park on a monthly basis and a specialised Lakes Volunteer Group was now also active on a monthly basis. A designated Volunteer Co-ordinator from the Friends of Birkenhead Park, Ian Lea, was working closely with the Senior Ranger and his team to organise the practical tasks which included:
• Litter picking and rubbish removal
• Weed and bramble clearance
• Bagging wild bird food for sale at the Pavilion
• Removal of aquatic weed and algae from lakes
• Providing commentary for vintage bus site tours
M McCoy also reported upon the progress of a number of projects involving key stakeholder groups in the delivery of visitor services in the park:-
(a) The Friends of Birkenhead Park’s, ‘Heritage Education and Community Involvement Project’, was progressing well with the appointment of two staff members and the delivery of the first series of dramatic performances in the park by Active Drama. This project had allowed further development of events and activities targeted at the local community including the Children and Young People’s Summer Programme held in August which offered a wide range of activities such as sports taster days and natural history activities attracting over 600 visits.
(b) Close links were maintained with both the Association of Wirral Angling Clubs in the management of the park lakes and the Birkenhead Park Crown Green Bowls Forum in development of the bowling greens at Park Road North.
(c) A number of exhibitions and activities had been held in the Pavilion gallery:
• Primary Schools Stained Glass
• Royal Institute of British Architects ‘Gifted and Talented’ Workshops
• Children’s Art Attack
• Wirral Partnership Homes Gardens Competition
• Restoration Photographs by Ian Lea
He reported that the evidence of partnership working across a whole range of activities had been acknowledged by the judges and had contributed significantly to the Green Flag and Heritage Awards.
In addition to this project based work and the annual programme of events, activities and exhibitions, further promotion of the park included:
• Weekly Restoration Update walks being run every Wednesday
• Restoration Information for Visitors notice boards installed throughout park
• Park Management Team facilitating a monthly workshop with the Association of Wirral Angling Clubs to formulate future management policy for the park lakes
• Park Manager regularly meeting Birkenhead Park Crown Green Bowls Forum to develop facilities in partnership with local clubs.
• Attendance at Friends of Birkenhead Park meetings
• ‘A Visit to Birkenhead Park: Following in Frederick Law Olmstead’s Footsteps’ - Field Notes:National Association of Olmstead Parks Newsletter, Spring 2007 Vol.25 No.1
• Radio Merseyside Green Flag Award announced
• Green Flag / Heritage Flag Award 2007
• International Landscape Research Centre, Tokyo – site tour with Vice President, Shintaro Sakamoto
• Restoration Celebration Event, June 2007
• Installation of Birkenhead Park Station signage – Merseytravel
• Radio Merseyside 30th August – Interview with Chairman of the Friends of Birkenhead Park and Head of Parks and Countryside Service
A summary of events and activities for July - September was attached to the report (see Appendix 1).
M McCoy and A King gave a slide presentation outlining the various summer activities in the park.
Minute Decision :
Resolved - That the report be noted.
Minute 81 - MR LANCE FARLAM, PRINCIPAL OFFICER, PARK DEVELOPMENT
Minute Text :
D Cowling reported that Lance Farlam had resigned from his post with the authority to join a private firm of architects in Canada.
Minute Decision :
Resolved - That this Committee's thanks be conveyed to Lance Farlam for his contribution to the Birkenhead Park Restoration Project andf that he be wished every success in his new career.
Minute 82 - DATE FOR NEXT MEETING
Minute Text :
Thursday 6 December 2007 at 5.30 pm at Birkenhead Park Pavilion
(Minutes Published: 26 September 2007)