Issue - meetings

a.         Incidents at Alexandra Palace over the weekend, 24-25 November 2011

Duncan Wilson, Chief Executive – Alexandra Palace read the following statement:

“Members of the Board will be aware of the tragic deaths of two young men following an indoor music event at Alexandra Palace over the weekend.  22,800 people attended the Winter Music Festival on Friday and Saturday nights, running from 9pm to 6am the following morning on each occasion.

We are necessarily constrained in what we can say by the ongoing police investigation. However the police are now no longer concerned that this may be an escalating situation, and are attributing the two fatalities to separate incidents. They have made it clear that as far as they are concerned our very detailed event and security plan was comprehensive and properly prepared and they recognise our zero tolerance policy to drugs. A full, independent report will be prepared for the Board in due course.

The following statement on behalf of Alexandra Palace and the event organisers has now been updated as follows:

‘Alexandra Palace and Lock N Load Events are deeply shocked and saddened by the two fatalities that occurred over the weekend.

The police are being fully assisted in their ongoing investigation and have commented that they are happy with the procedures the venue and event organiser had in place.   

Alexandra Palace works closely with its local authority and event organisers to ensure that the correct policies for public safety are in place during all events. Both the venue and last weekend's event organiser operate a zero tolerance drugs policy and employed security teams to enforce all measures possible to protect visitors.

All those involved in the two events extend their deepest sympathy to the family and friends of the two men and our thoughts are with the man currently in hospital who we are told is in a critical but stable condition.’ ”

NOTED

• A full investigation into the incidents would be conducted and a report provided to the Board in the future.
• In response to comments Rebecca Kane, Managing Director, Alexandra Palace Trading Company (APTL) explained that every event had a plan which was signed off by the responsible authorities and processes were reviewed before, during and after all events.
• In response to concerns that Board members had not been alerted to the incident until the Sunday afternoon it was noted that whilst every effort was made to communicate the incident to Board members as soon as possible information was not immediately forthcoming.
• The Chair reminded Trustees of the protocol for referring enquiries to Palace officials in such cases.

RESOLVED to note the Chief Executive’s statement and to endorse the use of the words “shocked and saddened”.

b.         Facilities Manager

NOTED the vacancy for a Facilities Manager, Alexandra Palace.

RESOLVED that recruitment of a permanent Facilities Manager be delegated to the Chief Executive, in a similar way to that of the last occasion when this post was vacant..