Minutes, Chair’s reports, AGM papers and other documents from Clissold Park User Group meetings are available below. The archive provides a record of issues raised by park users and CPUG’s work with Hackney Council and other organisations.

For upcoming meetings and the latest meeting information, see Meetings & minutes.

2026

At a glance: Discussions in 2026 have included the former paddling pool site and Splash Pad; playground renovation; cycling and e-bikes; accessibility at Clissold House; self-closing gates; park animals; biodiversity and the New River; tree management; signage; drinking fountains; and the Park Keeper’s Lodge. CPUG has also supported wildlife projects, cycling enforcement, improvements to the noticeboard, plans for a park mosaic, fundraising and merchandise, and the community-funded defibrillator.

• Minutes – September 2026
• Chair’s report – September 2026
• Minutes – July 2026 AGM
• Chair’s report – July 2026
• Minutes – May 2026
• Chair’s report – May 2026
• Minutes – March 2026
• Chair’s report – March 2026
• Minutes – January 2026
• Chair’s report – January 2026

2025

At a glance: Meetings in 2025 covered the renovation of the park toilets; the future of the former paddling pool site; the café and its accessibility; cycling and e-bike concerns; park gates and signage; biodiversity and planting; playground improvements; animals and the aviary; litter picking and volunteering. Later in the year, cycling through the park and proposals affecting crossings and entrances became a significant subject of discussion.

• Minutes – November 2025
• Chair’s report – November 2025
• Minutes – September 2025
• Chair’s report – September 2025
• Minutes – July 2025 AGM
• Chair’s report – July 2025
• Minutes – May 2025
• Chair’s report – May 2025
• Meeting document – March 2025
• Chair’s report – March 2025
• Meeting document – January 2025
• Chair’s report – January 2025

2024

At a glance: CPUG discussions in 2024 included recurring problems with the splash pad, the future of the former paddling pool area, toilet improvements, park signage and self-closing gates. Other subjects included the closure and retendering of the Clissold House café, café accessibility, cycling speeds and routes through the park, biodiversity, drainage, the playground, the park’s goats and other animals, and recruiting representatives for different groups of park users. Alexandra Hamit was elected Chair at the July AGM.

• Meeting document – November 2024
• Chair’s report – November 2024
• Meeting document – September 2024
• Chair’s report – September 2024
• AGM and meeting document – July 2024
• 2023–24 accounts
• Meeting document – June 2024
• Minutes – March 2024

2023

At a glance: Meetings in 2023 followed the opening and early operation of the new splash pad, including outages during the summer. Park users also raised the condition of the toilets and playground, accessibility to Clissold House, café services, dog control, litter and biodiversity. The future of the former paddling pool site was discussed, with calls for consultation and suggestions for an accessible, low-cost space. The possibility of a farmers’ market in the park and the balance between recreation and commercial activity were also considered.

• Minutes – October 2023
• AGM and meeting document – July 2023
• Meeting document – June 2023
• Meeting document – March 2023

2022

At a glance: CPUG meetings in 2022 discussed construction of the new splash pad and plans to consult on the future of the former paddling pool site, sustainable drainage works, the Pump House concession, Clissold House and café operations, planting around the house and other park maintenance. The group also considered how CPUG itself should operate, including its constitution, structure, public engagement and how to attract more people to meetings and representative roles.

• Meeting document – July 2022
• Meeting document – May 2022
• AGM and meeting document – April 2022
• Meeting document – January 2022

Earlier meeting records

Our surviving meeting records become less complete as you go further back. We have published the records we have been able to recover, including minutes, meeting notes and newsletters dating back to 2002.

Some years and individual meetings are missing from the surviving archive. A gap does not necessarily mean that no meeting took place.

2021

At a glance: CPUG resumed formal public meetings with its September AGM after meetings had been interrupted by the pandemic. Discussions included biodiversity work, accessibility, possible hedge planting, facilities and ways of allowing people to participate online.

• Meeting document – November 2021
• AGM and meeting document – September 2021

2020

At a glance: Public meetings were suspended during the COVID-19 pandemic. CPUG continued to publish updates, maintain contact with park management and distribute park maps. Plans for hedge planting and work involving the Butterfly Dome were among activities affected by restrictions.

• CPUG update – December 2020
• CPUG update – July 2020
• AGM and meeting document – March 2020
• Meeting document – January 2020

2019

At a glance: CPUG volunteers became involved in care of the Butterfly Dome and the group organised an event marking the park’s 130th anniversary. Meetings also covered the café tender, a proposed market, community safety, park facilities and the group’s complaints policy.

• Meeting document – November 2019
• Meeting document – September 2019
• Meeting document – July 2019
• Meeting document – May 2019

2018

At a glance: Meetings covered repairs and facilities, the Pump House, cycling and ways of encouraging considerate use of the park. Painted slow-cycling warnings requested by CPUG were reported installed. The group also continued selling its park map and contributed towards the Joseph Beck plaque, which was unveiled later that year.

• Meeting document – September 2018
• Meeting document – July 2018
• Meeting document – May 2018
• AGM and meeting document – March 2018
• Chair’s report – March 2018
• Meeting document – January 2018

2017

At a glance: Mark Forsyth became Chair and CPUG’s illustrated park map, commissioned from Anna Hymas, went on sale. The group organised a summer music event and continued to raise issues concerning park management, the Pump House and cycling. A crowdfunding appeal for new swings did not reach its target.

• Meeting document – September 2017
• Meeting document – July 2017
• Meeting document – May 2017
• Meeting document – March 2017
• Meeting document – January 2017

2016

At a glance: The end of Lottery revenue support made future funding for the park a recurring issue. CPUG organised fundraising and music, contributed to heritage interpretation, submitted evidence about parks and requested work on biodiversity. Meetings also covered maintenance, facilities, volunteering and the future management of the park.

• Meeting document – November 2016
• Meeting document – September 2016
• Meeting document – July 2016
• Meeting document – May 2016
• AGM and meeting document – March 2016
• Meeting document – January 2016

2015

At a glance: CPUG held a meeting focused on dogs and contributed to discussions about cycling and runners. The group helped communicate proposals concerning fish removal and restocking and continued work on heritage, including postcards, displays and talks. Children’s events and experiments with small volunteering activities also featured during the year.

• Meeting document – November 2015
• Meeting document – September 2015
• Meeting document – July 2015
• Meeting document – May 2015
• Meeting document – March 2015
• Meeting document – January 2015

2014

At a glance: Clissold Park’s 125th anniversary was a focus of the year, with a family day, recreations of historical photographs and restoration of the Beck and Runtz Memorial Fountain. CPUG continued fundraising and raised issues about facilities and park opening hours. A litter bin requested over a long period was installed, while a proposal for earlier park opening was rejected on cost grounds.

• Meeting document – November 2014
• Meeting document – September 2014
• Meeting document – July 2014
• Meeting document – May 2014
• Meeting document – March 2014
• Meeting document – January 2014

2013

At a glance: CPUG marked the 400th anniversary of the New River, raised funds and contributed to the Lead by Example campaign concerning dogs. Meetings also covered the café, events, links with the One O’Clock Club, access, signage and the New River water supply.

• Meeting document – November 2013

2011

At a glance: The restoration of Clissold Park and House dominated CPUG’s work. The group raised issues concerning animal welfare, access, management and new facilities, revised its constitution and leadership, and consulted park users about dogs. CPUG also worked on its website and continued representing park users during the restoration programme.

• Meeting document – November–December 2011
• Meeting document – May–June 2011
• Meeting document – March 2011

2010

At a glance: The forthcoming restoration works were a central concern. CPUG pressed for the paddling pool to remain available during summer 2010, and the January record says plans were changed in response to the group’s concerns. CPUG also used its website to share restoration information and feedback from the project’s Stakeholder Forum.

• Meeting document – January–February 2010

2009

At a glance: CPUG gave conditional support to the restoration bid while continuing to press for consultation. Meetings covered ranger staffing, the café, dogs, tennis, access and park management. The successful restoration bid was announced during the year and CPUG became involved in the delivery-stage Stakeholder Forum. The group also challenged plans to close the paddling pool during summer 2010.

• Meeting document – November–December 2009
• Meeting document – July–August 2009
• Meeting document – May–June 2009
• Meeting document – March–April 2009
• Meeting document – January–February 2009

2008

At a glance: Restoration proposals remained a focus, including the New River, play areas and consultation. CPUG challenged replacement playground equipment it considered unsuitable, with consultation and further changes following. The group hosted a Youth Forum presentation and brought more than 50 people together at a meeting to discuss the restoration proposals.

• Meeting document – November–December 2008
• Meeting document – September–October 2008
• Meeting document – March–April 2008
• Meeting document – January–February 2008

2007

At a glance: Following progress with the restoration funding bid, CPUG held a meeting in April attended by more than 60 park users and called for consultation and evidence about how the park was used. Discussions also covered trees, water management, festivals, development, the stalled bandstand project, accessibility and the positioning of vehicle bollards.

• Meeting document – July–August 2007
• Meeting document – April 2007
• Meeting document – January–February 2007

2006

At a glance: CPUG challenged the suspension of restoration plans while a fire museum proposal for Clissold House was considered, provided feedback on the restoration bid and pressed for an approach covering both the House and park. Meetings also addressed trees, vehicles, access, the bandstand project and concerns about the amount of work falling on volunteers.

• Meeting document – November–December 2006
• Meeting document – September–October 2006
• Meeting document – May–June 2006
• Meeting document – March–April 2006 – transcription
• Meeting document – March–April 2006 – original

2005

At a glance: CPUG organised children’s activities and worked with Stoke Newington School on proposals for a bandstand, including design and fundraising. Restoration planning restarted and CPUG was represented on the Project Reference Group. The group also relaunched its website and discussed youth facilities and other aspects of the park.

• Meeting document – November–December 2005
• Meeting document – May–June 2005
• Meeting document – March–April 2005
• Meeting document – January–February 2005

2004

At a glance: CPUG organised summer activities and a Big Draw event and brought together discussions involving the police and ranger service. A joint review of tree care with park staff and specialists led to a review of planting and maintenance planning. CPUG also pressed to be involved in restoration planning and discussed children’s provision and park access.

• Meeting document – December 2004
• Meeting document – October 2004
• Meeting document – August–September 2004
• Meeting document – February 2004

2003

At a glance: CPUG meetings covered the café, children’s provision, entrance and parking concerns and proposals affecting the management of parks maintenance. A crèche was provided at a February meeting to make it easier for parents to attend. The surviving records for this year are limited.

• Meeting document – March 2003

2002

At a glance: The earliest surviving records show CPUG already holding open meetings and campaigning over park services. Issues included funding for the animal enclosure and paddling pool, the café, restoration proposals and nearby development. The group also used a survey to help inform the café brief and was developing its website.

• Meeting document – August 2002
• Meeting document – July 2002
• Meeting document – June 2002
• Meeting document – April 2002
• Meeting document – March 2002
• Meeting document – February 2002
• Meeting document – January 2002

Can you help fill a gap?

The surviving historical archive is incomplete, particularly for some of the earlier years. If you have old CPUG minutes, newsletters or other meeting records that are not listed here, please contact CPUG.