APSE Parks and Open Spaces Seminar 2017

Thursday 30 November 2017
The City Centre, 80 Basinghall Street, London, EC2V 5AR
 

View the full programme here

Seminar objectives

The seminar will explore a wide range of issues, including strategic delivery models, supplier management and safety measures as well as volunteer management, public health benefits of parks and opportunities to deliver new public parks and open spaces.

APSE Associate, Alan Plom will be outlining measures to limit risks of Hand-Arm Vibration syndrome and enhance driver safety. Keith Dalton, Technical Inspector at the Register of Play Inspectors International will be sharing an overview of industry standards in Playground Inspections and Maintenance. We’ll also be joined by Dr Matthew White, Senior Lecturer at Exeter University, who will be presenting the outcomes of his research in to the impact of green infrastructure on human health and James Blockley, Team Leader at Oxfordshire County Council who will look at how they have engaged the public in exploring Oxfordshire’s countryside, supported by 600+ volunteers.

We’ll be exploring how we can generate funding to bring disused open space in to public use; Chris Worman MBE, Parks and Grounds Manager, Rugby Borough Council will be sharing a case study on the development of Centenary Park and Chris Welsh, Parks Operation Manager at the London Borough of Ealing will be sharing, how Northala Park, formed from development Waste Spoil , has increased the park asset base of the authority and underpinned the sustainable drainage infrastructure of the area.

Finally, we will be hearing how Newcastle City Council have embarked on a radical transformation programme, exploring a variety of delivery models for local parks and about Nottingham’s City Council’s work towards a self-funding delivery mechanism for Parks. Further, how Haringey Council have delivered savings through the design and install of a Dynamic Purchasing system for Parks services.

A unique day, brimming with ideas and examples of innovation in Parks delivery, we look forward to gathering again at the City of London Corporation’s City Centre venue to meet with like-minded colleagues and learn from how local authorities UK-wide are facing the challenges of public parks management in 2017.

Presentations

State of the Market 2017 – Local Authority Parks and Green Spaces and Allotments Services
Paul O’Brien, Chief Executive, APSE

Newcastle’s parks and green spaces – the worst of times, and the best of times
Tony Durcan OBE, Assistant Director, & Narindar Bhabra, Parks Project Manager, Newcastle City Council

Nottingham’s commercial ventures – working towards a self-funding delivery mechanism
Eddie Curry, Head of Parks, Open Spaces and Investment Funding, Nottingham City Council

Playground Inspection and Maintenance
Keith Dalton, RRPI Technical Inspector, Register of Play Inspectors International

Dynamic Purchasing - A new approach to Resourcing?
Chris Poore, Monitoring and Compliance Officer, London Borough of Haringey

Safety at Work –  Drivers and Operatives
Alan Plom, APSE Associate

How can we evidence and enhance the Public Health benefits of Parks?
Dr Lewis Elliott, Associate Research Fellow, University of Exeter

Effective volunteer management – Countryside Access
James Blockley, Team Leader - Public Rights of Way and Tree’s, Oxfordshire County Council  

Waste soil to Park land
Chris Welsh, Parks Operations Manager,  London Borough of Ealing

Centenary Park – The Most Improved Fields in Trust Protected Park in the UK
Chris Worman MBE Parks & Grounds Manager Rugby Borough Council