Agenda and draft minutes

Alexandra Palace and Park Consultative Committee
Monday, 1st July, 2024 7.00 pm

Venue: CUFOS (Booking Hall) - Top of The Avenue, London, N10 2QE

Contact: Ayshe Simsek Democratic Services and Scrutiny Manager 

Items
No. Item

1.

FILMING AT MEETINGS

Please note 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.  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’, 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.

Minutes:

The Chair drew attention to the information included on the agenda front sheet and noted that that the meeting was not being webcast live.

 

2.

Welcome and Apologies

Minutes:

Apologies for absence were received from MsEtain Casey and Mr John Thompson, Mr. John Wilkinson (deputised by Rachel MacDonald), Councillor Nick da Costa and Councillor Sarah Elliott.

 

Emma Dagnes was congratulated for her OBE award which was for services to heritage. This was well deserved and acknowledgement of Emma’s work for the Palace

The Committee noted the sad news of the passing of former councillor Andy Krokou who was one of the first councillors elected to the Council of Cypriot origin . Andy Krokou had served three terms as a Labour councillor, including chairing the Board in 2002 to 2003, at a time, when a section 36 order was in place at the palace. Andy had provided calm leadership at this difficult time. It was noted that there would be a one-minute silence at full Council in July in tribute to Andy.

 

3.

Nomination of Chair for the Municipal Year 2024/25

Minutes:

 

The Democratic Services Manager requested nominations for the nomination of chair for the Alexandra Palace and Park Consultative Committee for the municipal year 2024-2025. Mr. Nigel Wilmot was proposed by Cllr Ibrahim and seconded by Mr. Jason Beazley, and the Committee agreed to have Mr. Nigel Wilmot as the Chair.

 

4.

DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST

A member with a disclosable pecuniary interest or a prejudicial interest in a matter who attends a meeting of the authority at which the matter is considered:

 

(i) must disclose the interest at the start of the meeting or when the interest becomes apparent, and

(ii) may not participate in any discussion or vote on the matter and must withdraw from the meeting room.

 

A member who discloses at a meeting a disclosable pecuniary interest which is not registered in the Register of Members’ Interests or the subject of a pending notification must notify the Monitoring Officer of the interest within 28 days of the disclosure.

 

Disclosable pecuniary interests, personal interests and prejudicial interests are defined at Paragraphs 5-7 and Appendix A of the Members’ Code of Conduct

 

Minutes:

There were no declarations of interest, and  Committee members were requested to let the clerk know should they become aware of any whilst at the meeting.

 

5.

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 will be dealt with under item 14 below).

Minutes:

There were no matters of urgent business.

 

6.

MINUTES & Matters Arising pdf icon PDF 223 KB

  i.  CC 25 January 2024 to follow

  ii. SAC 25 January 2024 for noting

 iii.Trustee Board Minutes for noting:  9 Nov 2023, 14 December 2023. 26 February 2024 & 27 March 2024.

 

Additional documents:

Minutes:

RESOLVED:

  1. That the minutes of the meeting held on 25 January 2024 be agreed and signed as a correct record.
  2. That the Statutory Advisory Committee (SAC) minutes for 25 July 2024 be noted.
  3. That the Minutes of the Trustee Board for 9 November 2023,14 December 2023, 26 February and 27 March be noted.

 

7.

CEO's GENERAL UPDATE REPORT pdf icon PDF 236 KB

To consider the general update on activities in the Park and Palace.

 

Minutes:

The Chief Executive of Alexandra Palace and Park introduced the report, which included updates from Uses and Activities; Access, Safety and Inclusion; Nature, Health and Well-being and Management and Community Involvement.

The Head of Park and Environmental Sustainability, highlighted the good work of multiple volunteer groups including the Alexandra Palace Volunteer Gardening Group and corporate volunteers through theTCV (The Conservation Volunteers).

There was a public engagement exercise on enhancing The Grove, including an event co-created by Alexandra Palace’s Young Creatives Network, which explored ideas for improvements and ended with a family fun day on the 8 June 2024,

The Committee were shown pictures of work that was done to enhance the habitat of The Grove. The pictures showed cleared grass so the pond could be seen, this provided more space to play, with natural or dedicated equipment for indoor play.

Noted the collaboration work with the volunteer group, Friends of the Park, which included sowing some wildflowers to encourage pesticides enlisting a hedge growing expert, trying out a traditional park method. Gardening volunteers’ flowers were funded by the Friends of the park.

The following points were noted in the discussion at this point of the meeting.

-       It was a gradual process in making all bins uniformed.

-       The Park was looking at alternative, practical routes where contractors could take to avoid deep groves on the paths/ parks.

-       It was noted that work had started on notice boards, gate 1 of Alexandra Palace was being renovated and there were around 15 notice boards in need of renovation.

-       Work had been done of the ponds in the park, which had helped with the habitation of the animals.

 

Maintenance, Repairs and Improvements

The team had submitted an application to Historic England for roof works and were successful and received a six-figure sum. However, the fund provided was to make the space in the roof watertight. It was noted that due to the significant dereliction in the roof area Historic England had given further funds for the project.

There would be a need for a major planning application to fit it out the building and this may take a year or longer to do. It was estimated that the cost may be between £2-2.5 million for this.

The Chief Executive informed the Committee that the double-glazed unit vents would blow open when there were high winds and there was work on this to make the area waterproof and involved an update of the vents.

The legacy project in the Southeast Office Building Refurbishment now enabled Alexandra Palace (AP) staff members to work in the building where previously contractors were working.

The following points were noted in the discussion at this point of the meeting.

-       It was noted that a full-time bricklayer had been secured for brick repairs in the south terrace and it was hoped to employ a bricklayer apprentice. Bricklayers would help with minor jobs within Alexandra Palace, this would ultimately lead to timely completion to repairs and cost  ...  view the full minutes text for item 7.

8.

REWILDING LONDON - WETLAND PROJECT PLANNING pdf icon PDF 496 KB

To consult on the proposals.

 

Minutes:

The report was introduced by Mark Evison- Head of Park and Environmental Sustainability.

It was noted that the feasibility study was carried out following the Strategic Vision work undertaken to consider project across the park and palace. The scheme was developed with the Friends of Alexandra Park. The project outcomes were:

  1. Control surface water and reclaim muddy path.
  2. Establish a new reed bed to increase diversity of birds using the site.
  3. De-silt the pond to increase its capacity and quality.
  4. Increase the capacity of the channel system to reduce the peak flows of surface water entering the public drainage system.
  5. Create new ponds to increase the area if aquatic habitat.

It was noted that £50,000 funding was provided to Alexandra Park by the Mayor of London’s Rewild London scheme. The elements that would form phase 1 were likely to be A, D and E as noted above.

The councillors asked questions and the following was noted:

-       The wetlands were affected by the wetter winter; however, the project should help move water around site and keep path drier. Ponds would help to keep capacity of water during the wetter days.

-       Responding to the information that the felling of mature trees would be required to deliver the scheme and that Council’s Tree team have advised they have no objection in principle given the overall aims to increase habitat structural diversity and species richness, Councillors asked that the communications around the reasons for removal of the trees, as outlined, be very clear as tree removal was always a key local and national concern to residents.

 

RESOLVED:

The Committee to note report.

 

9.

SOLAR PANELS PLANNING APPLICATION pdf icon PDF 111 KB

To consult on the application to install on the AP Cricket Club building

 

Minutes:

The report was introduced by Mark Evison- Head of Park and Environmental Sustainability.

It was noted that funding was awarded for 24 solar panels onto the roof of the pavilion together with associated equipment inside the building. It was estimated that the panels would generate around 10,000 kWh of electricity per annum- avoiding emissions of 2.25 tonnes CO2e. It was noted that the panels would be installed on the southern aspect of the pavilion roof. The project would require planning permission due to the location

LED lights on the South Terrace

There were 52 decorative lamps on South Terrace. The Community Carbon Fund had supported a project to replace the old inefficient lamps with new low energy LED lamps. The new lamps required half as much power as the original, which would save 7,370 kWh of electricity a year. It would save 1.65 tonnes of CO2e annually.

RESOLVED:

To note this report.

 

10.

MATTERS RAISED BY INTERESTED GROUPS

Minutes:

None.

 

11.

NON-VOTING BOARD MEMBERS' FEEDBACK

Minutes:

It was discussed that the Transmitter Hall had become a venue in itself and producing limited revenue. It was on organisation’s plan to do development work to upgrade space.

 

12.

VIEWS/ QUESTIONS FROM MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC

Minutes:

There was no question from members of the public.

 

13.

SUGGESTIONS FOR FUTURE AGENDAS

Minutes:

That the March meeting be focused on goals for Alexandra Park and Palace 2025/26.

 

14.

NEW ITEMS OF URGENT BUSINESS

To consider any items of urgent business as identified at item 5.

Minutes:

            There were no new items of urgent business.

 

15.

DATE OF FUTURE MEETINGS

To note the dates of future meetings:

7th of October 2024

20th January 2025

17th of March 2025

 

Minutes:

The dates of the future meetings were noted.