Crystal Palace Park

Options for Park Management and Governance

Presentation by: Helen Neve and David Withycombe

Land Management Services Ltd

Crystal Palace Park

Options for Park Management

Crystal Palace Park The 2009 Management and Maintenance Plan

•  The purpose of the Management and Maintenance Plan (MMP) was to set out the management and maintenance implications associated with implementation of the Park Masterplan

•  The plan addresses the management of the whole Park

•  The plan is designed to provide a framework for the development of a management structures and detailed MMPs on the completion of each phase of development

•  The focus of plan is on the definition of standards to be achieved and the necessary structures and prescriptions considered necessary to support these standards

•  The MMP includes a cost plan

Crystal Palace Park

Options for Park Management

Crystal Palace Park Possible Management Structure - Revitalised Local Park

Park Manager Crystal Palace Park

Team Leader Community and Premises

Team Leader Rangers and Contracts

Events and Visitor Management Officer

Park Community Officers (x2)

LDA Marketing Officer (part time)

Information Centre – Front of House and admin support (x2)

Site handyman

Contracts Officer

Park Rangers (x4)

Gardening Team (x2)

Admin support

Crystal Palace Park

Options for Park Management

Crystal Palace Park Possible Management Structure - Enhanced Regional Park

Chief Executive Officer Crystal Palace Park

Park Manager Community and Interpretation

Park Manager Landscape

Team Leader Premises and Security

Team Leader Interpretation

Team Leader Park Rangers

Team Leader Horticulture and Contracts

Events Management Team (x5)

Events Officer (x3) Sports Officer

Administration Officer

Information Centres

Administration/Front of house teams (2 No. teams)

Park Community Officers (x3)

Park Rangers

4 staff operating shifts

On site Gardening team 2 staff

Contracts Team (x2)  Contract Administrator  Administration Officer

Marketing and Fundraising Officer

Premises team(x4)  Premises Officer  Handyman (x2)

 Administration Officer

Crystal Palace Park

Options for Park Management

Crystal Palace Park Governance The Park - Issues and Considerations

•  The size and complexity of the Crystal Palace Park

•  The (potential) phased implementation of the Park Masterplan and other initiatives

•  The role of key partners - GLA, London Borough(s), other possible partners

•  The level of investment in the Park and the role of the Park (Local/Regional/National)

•  Existing Park leases, workforce and contracts (including the Phase 1 HLF scheme)

•  Need for clarity on ownership, responsibilities and role of stakeholders

•  The aspiration to consolidate governance of the whole park under one managing organisation

•  The Park in isolation or as part of a wider network

Crystal Palace Park

Options for Park Management

Crystal Palace Park Managing Organisations - Issues and Considerations

•  Security of funding for the Park from the Park owner, partners and other sources

•  The level of investment to be made in the Park and the facilities and infrastructure to be supported

•  Ability to secure and ring fence Park income, either through grant aid or other commercial funding streams (events, sponsorship, etc)

•  Degree of independence to be attributed to the Managing Organisation

•  Effectiveness and efficiency of the Managing Organisation

•  Accountability of the Managing Organisation to local stakeholders

•  Ability of the Managing Organisation to secure the expertise necessary to manage and maintain the Park to the desired standards

•  Overall risk to Park Owner and Managing Organisation

Crystal Palace Park

Options for Park Management

Crystal Palace Park Management Managing Organisations and Funding- Principal Options

•  Park remains in custodianship of London Borough(s)

•  Partnership (formal or informal)

•  New Park Authority (could have wider remit)

•  Independent Trust or Company

Crystal Palace Park

Options for Park Management

Crystal Palace Park

Managing Organisations and Funding- Boroughs •  Park is currently under the sole stewardship of LB Bromley

•  Neighbouring Boroughs benefit from the facilities offered by the Park

•  Management of the re-vitalised Park could not realistically be funded by one Borough

•  Changing context – many Boroughs now considering cross Borough working in London with agreements to provide shared services

•  Park has to compete with other priorities for funds and is also considered as part of wider Borough open space network(s)

•  London Boroughs have long established structures for parks management

•  Possible complexity of arrangements involving several boroughs

Battersea Park (LB Wandsworth)

Gunnersbury Park (Partnership LB Ealing and LB Hounslow)

Crystal Palace Park

Options for Park Management

Crystal Palace Park Managing Organisations and Funding- Partnerships

•  Could form a mechanism for joint Governance by GLA, London Borough(s) and others

•  Need for agreement and shared commitment between partners (funding and political)

•  Benefits from officer time as part of partner commitments and access to a range of specialist skills

•  Park could be administered as a single unit and income ring fenced

•  Risk and liability shared between partners

•  Can be relatively easy to set up

Regional Parks eg River Colne and Wandle Valley

Mile End Park managed by LB Tower Hamlets reporting to Mile End Park Partnership

Crystal Palace Park

Options for Park Management

Crystal Palace Park Managing Organisations and Funding- Park Authority

•  Parks Agencies (Royal Parks) and Authorities have proven track record in fund raising and parks management

•  High level of independence

•  Successful models such as Lee Valley benefit from strong funding source (precept)

•  Changing context for parks management eg transfer of the Royal Parks to GLA and emerging structures for new parks eg Legacy Park

•  Crystal Palace alone would not merit establishment of a Park Authority

•  Lengthy establishment period – likely to require primary legislation

Lee Valley Park Authority

Crystal Palace Park

Options for Park Management

Crystal Palace Park Managing Organisations and Funding- Trust

•  Creation can be phased

•  Reliant on baseline financial support

•  Benefits from strong degree of independence

•  Role of Borough(s) – ownership and supporters

•  Trust would be committed to ensuring assets and resources are committed to achieving the Trusts Charitable Objects

•  Organisation is answerable to Trustees - accountability

•  May enhance opportunities for funding raising and ring fencing budgets

•  Role of staff and volunteers

•  Consequences of failure

Crystal Palace Park

Options for Park Management

Crystal Palace Park Managing Organisations and Funding- Trust Examples

Horniman Museum administered by the Horniman Museum and Public Parks Trust, a charitable Trust and sponsored by the Department for Culture Media and Sport

Sefton Park Palm House Preservation Trust (main Park remains with Liverpool City Council)

Chiswick House and Gardens Trust established as an independent charitable Trust in 2005 by English Heritage and LB Hounslow

Crystal Palace Park

Options for Park Management