Agenda and minutes

Due to the absence of the Chair and Vice-Chair, the clerk sought nominations for a Chair for the duration of the meeting.

Councillor Christophides nominated Councillor Egan.  Councillor Scott seconded the nomination and it was

RESOLVED that Councillor Egan be nominated as Chair for the meeting.

Councillor Egan in the Chair

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Cooke and Stewart, Val Paley and Richard Hooper.

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.) It being a special meeting, under the Council’s Constitution, Part 4, Section B, Paragraph 17, no new items of urgent business will be admitted.

There was no such business.

There were no declarations of interest.

Report of the Chief Executive, Alexandra Palace Charitable Trust, to seek Board approval for rebuilding of the disabled access ramp outside the Transmitter Hall and remodelling of the entrance to take away the security cage, to make the entrance more visually attractive and accessible.

Duncan Wilson introduced the report as set out.

NOTED:

·               SAC and CC members had been consulted by email, with one response.  The Chairs of the Committees added that they had not received any further comments from their members.

·               The purpose of the report was to seek approval for the rebuilding of the disabled ramp and remodelling of the cage at the entrance to the Transmitter Hall.  Improvements would also be made to the interior – redecoration and relighting.

·               The disabled ramp needed to be rebuilt in order to meet DDA requirements.

·               The works were not extensive, but would help to make the Hall more accessible for holding exhibitions.

RESOLVED:

That the improvements to the Transmitter Hall (subject to Listed Building Consent being obtained) be approved.

Item 6 is likely to be subject of a motion to exclude the press and public from the meeting as it contains exempt information as defined in Section 100a of the Local Government Act 1972; Para 2 – Information which is likely to reveal the identity of an individual and Para 3 - information relating to the business or financial affairs of any particular person (including the authority holding that information).

RESOLVED:

That the press and public be excluded from the remainder of the meeting as the items below contain exempt information, as defined under paragraphs 2 and 3, Part 1, schedule 12A of the Local Government Act 1972.

SUMMARY OF EXEMPT ITEMS

APPOINTMENT OF HLF DESIGN TEAM CONSULTANTS

The recommendations in the report were agreed.

Duncan Wilson introduced the report as set out.

NOTED:

·               Eight design teams who had submitted and passed Pre-Qualification Questionnaires were asked to submit tenders against a formal Invitation To Tender.  Five teams submitted written responses, and these teams were interviewed by a panel of six members.

·               The panel’s decision was to recommend that Feilden Clegg Bradley be appointed as the design team, although there were some discussions which would need to be held with regard to costs.

·               Bob Kidby, who had been a member of the panel, added the following:

-          The process to shortlist the design team was extensive, and it was important that the team that was selected understood the opportunity they would be undertaking if selected.

-          It was thought that FCB would come up with ideas that would fit in with what the Board wanted, and would be able to deliver them.

·               Duncan Wilson added that the quote given by FCB was £2.65m.  The current budget was £2.35m for this phase of the project.  However, he was confident that the remaining funds could be found by releasing a percentage of contingency funds, and through discussions with FCB.

·               Board members made the following comments:

-          It was not clear from the papers that FCB would provide the highest quality work.  Duncan Wilson and Bob Kidby assured members that the presentation was a small part of the interview, and that FCB had scored highest on quality out of all five teams. 

-          Reassurances were required that the team who had pitched for the work would be the team who would carry out the work.  Duncan Wilson responded that the contracts would clearly stipulate that there would be named people on the project, and they would be contractually obliged to remain on the project.  The contracts would also require regular updates for the executive team.

-          Consideration would need to be given to how the Studios would be branded.  A balance would need to be struck between Alexandra Palace and the BBC, so that it was clear that the studios were part of Alexandra Palace, but also so that the BBC would be encouraged to provide content for exhibitions.

RESOLVED:

That the team led by Feilden Clegg Bradley be appointed, as recommended, and that the Chief Executive be authorised to conclude budget negotiations over the fees.