Agenda and minutes

Venue: The Londesborough Room, Alexandra Palace Way, Wood Green, London N22. View directions

Contact: Clifford Hart  2920

Items
No. Item

131.

APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE

Minutes:

Councillor Stewart, in his capacity as Vice-Chair, in the absence of the Chair, took the Chair

 

COUNCILLOR STEWART IN THE CHAIR

 

Apologies for lateness were received from Cllrs Cooke (Chair) and Williams.  Vice Chair Cllr Stewart was in the chair until the Chair arrived.

 

Apologies for absence were received from Ms Rebecca Kane (Managing Director – Alexandra Palace Trading Company (APTL). 

 

NOTED

132.

WELCOME OF NEW CHIEF EXECUTIVE BY CHAIR

Minutes:

The vice Chair asked that this be moved by the Chair once he arrived at the meeting.

133.

URGENT BUSINESS

The Chair will consider the admission of any late items of urgent business. (Late items will be considered under the agenda item where they appear. New items with be dealt with at items 14 & 20 below)

 

Minutes:

There were no items of urgent business.

 

NOTED the late circulation of documents for item 10 – Regeneration Update.

134.

DECLARATIONS OF INTERESTS

A member with a personal interest in a matter who attends a meeting of the authority at which the matter is considered must disclose to that meeting the existence and nature of that interest at the commencement of that consideration, or when the interest becomes apparent.

 

A member with a personal interest in a matter also has a prejudicial interest in that matter if the interest is one which a member of the public with knowledge of the relevant facts would reasonably regard as so significant that it is likely to prejudice the member's judgment of the public interest and if this interest affects their financial position or the financial position of a person or body as described in paragraph 8 of the Code of Conduct and/or if it relates to the determining of any approval, consent, licence, permission or registration in relation to them or any person or body described in paragraph 8 of the Code of Conduct.

 

Minutes:

None.

135.

QUESTIONS, DEPUTATIONS OR PETITIONS : TO CONSIDER ANY QUESTIONS, DEPUTATIONS OR PETITIONS RECEIVED IN ACCORDANCE WITH PART 4, SECTION B29 OF THE COUNCIL'S CONSTITUTION

Minutes:

None.

136.

to note the appointment of 3 Members of the Alexandra Palace and Park Consultative Committee to the Board

To note the appointment of the 3 Consultative Committee representatives to the Board in a non-voting capacity.

Minutes:

The Committee noted the appointment of Val Paley, Colin Marr and Nigel Willmott as non-voting Consultative Committee representatives to the Board.

 

Cllr Cooke arrived at 19:40 hrs.  Cllr Stewart vacated, and Cllr Cooke took the chair.

 

COUNCILLOR COOKE IN THE CHAIR

137.

GOVERNANCE UPDATE pdf icon PDF 758 KB

Report of the Interim General Manager - Alexandra Palace - To report back on progress in the areas of structural changes to streamline processes and systems, the review of the APP Statutory Advisory Committee (APPAC) and Consultative Committee (APPCC),  and policy and procedure, to be incorporated in the Trust’s governing documents (the Trustee Handbook).

Minutes:

The Interim General Manager, Alexandra Palace, Andrew Gill, introduced the Governance Update report (as laid out on pages 1 – 21 of the agenda pack).

 

The Chair thanked members of the Alexandra Park and Palace Advisory and Consultative Committees for their input towards the positive outcome as a way forward for the Committees (paragraph 7.6.3 – 7.6.6).

 

RESOLVED

 

i.          That the progress made towards streamlining the committee structure at Alexandra Park & Palace be noted;

 

ii.         That the proposed amendment by the Consultative Committee and Statutory Advisory Committee to the Constitution of the Consultative Committee, to allow the membership of the Consultative Committee to decide the Chair of that committee, be agreed;

 

iii.        That the following be delegated to the Committee Clerk in consultation with the Chief Executive (Alexandra Park & Palace);

 

a.         The precise wording of the amendment to the Constitution

 

b.         Obtaining Full Council approval to the amendment to the Constitution

 

iv.        That the draft Anti Bribery Policy be adopted; and

 

v.         That the draft Whistleblowing Policy be adopted.

138.

finance update pdf icon PDF 457 KB

Report of the Head of Finance – Alexandra Palace – To present the results against budget for the period ending 31st August 2011 and the reforecast to year end.

 

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The Board received an update on the Charitable Trust’s finances as set out in the report (pages 25-29 of the agenda pack), introduced by Helen Downie (Head of Finance, Alexandra Palace). Ways to reduce the £90k funding gap were being considered but the forecasted outturn was still on target for the year and there were a number of risks as highlighted in paragraph 6.7 of the report.

RESOLVED

i.          That the results for the five months to 31st August 2011 be noted;

ii.         That the forecast to remain within the £2.102m budget allocation for the year and the key risks outlined in section 6.7 of the report be noted; and

iii.        That the removal of Andrew Gill and the appointment of Duncan Wilson to the bank mandate be approved.

139.

Update on carpark charging policy pdf icon PDF 187 KB

Report of the Managing Director – Alexandra Palace Trading Limited - To advise on progress made into the potential instigation of car park charging at Alexandra Palace,  and of indicative timeframes and consultation methods for this activity.

 

Minutes:

Before taking the report the Chair asked that the Board turn its attention to APBO132 and formally welcomed the new Chief Executive Duncan Wilson to his role at Alexandra Palace.

The Board received a report updating on the car parking project, introduced by Duncan Wilson, Chief Executive, Alexandra Palace, as laid out on pages 31 – 33 of the agenda pack.  The Board briefly discussed the proposals, the main points being:

  • Data on car park usage for all the car parking areas in the Park was being collected and more information would be brought to the next Board meeting, including specific options appraisals.

 

  • It was possible that different charging policies would apply in different car parks within the Park, if the decision was made to go ahead with charging.

 

  • Board members emphasised the importance of considering the impact of any parking charges such as displacement of cars in residential areas around the Palace where there was already limited car parking.

 

  • The Board also recognised that commuters parked their cars in the Palace and would normally have to pay for parking near other train stations.

 

  • It was important to have good transport links into the Palace for people visiting for events and not to make parking difficult for people who visited the Palace regularly.

The Chair then summarised and it was:

RESOLVED that the progress made to date be noted and that the direction of travel of the car park charging project be approved and that further details be provided at the next meeting.

140.

REGENERATION UPDATE - TO FOLLOW pdf icon PDF 198 KB

Report of the Interim General Manager – Alexandra Palace – To report back to the Board on progress made by the Alexandra Park & Palace Regeneration Working Group (APPRWG) since the last Board meeting on the 21 June 2011 and the main activities in relation to Stage 2 - Concept Planning, and also to update the Board regarding preliminary discussions with the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) and English Heritage (EH) in relation to funding.

 

Minutes:

The Board received the update on the regeneration of Alexandra Palace, introduced by Mark Hopson (Head of Regeneration and Development, Alexandra Palace) as laid out in pages 1 - 5 of the to follow document.  The reasons for late ness for the report’s circulation had been due to a Regeneration Working Group meeting coinciding with the agenda dispatch timescales. The Board were briefly advised that a draft communications strategy would be prepared in November and a draft business plan in December and Trustees would be consulted on a procurement strategy at an away day on 29th October. The Palace was also running stakeholder meetings once a month.

The Board briefly discussed the proposals, with the following main points raised and responses thereto:

·        With regard to clarification of the match funding and how this would happen it was noted that provision had been made within the budget to cover the match funding as part of the English Heritage bid (paragraph 11 of the report). Palace Regeneration staff would meet with English Heritage representatives on Friday 21st October 2011 to discuss the bid and receive advice on the conservation of the Palace in terms of prioritising repair works. Should external funding bids not be successful the Palace would continue with some emergency repair works using the allocated £55k, which was part of the on-going maintenance budget and separate to the capital bid for 2012/13 submitted to the Council.

 

·        The Board recognised that the cost of repairs needed to be closely aligned with the benefits (commercially and in terms of regeneration) and consultations would be about the specific areas of the Palace and Park.  A masterplan for an over-arching vision would then be produced with a strategic vision for potential investors.

 

·        That in response to clarification as to possible future uses it was explained that “soft model testing” was where market operators were first consulted about their interests without being formally approached.

 

·        In response to concerns it was reported that most of the regeneration work was led and managed internally by Trust staff, however some expert advice was required. Board members expressed their satisfaction at the background knowledge and experience of representatives of Colliers International who were facilitating the project.

RESOLVED

i.          That the on-going regeneration work for Stage 2 be noted;

ii.         That the submitted funding application to English Heritage be noted; and

iii.        That the on-going budget position for Stage 2 regeneration work be noted and the use of identified Trust savings for the existing budget shortfall for 2011/12 be confirmed.

141.

CAPITAL WORKS UPDATE AND CAPITAL BID pdf icon PDF 225 KB

Report of the Interim General Manager – Alexandra Palace - To update the Board on the progress of 2011-12 Capital Projects, and advise on the proposed further 2012-13 Capital Bid to the Council.

Minutes:

The Board received the update on the progress of the 2011-12 Capital Projects and the proposed 2012-13 Capital Bid to the Council as laid out in pages 35 – 41 of the agenda pack, introduced by Andrew Gill (Interim General Manager, Alexandra Palace). 

 

The Board was advised that:

 

  • Thames Water had contributed towards the cost of repairing the burst pipe in the lower fields of the Park.

 

  • In relation to the listed building consent work (in paragraph 6.1.2 of the report) there was now a planning application in progress and that the Alexandra Palace & Park Conservation Area Advisory Committee (CAAC) had doubts about the proposals.  The Chief Executive, Alexandra Palace, stated that he was reviewing the proposals and would ensure dialogue with the CAAC.

 

  • In response to concerns raised the Board was informed that the aim was to fix dilapidations permanently via capital spending and that any further funding such as from the Heritage Lottery fund would be assessed based on the community benefit of a project.

 

RESOLVED

 

i.                    That the progress on capital works completed during 2011-12 be noted; and

 

ii.         That the proposed bid to the LB Haringey  for further Capital funding for 2012-13 be endorsed.

142.

BBC 75th Anniversary event pdf icon PDF 232 KB

Report of the Managing Director – Alexandra Palace Trading Limited - To update the Board on the objectives and plans for the events to celebrate the 75th anniversary of the first public television broadcast from Alexandra Palace and the ‘birth’ of the BBC.

Minutes:

The Board received the report on the BBC 75th Anniversary event (as laid out in pages 43 – 46 of the agenda pack)  introduced by the Chief Executive, Alexandra Palace.

 

Board members thanked the Alexandra Palace Trading Company (APTL) team and BBC officers and the Alexandra Palace Television Group for their work in organising the event.

 

RESOLVED that the progress made to date for the events to celebrate the 75th anniversary (of the first public television broadcast from Alexandra Palace) be noted and the activities planned be supported.

143.

Minutes pdf icon PDF 111 KB

i.                    To confirm the unrestricted minutes of the Alexandra Palace and Park Board held on 21 June, and 21 July 2011 as an accurate record of the proceedings;

 

ii.                  To receive and consider the minutes of the informal joint Alexandra Palace and Park Consultative Committee, and Alexandra Park and  Palace Advisory  Committee held on 13 September 2011 (see attached Appendix A1).

 

 

iii.                To receive the minutes of the     Alexandra Palace and Park Consultative Committee held on 21 July, and 6 September 2011, and to consider any recommendations from that Committee (see attached Appendix B1 & B2), and to receive the minutes of the Alexandra Park and  Palace Advisory  Committee held on 13 September 2011, and to consider any recommendations from that Committee (see attached Appendix C & C1);

 

 

Additional documents:

Minutes:

i.          Alexandra Palace and Park Board minutes (Pages 47-62 of agenda pack)

 

RESOLVED that the unrestricted minutes of the Alexandra Palace and Park Board held on 21 June, and 21 July 2011 be confirmed as an accurate record of the proceedings.

 

ii.         Informal Joint meeting of the Alexandra Palace and Park Advisory and Consultative Committees (Page 63 – 72)

 

The informal minutes of the informal joint meeting of the Alexandra Palace and Park Advisory and Consultative Committees on 13th September 2011 were noted.

 

iii.        Alexandra Park and Palace Advisory Committee (Page 73 – 76)

 

The minutes of the Alexandra Park and Palace Advisory Committee held on 13th September 2011 were noted.

 

The recommendations of the Alexandra Park and  Palace Advisory  Committee (pages 81-82) were noted. 

 

RESOLVED that due to the legal nature of the issues surrounding the Firoka matter the recommendations would be discussed within the private session with as full a response as possible being provided at a future Board meeting.

 

iv.        Alexandra Palace and Park Consultative Committee (Page 77 -80)

 

The minutes of the Alexandra Palace and Park Consultative Committee held on 21 July, and 6 September 2011 were noted.

144.

ANY OTHER UNRESTRICTED BUSINESS THE CHAIR CONSIDERS TO BE URGENT

Minutes:

i.          Thanks to the Interim General Manager

 

The Chair advised the Board that it was the last meeting that  Andrew Gill,  Interim General Manager would be attending.  On behalf of the Board the Chair placed on record his thanks to Andrew for all his efforts and hard work during the past 2 ½ years which had been much appreciated.  The Board wished Mr Gill every success in the future.

 

ii.        Thanks to the Outgoing Clerk

 

            The Chair, also advised that it was the last Board meeting of the Clerk to the Board – Clifford Hart, as he was taking on the role of Democratic Services Manager at the LB Haringey.  On behalf of the Board the Chair expressed thanks and appreciation for his efforts and support to the Board in the past 7 years, which had been outstanding.

 

iii.        Farmers’ Market

 

A Board Member reported that they had received a complaint from a local resident about the clean up of the area used by the Farmers’ Market and asked whether the Market was financially beneficial for the Palace.  The Interim General Manager explained that the Trust received a reasonable amount of money, which was in line with figures nationally paid by Farmers’ Markets for renting space.  The Chief Executive advised that he would report back to the Board about the clean up process after each Market event.

ACTION: DUNCAN WILSON 

144a

Standards Hearing Exempt reports for publication pdf icon PDF 792 KB

Additional documents:

144b

Exempt Redacted Minutes of the Alexandra Palace & Park Board held on 18 October 2011 for publication pdf icon PDF 82 KB

145.

EXCLUSION OF THE PUBLIC AND PRESS

Items 16 17& 18 are likely to be subject of a motion to exclude the press and public from the meeting as they contain exempt information as defined in Section 100a of the Local Government Act 1972; Para 1 – information relating to any individual, Para 2 – Information which is likely to reveal the identity of an individual,  Para 3 - information relating to the business or financial affairs of any particular person (including the authority holding that information), and Para 5 – Information in respect of which a claim to legal professional privilege could be maintained in legal proceedings.

 

Minutes:

RESOLVED that the press and public be excluded from the meeting in respect of agenda items 16 – 20 (minute 146 – 150) as they contain exempt information as defined in Section 100a of the Local Government Act 1972; Para 1 – information relating to any individual, Para 2 – Information which is likely to reveal the identity of an individual,  Para 3 - information relating to the business or financial affairs of any particular person (including the authority holding that information), and Para 5 – Information in respect of which a claim to legal professional privilege could be maintained in legal proceedings.

 

The Board adjourned at 20.50hrs and reconvened at 20.55hrs.

 

SUMMARY OF EXEMPT/CONFIDENTIAL PROCEEDINGS

146.

finance update

Report of the Head of Finance – Alexandra Palace

Minutes:

AGREED RECOMMENDATIONS                                                                                                                                                                                                                  

147.

Consideration of outcome of LB Haringey Standards Committee Determination Hearing

Report of the Interim General Manager – Alexandra Palace

Minutes:

RESOLVED

 

i.       That following consideration of the report of the Interim General Manager and its legal advisers in respect of seeking a decision from the Board as to whether it wishes to give further consideration to possible proceedings against a former Chair of the Board, it be agreed that no further action be taken in this matter;

 

ii.            That the Interim General Manager be instructed  to respond to the Council’s Monitoring Officer, informing him of resolution  (i) above;

 

iii.     That the Trustees' principal focus is securing the future regeneration of the building, and its  senior staff and Trustee time and financial resources must be directed at pursuing that goal, however;

 

iv.     That this Board notes, accepts and endorses the findings of the Standards Determination Hearing of 30 and 31 March 2010 in respect  of the conduct of Councillor Adje in his capacity as former Chair of the Alexandra Palace and Park Board;

 

v.      that in so accepting the findings of the Standards Determination Hearing of 30 and 31 March 2010 , having given careful consideration to the minutes of the Determination Hearing Panel, the Board records  its own independent view that the conduct and behaviour of Councillor Adje fell very far short of the standard of conduct expected of a Chair and Trustee of the Alexandra Palace and Park Board, and that it be noted that following these actions and as a result of an exhaustive review process,  clear and proper governance principles have now been adopted by the Alexandra Palace and Park Board to prevent such actions occurring in the future;

 

vi.     that to further transparency and in the public interest, in respect of the exempt classification of the report considered,  the Chief Executive Alexandra Palace be delegated authority, in conjunction with the Chair of the Board, and subject to any legal clarification, to consider publishing the exempt report either in a full or redacted public form, and also consider whether  the minutes of the proceedings on this item also be made available in either a full or redacted public form; and

 

vii.    that in respect of the formal resolutions of the Alexandra Park and Palace Statutory Advisory Committee of 13 September 2011 and an appropriate response from the Board,  the Chair be delegated authority in conjunction with the Chief Executive of Alexandra Palace to respond on behalf of the Board.

148.

minutes

To confirm the exempt minutes of the Alexandra Palace and Park Board held on 21 June, and 21 July 2011 as an accurate record of the proceedings

Minutes:

Item not considered due to insufficient time available.

149.

EXEMPT ACTION TAKEN UNDER DELEGATED AUTHORITY BY THE CHAIR

To note the exempt action taken by the Chair during the period June to September 2011

Minutes:

None.

150.

ANY OTHER EXEMPT BUSINESS THE CHAIR CONSIDERS TO BE URGENT

Minutes:

None.

 

The meeting ended at 22.30hrs.