Agenda and minutes

Apologies absence were received on behalf of  Mr Liebeck,  Councillor Reynolds, and for lateness from Councillors Dillon, Hare and Hoban.

            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 judgement of the public interest.

The Chair will consider the admission of any late item of urgent business. (Late items will be considered under the agenda item where they appear. New items with be dealt with at items 13 & 17  )

Dr Vivienne Manheim, the Chair of the Trustees of the Alexandra Park and Palace Charitable Trust, made the following statement with regard to the evaluation of tenders for the redevelopment of Alexandra Palace and the selection of preferred investment partner:

‘As Chair of Trustees I am very pleased to clarify the situation surrounding the evaluation of tenders for the redevelopment of Alexandra Palace and the selection of preferred investment partner.

The process undertaken by the relevant members of our professional advisory team, overseen by myself and the Manager of the Palace; was clearly set out to all tendering parties in November 2005 in the form of a Development Brief.  It involved scoring each proposal against a set of clear criteria; including but not restricted to; economic value, transfer of risk, deliverability and creation of other beneficial uses for the Palace.

It is my firm view that the duty of the professional advisory team;  to make a recommendation to the Trustee Body as to who should become the preferred investment partner, was discharged without flaw.

There have been suggestions in some quarters that the differing approaches of the bidding companies to the ongoing business placed the General Manager in a position of personal and professional conflict of interest.  This is clearly not the case.  He is not a member of the Trustee Board which made the decision.  Therefore, I cannot refute this strongly enough and would like to put on record my firm view that his integrity and authority in this matter are beyond reproach.

Any suggestion that the General Manager allowed this supposed conflict of interest to influence the judgement of the rest of the professional team calls into doubt the professional integrity of the other members of the selection/evaluation panel, which includes myself, in a way that is quite unacceptable.

When the Trustee Body met on Monday, 30January, it endorsed the recommendation of the professional team. The integrity of the process has always been of paramount importance and it remains so. 

RESOLVED

That those members present when the Chair made the above statement unanimously endorse it.  

(1)               To approve the minutes of the programmed meeting of the Board held on (a) 29 November 2005 ATTACHED, and (b) the special meeting held on 10 January 2006 TO FOLLOW

(2)               To approve the minutes of the Consultative Committee held 31 January 2006; TO FOLLOW

(3)               To receive the minutes of the Advisory Committee held 24 January 2006 and to consider any recommendations contained therein - TO FOLLOW

(1) Meetings of the Alexandra Palace and Park Board held on (a) 29.11.05, Special meetings held on (b) 10.01.06, and (c) 30.01.06; (2) to approve the minutes of the Consultative Committee held on 31.01.06 and  (3) to receive the minutes of the Advisory Committee held on 24.01.06.

(1)(a)   Alexandra Palace and Park Board – 29.11.05

RESOLVED

That the Minutes of the meeting of the Board held on 29.11.05 be approved and signed by the Chair.

(1)(b) Special Alexandra Palace and Park Board – 10.01.06

RESOLVED

That the Minutes of the special meeting of the Board held on 10.01.06 approved and signed by the Chair but with an amendment to show that Cllr Hoban was present at this meeting.

(1)(c)   Special Alexandra Palace and Park Board – 30.01.06

RESOLVED

That the Minutes of the meeting of the Board held on  30.01.06 be approved at the next meeting on 11.04.06.

(2)       Alexandra Palace and Park Consultative Committee – 31.01.06

RESOLVED

That the Minutes of the meeting held on 31.01.06 be approved

(3)       Alexandra Palace and Park Advisory Committee – 24.01.06

RESOLVED

That the Minutes of the Advisory Committee held 24.01.06 be considered and any recommendations noted.

None received

To consider receiving deputations and/or petitions in accordance with Standing Order 31.

None were received

To advise the Board of the 10 month results to the end of December 2005 and the forecast for the full year. (Report of the General Manager)

Mr Holder advised the Board of the proposed budget for the Charity and the  level of revenue and capital support required from the local authority for 2006/07.  Members were asked to note that the £2.38m deficit detailed in the report would be reduced by the covenant to £1.3m. That sum plus the £300K capital would be contained within the cap of £1.5m.  Members also noted that an early signing of the Lease, with the new Investment Partner, would result in less assistance being required from the Local Authority.  Members asked for a further breakdown of the figures by the end of March.

                                    RESOLVED

§           That the operating deficit for 2006/07 in the sum of £2.38M be noted.

§           That the capital funding budget of £300,000 be approved

§           That the budget and operating deficit of £1.3m be approved on the basis that the Council confirms it’s previous practice of proving funding because the Trust funds are exhausted;

§           That members note that an early signing of the lease in the current financial year will result in less revenue support being required from the Council;

§           That the funding limit used in the local authority’s forward planning of £1.5M would prevail;

§           That the key areas and levels of expenditure outlined in paragraph 5 be noted.  

To advise the Board of the eight months’ results to end of November 2005 and the forecast for the full year (Report of General Manager)

Mr Holder advised the Board of the proposed budget for the Charity and the  level of revenue and capital support required from the local authority for 2006/07.  Members were asked to note that the £2.38m deficit detailed in the report would be reduced by the covenant to £1.3m. That sum plus the £300K capital would be contained within the cap of £1.5m.  Members also noted that an early signing of the Lease, with the new Investment Partner, would result in less assistance being required from the Local Authority.  Members asked for a further breakdown by the end of March

RESOLVED

§           That the operating deficit for 2006/07 in the sum of £2.38M be noted.

§           That the capital funding budget of £300,000 be approved

§           That the budget and operating deficit of £1.3m be approved on the basis that the Council confirms it’s previous practice of proving funding because the Trust funds are exhausted;

§           That members note that an early signing of the lease in the current financial year will result in less revenue support being required from the Council;

§           That the funding limit used in the local authority’s forward planning of £1.5M would prevail;

§           That the key areas and levels of expenditure outlined in paragraph 5 be noted.  

.

To advise the Board of the recent major items of capital expenditure and repair works.  (Report of the General Manager)

            Mr Loudfoot introduced this item reporting on the latest works undertaken.. He advised that the significant flooring repairs required to the ice rink were pending the decision on Developer.  In response to the Chair’s question about outstanding Health and Safety matters, he confirmed that these were being managed; i.e. the roof area was currently out of bounds.  Members endorsed the choice of environmentally friendly timeclocks and asked for confirmation that local contractors had been considered in the tendering process.

                        RESOLVED

                        That the report be agreed and noted. 

To update on progress made towards the programme of works for the remaining works under the project (Report of the Development Manager)

Mr Baker introduced this item which updated the Board on progress on the HLF refurbishment of the park and specifically highlighted changes to Alexandra Palace way and the additional parking facilities which would be provided by the narrowing of the main road from the Bedford Road to the east car park, a mini roundabout at the BBC entrance, speed tables, an extra bus stop and improved coach park.  He also asked members to note improvement to the Bedford Road Entrance, the Boating Lake and Dive Car Park.

Members noted that the current tendered package was currently running at £170-£200k under budget, not including contingencies.

In response the members’ queries he advised that coaches would be able to drive over the new mini roundabout;  traffic light  phasing would be speeded up to accommodate traffic flow; there would no disruption to bus services; crossing points would be similar to those at the garden centre and would appear at both entrances; centre islands would be included to aid crossing and he noted members requests for a digital bus timetable/information board; raised table and pelican crossings, as opposed to normal zebra crossings; the use of rubber strip speed bumps (as often used in supermarkets) and which were permissible on private land and confirmed that the new childrens toilets would have provision of baby change facilities.

In response to Members questions and concerns about the choice of contractor, The General Manager confirmed that, although this contractor had proved highly competitive in terms of value for money, strict monitoring and quality control systems were in place.

In response to a query about Redstone Playing Fields, Mr Baker advised that installation of the fence, park signage and furniture had been paused during the bad weather. 

With regard to the Muswell Hill entrance; pruning had been completed and improvements made to lighting, road surface and kerbs.  Members also asked about the pedestrian entrance to the Grove from Muswell Hill and Mr Baker confirmed that the bridge would be tidied, graffiti was being controlled, new  benches would be in place and a lighting survey was being carried out.  Members requests for signs from Muswell Hill to the Park were noted; possibly near the bus stop on the down hill section and of Victorian design.  He would also investigate circumstances relating to permissions for those residents with gates on the park. Letters had been sent to all relevant properties in respect of gates and boundaries and advice on the data collection would be sought.

Mr Holder advised members that the workshop building in the Grove was a possible alternative administration centre for the charity as a functional space for the remaining staff in order that the Investment Partner gets a ‘clean lease’. However; detailed discussions on this matter had not commenced. 

Finally, Members paid tribute to the unique helipad feature.

RESOLVED:

                                    That the report be agreed and noted

(Report of the Facilities Manager – Alexandra Palace)

Mr Loudfoot introduced this item explaining that this application was to vary a term in the original planning application. In response to a written inquiry from the Director of Finance, explained to members that were only limited costs for the application which would be contained within budget. The expenditure for the residual lease on the building was contained within the 2005/06 budget and the estimates agreed earlier for the 2006/07 budget. It was further stated that if this application were not approved it could result in a loss of income to APTL and subsequently a lower covenant to the Charity.  Members noted the advice from the Advisory Committee that this application should be endorsed

RESOLVED

That the advice received from the Statutory Advisory Committee be noted and with the benefit of this advice that the application be considered and supported.

(Report of the Facilities Manager – Alexandra Palace)

                        Mr Loudfoot introduced this item and outlined the works required and the intended use of a local contractor for the repairs. in response to a written inquiry from the Director of Finance, explained to members that this project would be grant aided by the Wolfen Foundation, which would in turn be match funded by English Heritage.  Members commented on the importance of a sympathetic design and recycled materials and noted the advice from the Advisory Committee that this application should be endorsed.

                        RESOLVED

That the advice received from the Statutory Advisory Committee be noted and with the benefit of this advice that the application be considered and supported.

            The following items are likely to be subject of a motion to exclude the press and public from the meeting as they contain exempt information as define din section 100A of the Local Government Act 1972; namely terms proposed or to be proposed by or to the authority in the course of negotiations for a contract for the acquisition or disposal of property or the supply of goods or services and information relating to the financial or business affairs of any particular person (other than the authority).

RESOLVED

That the press and public be excluded from the meeting as they contain exempt information as defined in section 100A of the Local Government Act 1972; namely terms proposed or to be proposed by or to the authority in the course of negotiations for a contract for the acquisition or disposal of property or the supply of goods or services and information relating to the financial or business affairs of any particular person (other than the authority).

To approve the exempt minutes of the programmed meeting of the Board held on (a) 29 November 2005 ATTACHED, and the special meetings held on (b) 10 January 2006 ATTACHED, and (c) 30 January 2006 TO FOLLOW

Agreed the exempt minutes of the meetings of the Board held on 29 November 2005, the Special Meeting held on 10 January 2006 and that the Minutes of the Special Meeting held on 30 January 2006 be approved at the next meeting on 11.04.06.

(Verbal report of the General Manager)

No further report at this time.

                                 11 APRIL 2006

RESOLVED

That the following dates be noted as scheduled meetings of the Board for the remainder of the Municipal Year 2005/06:

11 APRIL 2006