The Hampstead Heath, Highgate Wood and Queen's Park Committee met on Monday, 8 December 2025, to discuss and approve the revenue and capital budgets for 2026/27 for Hampstead Heath, Highgate Wood, and Queen's Park. The committee also addressed the appointment of a new representative to the Hampstead Heath Consultative Committee.

Revenue and Capital Budgets for 2026/27

The committee reviewed and approved the proposed revenue and capital budgets for the upcoming financial year for Hampstead Heath, Highgate Wood, and Queen's Park.

For Hampstead Heath, the proposed net expenditure for 2026/27 is £4.383 million, representing a decrease of £384,000 compared to the 2025/26 budget. This budget includes an inflationary increase of 3%, contingency funding for pay awards and national insurance increases, and the transfer of support services staff costs. The budget has been reframed to show net expenditure as grant funding from the City's Estate, broken down into core grant, City Surveyor works, corporate recharges, and support services. The report also includes a summarised Statement of Financial Activities (SOFA) in line with charity financial reporting best practices.

For Highgate Wood and Queen's Park, the proposed net expenditure for 2026/27 is £2.492 million, an increase of £400,000 compared to the 2025/26 budget. This increase is attributed to a rise in budgets for Cyclical Works Programme projects managed by the City Surveyor, additional staffing costs due to the transfer of support services staff, increased transport repairs and maintenance, and updates to staff health and safety equipment. Similar to Hampstead Heath, this budget is presented as grant funding from the City's Estate and includes a SOFA.

The committee recommended the approval of these draft budgets for submission to the Finance Committee. They also authorised the Chamberlain, in consultation with the Executive Director, Environment, to approve amendments to the 2025/26 and 2026/27 budgets arising from changes in recharges, support services, corporate contracts, energy prices, the Cyclical Works Programme, and depreciation.

Appointment of a Representative to the Hampstead Heath Consultative Committee

The committee considered a report from the Town Clerk regarding the appointment of a new external Member to the Hampstead Heath Consultative Committee. Dr Victoria Holt was nominated by the Mansfield Conservation Area Advisory Committee & Neighbourhood Association Committee to represent local interests. The committee noted the report and its contents, approving the appointment in accordance with the London Government Reorganisation (Hampstead Heath) Order 1989. Dr Holt is a General Practitioner with over 20 years of experience using Hampstead Heath and has been involved in various community initiatives.

Other Matters

The committee also noted the draft minutes of the Hampstead Heath Consultative Committee meeting held on 17 November 2025. Verbal updates were provided on Hampstead Heath Ponds and the remarketing of cafes at Highgate Wood and Queen's Park. The committee also received updates on risk management and operational finance progress reports for both Hampstead Heath and Highgate Wood & Queen's Park. Draft annual reports and financial statements for the year ended 31 March 2025 for Hampstead Heath and Highgate Wood & Queen's Park were also presented.