The West Ham Park Committee meeting scheduled for 29 January 2026 was set to discuss the park's five-year business plan, its fees and charges for the upcoming financial year, and the revenue and capital budgets for 2026/27. The committee was also scheduled to review its terms of reference.

Annual Review of Terms of Reference

The committee was scheduled to review its terms of reference, as reported by the Town Clerk. This annual review is part of a process to allow committees more time to consider changes before they are submitted to the Policy and Resources Committee. Any significant amendments to the terms of reference would be considered as part of a broader review of Natural Environment Charities. The report recommended that the terms of reference, subject to any comments, be approved for submission to the Court of Common Council in April 2026.

Five-Year Business Plan for West Ham Park

A report was presented outlining an updated draft of the five-year business plan for West Ham Park. This plan details the park's proposed workstreams over a five-year period, indicating how and when these will be resourced and delivered. The development of these plans is a complex process due to the multi-site structure of North London Open Spaces (NLOS), staff reductions, and the varied funding and delivery of workstreams. The business plan aims to support central planning, delivery, and reporting across four sites within the NLOS subdivision and improve officer time management. It is intended to be updated annually and will illustrate how workstreams align with the West Ham Park Management Plan, the Corporate Plan, and Natural Environment Strategies. The plan focuses on the years 2026-27 and 2027-28, with further development planned as future resource clarity emerges.

West Ham Park Fees and Charges

The committee was asked to review and approve proposed fees and charges for West Ham Park for the financial year 2026-27. A procedure for the annual review of fees and charges was also proposed to ensure consistency and transparency. Income generated from these fees and charges contributes to the management and maintenance of the park and its facilities. While sports fees and charges are not currently based on full cost recovery, they are subsidised by the Charity to encourage community engagement and participation in recreational activities. The proposed increases for most fees and charges were in line with the September 2025 Retail Price Index (RPI) inflation rate of 4.5%, with some exceptions noted in Appendix 1. Concessionary rates, offering a 40% discount on standard adult charges, were also proposed to continue promoting participation and supporting health and wellbeing.

2026/27 West Ham Park Revenue and Capital Budgets

This report presented the proposed revenue and capital budgets for West Ham Park charity for the financial year 2026/27 for approval. The proposed draft revenue budget for 2026/27 amounted to £2.640m net expenditure, an increase of £310k compared to the 2025/26 budget of £2.330m. This increase was attributed to several factors, including an inflationary increase of 3% for the pay award effective from July 2024, increases in employer's national insurance, and the transfer of support services staff budgets. The report also detailed the breakdown of funding from the City's Estate, including core grant, City Surveyor works, corporate recharges, and support services. The proposed budget was prepared within the allocated resource envelope, with contingency funding approved by the Finance Committee to cover increased costs. The report also included a summarised Statement of Financial Activities (SOFA) in line with best practice for charity financial reporting. Capital budgets included proposals for the replacement of the boiler in the changing room and the roof at the vehicle shed.

Other Scheduled Discussions

The agenda also included several items for information, such as the Assistant Director's Report, a Risk Management Update Report, an Operational Finance Progress Report for Q3 2025/26, and a Fundraising Overview for North London Open Spaces. The meeting was also scheduled to include time for questions on matters relating to the work of the committee and any other urgent business that the Chair considered appropriate. Part 2 of the agenda, which was to be held in private, included a discussion on the Natural Environment Charities Complementary Land Use Assessment and an update on the West Ham Park Former Nursery Site.