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 -1- 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 -3- 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. -4- 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 -5- 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 -6- 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.