Issue - meetings

Further to a local resident’s proposal to seek UNESCO World Heritage Site Recognition for the South East Wing of Alexandra Palace, Sue Cole, Senior International Adviser, English Heritage National Advice Team, will attend to discuss what such a proposal would entail.

In response to the proposals submitted by local resident, Mr Clive Carter (pages 15 – 21 of the agenda pack), the committees received a presentation by Sue Cole, English Heritage, on the process of becoming a World Heritage Site (WHS).

NOTED

• Sites had to demonstrate Outstanding Universal Value (OUV) and the process of gaining recognition could take up to five years and cost on average £500,000 and often involved local groups.

• WHS recognition did not result in any additional funding and sites had to commit to protection and conservation in detailed management plans.

• The next review of the tentative list of World Heritage Sites would take place between 2021 and 2023 and sites were required to provide a dossier and fulfil a list of criteria (which would be circulated to Committee Members) before being considered; evaluation alone could take up to 2 years.

ACTION: SUE COLE/ CLERK

• The general consensus was in support of the proposals as part of a long term future strategy for the Palace and Park.  A number of Committee Members emphasised the need to focus resources on repairing the Palace building. 

• The Chair of Trustees, Cllr Cooke, supported the proposals as a way forward in the future and stated that he would be happy to take the item to a future Board meeting for consideration. He repeated comments that plans for WHS recognition must not detract from current regeneration priorities.

• The Chief Executive, Alexandra Palace, suggested that WHS recognition be considered once comprehensive conservation and management plans for the Palace and Park had been created as part of the regeneration project.

The Chair moved the motion proposed by Jacob O’Callaghan to ask the Charitable Trust to maintain the aspiration for World Heritage Site Recognition  and a vote was taken: 16 for and 9 against, and it was:

RESOLVED that the proposal for World Heritage Site recognition be supported in principle and that the Board be asked to incorporate this into the Trust’s long term regeneration strategy and a feasibility analysis be conducted to identify strengths, weaknesses and resources needed.