The Hampstead Heath, Highgate Wood and Queen's Park Committee met to discuss and approve the revenue and capital budgets for 2026/27 for Hampstead Heath, and Highgate Wood and Queen's Park. The committee also discussed the appointment of a representative from the Mansfield Conservation Area Advisory Committee to the Hampstead Heath Consultative Committee.

Budget Approval for 2026/27

The committee approved the proposed revenue and capital budgets for both Hampstead Heath and Highgate Wood and Queen's Park for the 2026/27 fiscal year, for submission to the Finance Committee.

Hampstead Heath Budget

The proposed draft revenue budget for Hampstead Heath for 2026/27 is £4.383 million net expenditure, a decrease of £384,000 compared with the original budget for 2025/26. Key points from the Hampstead Heath Budget Estimates 2026-27 include:

• A 3% uplift for inflation.
• Contingency funding for increased staff costs and national insurance.
• Funding for the transfer of support services staff at Hampstead Heath, previously covered by the Directorate.

The budget reframes net expenditure as grant funding from the City's Estate, broken down into core grant, City Surveyor works, corporate recharges, support services, and central risk expenditure. Appendix 1 - Hampstead Heath SOFA 26-27 summarises the budget in the format of a Statement of Financial Activities (SOFA). Appendix 2 - Hampstead Heath Budget Movements 25-26 to 26-27 details the movements between the 2025/26 original budget and the 2026/27 proposed draft budget.

Highgate Wood and Queen's Park Budget

The proposed draft revenue budget for Highgate Wood and Queen's Park for 2026/27 is £2.492 million net expenditure. This is an increase of £400,000 from the original budget for 2025/26. The HWQP Budget Estimates 2026-27 includes:

• A 3% uplift for inflation.
• Contingency funding for increased staff costs and national insurance.
• Funding for the transfer of support services staff.

The report also reframes the proposed budget to show net expenditure as grant funding from City's Estate broken down according to the individual elements of the grant. Appendix 2 - HWQP Budget Movements 25-26 to 26-27 details the movements between the 2025/26 and 2026/27 budgets.

Appointment to Hampstead Heath Consultative Committee

The committee approved the appointment of Dr Victoria Holt to the Hampstead Heath Consultative Committee. Dr Holt was nominated by the Mansfield Conservation Area Advisory Committee & Neighbourhood Association Committee to represent local interests. According to the Appointment of a representative from Mansfield Conservation Area Advisory Committee report, Dr Holt has been a dedicated user of Hampstead Heath for over 20 years, and has been involved in introducing Syrian refugees to Hampstead Heath.