Agenda and draft minutes

Please note that this meeting may be filmed or recorded by the Council for live or subsequent broadcast via the Council’s internet site or by anyone attending the meeting using any communication method. Although we ask members of the public recording, filming or reporting on the meeting not to include the public seating areas, members of the public attending the meeting should be aware that we cannot guarantee that they will not be filmed or recorded by others attending the meeting. Members of the public participating in the meeting (e.g. making deputations, asking questions, making oral protests) should be aware that they are likely to be filmed, recorded or reported on.  By entering the meeting room and using the public seating area, you are consenting to being filmed and to the possible use of those images and sound recordings.

The chair of the meeting has the discretion to terminate or suspend filming or recording, if in his or her opinion continuation of the filming, recording or reporting would disrupt or prejudice the proceedings, infringe the rights of any individual or may lead to the breach of a legal obligation by the Council.

The Chair referred to the notice of the filming at meetings and this information was noted.

Apologies of absence were received by the following Trustees: Cllr Nick Da Costa and Cllr Sean O’Donovan.

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 will be dealt with at items 12 below).

There were none.

There were none.

There were none.

i.               To confirm the unrestricted minutes of the Alexandra Palace and Park Board held on 18^th September as an accurate record of the proceedings.

ii.              To receive the minutes of the Alexandra Park and  Palace Advisory  Committee held on 17^th July 2025 and to consider any recommendations from that Committee. – to follow

iii.             To receive the minutes of the Alexandra Palace and Park Consultative Committee held on 17^th July 2025 (In Quorette) – to follow

-          The unrestricted minutes of the Alexandra Park and Palace Charitable Trust  Board held on 18th September were approved as an accurate record of the proceedings.

-          The minutes of the Alexandra Park and Palace Advisory Committee held on 17th July 2025 were noted.

-          The minutes of the Alexandra Park and Palace  Consultative Committee held on 17th July 2025 (In Quorate) were noted.

The new elected Chair of the Consultative Committee (Duncan Neil) was congratulated.

Alexandra Park and Palace Charitable Trust (APPCT), registered with the Fundraising Regulator and a signatory to its Code of Fundraising Practice, had reviewed its fundraising policies in preparation for the updated Code launching in November 2025.

The review led to proposed updates to the Fundraising Policy, particularly around donation acceptance and refusal, based on benchmarking with similar charities. Key changes included:

• Clearer criteria for due diligence, including raising the income threshold from £10,000 to £20,000 and setting renewal periods.Expanded guidance on the due diligence process for identifying potential risks or conflicts.
• Additional criteria will trigger due diligence assessment for donations under the £20,000 income threshold that pose risk to the charity.
• Trustees were no longer required to declare conflicts for all donations—only those escalated to the Board.
• The Fundraising Policy was removed from the website, with the public instead directed to the Fundraising Regulator’s Code of Practice and Fundraising Promise.

These changes aimed to strengthencompliance in fundraising decision-making.

Queries had been raised regarding fundraising and what might trigger due diligence assessment under the £20,000 threshold. Criteria include donations made as loans, from anonymous sources or originating from foreign accounts.

RESOLVED:

The Committee approved the contents of this report.

Alexandra Park and Palace Charitable Trust (APPCT) had faced significant challenges common to the cultural and heritage sectors, including economic uncertainty, rising costs, labour market pressures, and external shocks such as climate change and geopolitical instability. These factors made it difficult to maintain a balanced budget and grow Gift Aid contributions from its trading subsidiary.

The Trust had responded by aligning its operations with its Strategic Vision and Goals, which focused on sustainability, heritage protection, community engagement, and organisational resilience. A new Operational Business Plan introduced in 2024/25 was refined for 2025/26, with objectives including financial target achievement, strategic project delivery, and embedding organisational values.

Despite financial constraints, APPCT had achieved a balanced budget for 2025/26 through cost-saving measures and improved revenue forecasting. Key financial pressures included rising insurance premiums, increased National Insurance rates, security costs, and general inflation. Mitigation strategies included recognising the Restoration Levy in-year, increasing car park charges, launching new fundraising initiatives, and expanding estate tenancy.

Operational efficiencies were pursued through resource sharing, cost reassignment, and potential recruitment freezes. Strategic investments continued in staff development, digital infrastructure, and essential estate maintenance to support high visitor numbers.

Queries had been raised regarding the loans and rate of repayment. According to the budget, the Trust was repaying approximately half a million pounds a year.

RESOLVED:

The Committee noted Forecast against Budget 25/26

There were none.

Items 14-19 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.

Items 12-16 were 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.

To confirm the exempt minutes of the Alexandra Palace and Park Board held on 18^th September 2025 as an accurate record of the proceedings. – to follow

The Committee considered the exempt information.

The Committee considered the exempt information.

The Committee considered the exempt information.

The Committee considered the exempt information.

There were none.