Agenda and minutes

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Hare and Peacock, Rachael MacDonald (New River Action Group), Nigel Willmott (Friends of the Alexandra Palace Theatre), Mike Tarpey (Alexandra Palace Ice Skating Club), Colin Marr (Alexandra Park & Palace Conservation Area Advisory Committee), Caroline Hayter (Alexandra Residents’ Association), Mark Evison (Park Manager), Rebecca Kane (Managing Director – Alexandra Palace Trading Limited).

The Chair invited members to introduce themselves as this was a new municipal year and the membership of the Committee had changed.

(a)    To receive and approve the applications for membership of the Committee for the 2010/11 Municipal Year, from the organisations listed above.

(b)    To note that the Union of Construction, Allied Trades and Technicians has ceased membership on the Committee.

(c)     To appoint three representatives of the Committee to serve as non-voting Members of the Alexandra Palace and Park Board.

(d)    To note the Committee’s Constitution (Attached).

i.       Membership for 2010/11 Municipal Year

RESOLVED

That the following applications from interested groups for membership of the Committee for the 2010/11 municipal year be agreed:

Alexandra Palace Amateur Ice Skating Club                       Mr M. Tarpey

Alexandra Palace Allotments Association                            Mr C. Mahoney

Alexandra Palace Angling Association                                 Mr K. Pestell

Alexandra Palace Organ Appeal                                           Mr R. Tucker

Alexandra Palace Television Group                                      Mr J. Thompson

Alexandra Residents’ Association                                         Ms C. Hayter

Bounds Green and District Residents’ Association            Mr K. Ranson

Alexandra Park and Palace Conservation Area

Advisory Committee                                                                Mr C. Marr

Friends of Alexandra Park                                                      Mr G. Hutchinson

Friends of the Alexandra Palace Theatre                             Mr N. Willmott

Hornsey Historical Society                                                      Mr J. O’Callaghan

Muswell Hill and Fortis Green Association                           Ms D. Feeney

Muswell Hill Metro Group                                                        Mr J. Boshier

New River Action Group                                                          Miss R. Macdonald  

Palace View Residents’ Association                                    Ms V. Paley

Warner Estate Residents’ Association                                 Prof. R. Hudson

ii.      Ceased Membership

The Committee noted that the Union of Construction, Allied Trades and Technicians had ceased membership on the Committee.  This was due to the retirement of the representative, who would recommend that his future successor joined the Committee.

iii.     Representatives of the Committee to serve as non-voting Members of the Alexandra Palace and Park Board

RESOLVED

That the following representatives of the Consultative Committee would serve as non-voting members of the Alexandra Palace and Park Board:

Ms V. Paley (Palace View Residents’ Association)

Mr N Willmott (Friends of the Alexandra Palace Theatre)

Mr M Tarpey (Alexandra Palace Amateur Ice Skating Club)

iv.     Consultative Committee Constitution

The Committee noted that the Constitution, last amended in 2002, could be amended as part of the review of governance of the Alexandra Palace and Park and that members’ views were welcomed. 

In response to their questions Committee members were informed that the Board was expected to  decide which governance options to proceed with in October 2010.  The plan was to have general governance principles in place by the end of the calendar year.  Members were reminded that much of the relevant information relating to the review of governance was on the Alexandra Palace website (www.alexandrapalace.com ) and all interested groups views and comments were welcomed.

         RESOLVED

         That the Committee’s Constitution be noted.

Members of the Committee are invited to disclose any interest they may have in any of the items appearing on this agenda.

Professor Richard Hudson declared a personal interest in item 7, where discussion about the Little Dinosaurs facility took place, as he was a regular user of the facility.

i.    Consultative Committee

RESOLVED that the minutes of the meeting of the Consultative Committee held on 16^th February 2010 be confirmed as a correct record.

The Chair highlighted minute number APCC42.5 which invited interested groups to provide comments and suggestions for the future governance of Alexandra Palace and Park.  The Interim General Manager – Alexandra Palace informed the Chair that no comments had been submitted by interested groups since the last meeting.

ii.   Advisory Committee

RESOLVED that the minutes of the Advisory Committee meetings held on 9^th February 2010 and 17^th March 2010 (Special) be noted.

iii.  Alexandra Palace and Park Board

RESOLVED that the draft minutes of the meeting of the Alexandra Palace and Park Board held on 12^th January 2010, 2^nd March 2010 and 4^th May 2010 be noted.

In response to the Committee’s questions on APBO24 of the minutes of the meeting held on 2^nd March 2010 the General Manager – Alexandra Palace explained that funding for repairs to the ice rink had come from prudential borrowing, a loan from the Council.

The installation of the temporary ice rink was no longer going ahead.

The Committee congratulated the Palace and Park staff for obtaining the funding.

To receive presentations by the following interested groups on the Committee:

i.          New River Action Group – Miss R. Macdonald (to follow)

ii.         Friends of Alexandra Park – Mr G. Hutchinson

i.          The presentation by the New River Action Group was deferred due to the apologies for absence from Miss Rachael MacDonald.

ii.         The Committee noted the presentation by Mr Gordon Hutchinson on the work of the Friends of Alexandra Park which existed to encourage the use of the Park and protect it from overdevelopment. 

The Friends of Alexandra Park group had a membership of 170 and its website www.friendsofalexandrapark.org provided details of guided walks, bird and bat watching, talks on the history of the Park and a mixture of other activities.

The Interim General Manager, Alexandra Palace agreed to the Chair’s suggestion that the Alexandra Palace website include a link to the Friends of Alexandra Palace website.

The Chair and the Interim General Manager, Alexandra Palace both expressed their thanks to Mr Hutchinson and the Friends of Alexandra Park for their excellent work.

To receive the report of the Park Manager, Alexandra Palace, updating the Consultative Committee on events and works within the park.

The Committee received the report of the Park Manager, Alexandra Park, Mark Evison, introduced by the Interim General Manager, Alexandra Palace.

Committee members were specifically interested in the paragraphs (6.10 -6.15.3) dealing with tree maintenance work and noted that in future the Park Manager would inform a wider group of interested parties.

The Committee discussed the current planning enforcement action being taken against the Little Dinosaurs facility in the Grove area of the Park.  The Interim General Manager explained that if enforcement action was successful the Trust would enforce the terms of the Little Dinosaurs lease. One member expressed the need for flexibility and sensitivity to users of the Park and the Little Dinosaurs facility but the general consensus of the Committee was in support of enforcement action.

RESOLVED

i.          That the report be noted;

ii.         That the Park Manager, Alexandra Palace, be asked to devise a list of relevant people that would be informed of future tree works in advance of the works commencing.

To receive the report of the Managing Director, Alexandra Palace Trading Limited (APTL) advising the Consultative Committee on forthcoming events to the end of the financial year.

The Committee received the Forthcoming Events report of the Managing Director, Alexandra Palace Trading Limited, Rebecca Kane, introduced by the Interim General Manager, Alexandra Palace.

Further to the Committee’s questions, the Interim General Manager would investigate the possibility of Alexandra Palace taking part in the Open House event in September this year.

Post Meeting note:

23.06.2010 - The Consultative Committee was informed that Alexandra Palace will be participating in ‘Open House London’ on Saturday 18^th September 2010 from 10.00 – 17.00.  This will follow a similar format to previous years with entry to the TV Studios, Theatre Foyer and a glimpse of the Theatre.

Committee Members expressed concerns about the lack of visitors at the May 2010 Alexandra Palace open day, particularly those visiting the Governance Exhibition.  The Chair highlighted that during the Governance Exhibition roadshow residents in all other parts of the borough had been given the opportunity to contribute to the governance review.

a)         Jacob O'Callaghan of Hornsey Historical Society has suggested that it might be helpful if the Committee received detailed reports on regular surveys of the whole building fabric and what repairs were necessary and being done – for discussion.

Jacob O'Callaghan of the Hornsey Historical Society suggested that the Committee received detailed reports on regular surveys of the whole Palace building fabric and what repairs were necessary and being done.

The Interim General Manager, Alexandra Palace, informed the Committee that a detailed structured survey of the Palace had not been conducted since 2005 and estimated £25 million was required to put the Palace in a good state of repairs.  The 2005 survey had been updated and the cost of repairs was now £30 million plus £50 million to improve facilities to enable the  Palace to be better utilised.  Any further surveys would need to be funded and agreed by the Trustees.

The Committee discussed potential avenues of funding including lottery grants and noted the large amount of officer time required to apply for such grants and that match funding was also often required. 

The Committee was reminded that individual groups could arrange to meet with facilities management consultants, John Barnett, for more detail on the Palace building which the Interim General Manager stated would be more beneficial than surveys presented to the Committee.

RESOLVED that the Committee receive a general report on the state of the building and works required once a year.

i.          Minutes of Interest Groups meetings

All interested groups who were members of the Consultative Committee were asked to ensure that the minutes of their meetings were sent regularly to the Committee Clerk.

ACTION: INTERESTED GROUPS

ii.         Fires in Alexandra Park

Committee members highlighted that several unauthorised fires or bar-b-q’s had been lit in the Park and suggested that a bar-b-q area be made available for park users.

RESOLVED that the Park Manager, Alexandra Palace, be asked to respond to the request that a bar-b-q area be made available for park users.

Iii.        Pitch and Putt

In response to the Committee’s asking for an update on the planning application for improvements to the pitch and putt facility, the Interim General Manager advised concerned groups to contact the Park Manager, Alexandra Palace, directly.

Future meetings of the Consultative Committee will be held on:

Tuesday 14^th September 2010

Tuesday 9^th November 2010

Tuesday 8^th February 2011

Tuesday 12^th April 2011

The following dates of future meetings were noted:

Tuesday 9^th November 2010

Tuesday 8^th February 2011

Tuesday 12^th April 2011