Subject: Parks in London Report Number: 7
Report to: Culture, Sport and Tourism Committee
Date: 10 March 2004
Report of: Director of Secretariat
1. Recommendations
1.1 The Committee agrees the terms of reference for the parks in London scrutiny.
2. Background
2.1 At it’s meeting on 11 February 2004, the Culture Sport and Tourism Committee formally agreed to co-host a reception on 16 March 2004 with the Heritage Lottery Fund. The Committee also agreed to consider examining the management and funding of Royal Parks in London at its meeting on 21 April 2004.
2.2 Members requested more information and terms of reference for the scrutiny.
3. Issues for Consideration
3.1 The Royal Parks Agency (RPA) is an executive agency of the Department for Culture, Media and Sport. It manages 8 parks in London – St James Park, Green Park, Hyde Park, Kensington Gardens, Richmond Park, Greenwich Park, Regent’s Park, Bushy Park. Royal Parks also manages Brompton Cemetery, Downing Street residences and Grosvenor Square Gardens.
3.2 The Department of Culture Media and Sport allocates approximately £24m per annum to the RPA.1 In its most recent annual report, RPA noted that ‘our grant from DCMS is declining in real terms, year on year.’2 RPA is required by Government to increase self-generated income by £1.1m to £7 million from all sources by 2005/6.
3.3 The 5,000 hectares of Royal Parks are used by millions of Londoners for informal recreation – horse riding, golf, football, fishing and running. They play host to many large cultural events in London – outdoor classical and rock concerts, art exhibitions, theatre - and are home to significant London landmarks (for example, the London Zoo, the National Maritime Museum, Serpentine Galley). A full audit of the cultural activities undertaken in the Royal Parks is included at Appendix A.3
1 DCMS Annual Report 2003, DCMS, May 2003 2 Annual Report and Accounts 2002-2003, Royal Parks, 2003 3 Source for Appendix A is an email response from Royal Parks Agency, 5 December 2003
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3.4 Approximately 150 officers from the Royal Parks Constabulary are responsible for maintaining the Royal Parks as places of safety, enjoyment and relaxation and their key objectives are:4 To prevent and disrupt terrorist activity. To take a primary role in preventing and reducing the offences of robbery and theft from the person. To address antisocial behaviour as identified as a local priority. To be a strong and professional partner in addressing crime/disorder issues To enforce the Park Regulations according to local need. To take a proactive role in promoting effective working arrangements with partners in the Royal Parks Agency To address the levels of absence resulting from sickness. To reaffirm the commitment to provide a diverse and plural police service for the Royal Parks, by continuing to follow the Diversity Strategy recommended by the Association of Chief Police Officers.
3.5 The Constabulary is separate to the Metropolitan Police Service (MPS) and are accountable, through RPA, to DCMS (rather than the Home Office). Preparations for the merger of the Royal Parks Constabulary into the MPS are well in hand. Unfortunately, the Government has so far been unable to find the necessary Parliamentary time for the legislation needed to effect the merger. Royal Parks is therefore working closely with the MPS on co-policing arrangements which will be introduced from1 April 2004. The MPS is establishing a Royal Parks Operational Command Unit from that date which means that policing will be provided by a combination of RPC and MPS officers, augmented by a number of Police Community Support Officers. This will ensure effective policing of the Parks and increase the visible policing presence.
3.6 Suggested terms of reference for a short scrutiny of Royal Parks: • To examine the funding and management of Royal Parks in London • To explore issues around the cultural use of Royal Parks (particularly Hyde Park) • To examine role of Royal Parks Constabulary
4. Strategy Implications
4.1 The report has implications for the Mayor’s draft Culture Strategy.
5. Legal Implications
5.1 Under S.59 of the GLA Act 1999 the Assembly “shall keep under review the exercise by the Mayor of the statutory functions exercisable by him” and for the purposes thereof they may investigate and prepare reports about his actions and decisions and those of GLA staff, matters relating to the Authority’s principal purposes and the statutory functions exercisable by the Mayor and to any other matters which the Assembly considers to be of importance to Greater London. Under S.30 the Mayor has powers in relation to the promotion of the
4 Royal Parks Constabulary Policing Plan 2003 – 2004, RPA -2-
improvement of the environment and to sustainability in Greater London which may be reflected in Royal Parks policy.
6. Financial Implications
6.1 There are no financial implications arising directly from this report.
Background Papers:
• Annual Report and Accounts 2002-2003, Royal Parks, 2003 • Email to Culture Committee from Royal Parks Agency, 5 December 2003
Contact: Greg Norton Tel: 020 7983 494
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Appendix A: Cultural events in Royal Parks
HYDE PARK – CULTURAL EVENTS (140 HECTARES) Name of Event Attendance Notes on event or Series of Events Bon Jovi + Support 80,000 Mainstream rock act
Party in the Park 95,000 Mainstream rock and pop acts, aimed at children. Organised in aid of the princes trust. Shania Twain 35,000 Mainstream pop act
Pride in the Park 41,000 Mardi Gras, Britain’s biggest Gay & Lesbian festival.
Proms in the Park 40,000 Classical event aimed at adults
CBBC Proms in the 15,000 Children’s pop & classical day event Park
Red Bull Flugtag 300,000 Sporting event for women only Flora Women’s 20,000 Challenge Bandstand programme organised by in-house staff
Bandstand 900 Children’s entertainment programme organised by in Programme house staff for the summer events season
Children’s 2,500 entertainment programme. HYDE PARK – PERMANENT CULTURAL ACTIVITIES Name of Event or Attendance Notes on event Series of Events Horse Riding n/a Hyde Park offers one of the few places to ride horses in London. Tennis & bowls n/a Members of the public can take full advantage of 4 tennis courts and the bowling and putting greens.
The Lido n/a Swimming area & venue for the Hyde Park Children’s entertainment The lookout 745 Located in the centre of the park, children can learn (education point) about nature and wildlife from trained professionals.
Fishing 15 With a permit members of the public can fish in the serpentine for coarse fish.
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KENSINGTON GARDENS – CULTURAL EVENTS (111 HECTARES) Name of Event Attendance Notes on event or Series of Events
Guided walks 200 Organised and conducted by Royal Parks staff, the guided walks aim to educate visitors about the - history of the parks,?? Children’s 3500 Organised by the in-house events team for the entertainment summer season. programme
Bandstand 1160 Bandstand entertainment organised by the in-house programme events team.
KENSINGTON GARDENS – PERMANENT CULTURAL FACILITIES Name of Event Attendance Notes on event or Series of Events
The Serpentine 400,000 One of London’s most loved places for seeing Gallery modern and contemporary art & architecture.
The Diana Princess of 2,500 visitors This playground was opened on the 30th June 2000 Wales, Memorial per day as a permanent memorial to Diana, Princess of Playground Wales. The design has created an area where less able and able-bodied children can play together and seeks to provide for the physical, creative, social and educational development of children.
Skating in the park n/a Kensington Gardens offers one of few places in London where people are able to skate. Clear roller- blading paths are set out all around the park.
Boating Lake (round n/a Traditionally every Sunday morning people are able pond) to sail model boats on the round pond
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ST JAMES & GREEN PARK – CULTURAL EVENTS (61 HECTARES COMBINED) Name of Event Attendance Notes on event or Series of Events
Queens Birthday n/a Major Royal ceremonial event parade
Handel in the park 180 The Handel House Museum host an outdoor concert.
Bandstand 11,000 Bandstand Programme planned by the in-house Programme events team
Guided walks 200 Hosted by Royal Parks staff, the guided walks seek to educate visitors on different buildings and statues in the parks. This is as well as the environmental walks.
ST JAMES PARK & GREEN PARK – PERMANENT CULTURAL FACILITIES Name of Event Attendance Notes on event or Series of Events
Ceremonials, military n/a St. James’s Park sits next to Buckingham Palace and and state visits hosts some important and _agnificent Royal ceremonies at Horse Guards Parade.
St. James’s Park is situated in the centre of three palaces : - Westminster – The oldest, now the Houses of Parliament - St. James’s Palace - Buckingham Palace – Home to the Monarch since 1837
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REGENTS PARK WITH PRIMROSE HILL – CULTURAL EVENTS (197 HECTARES) Name of Event Attendance Notes on event
London Bikeathon 750 12 mile Royal London ride
MILK Photographic 50,000 After a successful tour around Sydney and Auckland, exhibition this inspirational photographic exhibition finally arrives in Europe.
Bandstand 12,000 Organised by the in-house events team for the Programme summer events season
Guided Walks 300 Wildlife walks
Children’s 2500 Organised by the In-house events team. entertainment programme Bookings made by members of the public to use Sports Pitch Regent’s Park pitches: bookings 1492 Football (adults) 290 Football (juniors) 1710 Football bookings 414 Cricket bookings 180 Rounders bookings 180 Athletics bookings 300 Hockey bookings 30 Rugby bookings
4596 Total sports bookings REGENTS PARK WITH PRIMROSE HILL – PERMANENT FACILITIES Name of Event Attendance Notes on event Open air theatre 135,000 Visitors of the park are welcomed to the open air theatre where world class performance’s can be enjoyed with a beautiful setting, creating a memorable theatrical experience.
Garden Opera 986 over Carmen, Bizet’s most popular opera.
three days.
London Zoo n/a Regent’s Park plays host to London Zoo. The Zoo and the park are run separately but it forms an integral part of the parks attraction to both local users and tourists.
Open-air Gymnasium n/a This area is specially designed and designated to people with a keen interest in working out in an outdoor setting. This facility does not have to be pre-booked.
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RICHMOND PARK – CULTURAL EVENTS (1000 HECTARES) Name of Event Attendance or Series of Events
Nike 10k 20,000 Sporting event organised by Nike and The Royal Parks
Guided walks 300 Horticultural and wildlife walks
Children’s entertainment 7500 Children’s entertainment programme organised by the in-house events team for the summer season
RICHMOND PARK - PERMANENT CULTURAL FACILITIES Name of Event Attendance Notes on event or Series of Events
Holly Lodge Centre 1,230 (Apr – Sept 2003 only) Providing people with a place to learn about the rich and natural environment of Richmond Park.
Fishing 120 With a licence, individuals can fish from 16 June – 14 March
Golf 70,000 rounds played per year There are two public 18 hole (on average) golf courses situated in the beautiful surroundings of Richmond park.
When conditions permityou Horse Riding n/a can ride anywhere in the park before 13:00hrs and then on ride routes outside of this time.
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GREENWICH PARK – CULTURAL EVENTS (73 HECTARES) Name of Event Attendance Notes on event or Series of Events
Bandstand programme 1,200 Organised by the in house events team for the summer events season.
Guided walks 200 Wildlife and horticultural themes Programmed sporting events 1000 Football coaching – juniors 20 bookings Rugby games – adults 60 bookings Cricket games - adults
Children’s entertainment 5500 Organised by the in-house programme events team
GREENWICH - PERMANENT CULTURAL FACILITIES Name of Event Attendance Notes on event or Series of Events
Outdoor Theatre 4000 The friends of Greenwich Park and Garden opera Garden Opera 400 company return to Greenwich to present one of Shakespeare’s most famous tragedies.
The Royal Observatory & 1.2 million The Royal Observatory is National Maritime Museum situated in the centre of Greenwich park & provides visitors with an expansive view across London and the Thanes.
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BUSHY PARK – CULTURAL EVENTS (450 HECTARES) Name of Event Attendance Notes on event or Series of Events
Children’s entertainment 6,500 Children’s entertainment programme organised by the in-house events team for the summer events season. (Mainly children aged 9 years and under accompanied by adults)
Miscellaneous small events 8,700 (Green roadshow & Jazz festival ) BUSHY PARK - PERMANENT CULTURAL FACILITIES Name of Event Attendance Notes on event
Bushy Park history room n/a Operational since 1995 and manned by volunteers
Sport Programme 14 bookings Football – adult 60 bookings Cricket - Adults
Fishing 445 Licences issued
Outdoor Theatre 1000 Organised by in house events team This year Bushy hosted a very popular rendition of a midsummer’s nights dream….
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