Issue - meetings

Report of the General Manager, Alexandra Palace – To advise the Committee on forthcoming events to the end of the financial year 2008/09.

The Chair asked for a brief introduction to the report.

The Managing Director of Alexandra Palace Trading Limited (APTL) – Ms Kane, referred to the circulated report and the events shown therein.  Ms Kane confirmed that those events shown in italics were yet to be confirmed, and she also highlighted the 3 large events confirmed – the Bike, Dinghy, and Railway modelling exhibitions. Ms Kane commented on the knock on effects of the recession and the fact that people did not have as much readily available disposal cash therefore this would have an influence but the sales team at APTL were currently working to secure events that were yet to be confirmed.

In commenting on the number of successes during the past year Ms Kane made particular reference to the Darts event during late December to early January 2008/09 and its high attendance, noting that the event hosted up to a max of 2500 on any one day. The other main event s were the Annual Fireworks display and also the immensely popular Knitting and Stitching event, which showed the each attracting a diverse range of attendees.

The Committee then discussed the report and Ms Kane responded to a number of comments in relation to individual events.

Arising from the discussions the Committee commented on the issue of publicity for free events that were available at the Palace, citing in particular the event that took place in late December in terms of the tour of the Palace, especially the part that involved the Theatre and TV studios., and how such publicity could be improved. Ms Kane confirmed that the website was currently being revamped which would go some way to improve this. In response to other comments Mr Loudfoot and Ms Kane confirmed that public events were shown on notice boards in and around the Palace and Mr Loudfoot undertook to review the matter of public information in and around the Palace and Park, in conjunction with Mr Evison.

Further discussions also ensued in relation to the monies collected at the Fireworks event and whether this money could be put back into the up keep of the studios/theatre and other parts of the Palace.

Mr Loudfoot undertook to report the matter to a future meeting of the Committee in respect of the income share out for such events including a breakdown of the amounts etc.

RESOLVED

That the report be noted.