Agenda and draft minutes

To receive any apologies for absence.

Apologies for absence received on behalf of Councillors Dobbie and Whyte, and Ms Rees. 

NOTED

Any additional item of urgent business will be considered under Item 8 below.

There were no items of urgent business.

NOTED

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

There were no declarations of interest.

NOTED

i)                    To approve the minutes of the meetings of the Advisory Committee held on (a) 3 April 2006  and (b) 22 November 2006 (attached).

ii)         To consider any matters arising from the Minutes.

iii)       To note the draft minutes of the meeting of the (a) Alexandra Palace and Park Board held on (i) 25October 2006, (ii) 14 November 2006 (attached) and (b) the Consultative Committee of 7 November 2006.

(A) Minutes        

(i)         Alexandra Park and Palace Advisory Committee – 3 April 2006

The Chair asked if there were any points of accuracy.

Councillor Oatway commented that as she and other Councillors were not Members of the Committee at that time and therefore would not be able to comment on their accuracy.

Mr Aspden referred to the matters relating to decisions referred to the Board for consideration and whether the actual detailed document put before the Board should be recorded within the Minutes.

After some clarification with the Clerk the Chair felt that the resolutions were accurate in their content and that and that the findings of the Board to those resolutions were subsequently recorded in both minutes of the Board and the Advisory Committee it was not necessary to record as Mr Aspden had suggested. 

The Chair MOVED and it was:

RESOLVED

That the minutes of the Advisory Committee held on 3 April 2006 be agreed as an accurate record of the proceedings. 

(ii)        Alexandra Park and Palace Advisory Committee – 22 November  2006

There being no points of accuracy the Chair MOVED and it was:

RESOLVED

That the minutes of the Advisory Committee held on 22 November 2006 be agreed as an accurate record of the proceedings. 

(iii)       Alexandra Palace and Park Board  – 25 October & 14  November  2006

There being no points of clarification the Chair MOVED and it was:

RESOLVED

That the minutes of the Board  held on 25 October, and 14 November 2006 be noted. 

(iv)      Alexandra Palace and Park Consultative Committee  –  7  November  2006

There being no points of clarification the Chair MOVED and it was:

RESOLVED

That the minutes of the Consultative Committee held on 7 November 2006 be noted. 

(b)       Matters Arising

Alexandra Park and Palace Advisory Committee – 22 November  2006

Mr Aspden asked whether the response letter to the Charity Commission be attached to the Minutes and placed on file. Following clarification with the Clerk the Chair asked that the matter be checked and then placed on file if this was possible.

The Chair then sought clarification as the letter being forwarded to the Chair of the Board for consideration.  The Clerk advised and the Chair agreed to forward the letter to the Chair of the Board directly.

NOTED

To advise the Committee on progress.

The Chair asked for a brief introduction of the report.

The General Manager – Mr Holder advised the Committee that he had received notification from the Charity Commission of the receipt of 328 submissions in response to the advertisement of the Section 16 Notice.  The Commission had advised that a Commissioner would make the decision  as to the granting of the order. There were no timescales given as to when this would take place and as previously advised the only part of the process with a set time period imposed was the actual period of advertisement.

In response to points of clarification Mr Holder advised that the 328 submissions consisted of a considerable number both for and against the proposals. In clarifying queries from Councillor Engert Mr Holder advised that  the Commission did not hold meetings in public and that the determination may give a response of either yes or no but beyond that it was unclear whether it may quantify or clarify answer given.

In response to questions by the Chair and Mr Aspden Mr Holder advised that the Firoka Group had not had any dealings or involvement with the process and the management of the existing business would remain until the completion of the lease signing etc. The Firoka Group had met with clients but the actual daily business of the trading company carried on and Mr Holder was still signatory until completion.  The process for the winding up of the Trading Company would be discussed with the Board of Directors on 6 February 2007.

The being no further questions from the Committee the Chair thanked Mr Holder for his summary.

NOTED  

To update on progress made towards the programme of work, and to receive a further updatre in respect of the previous full audit of HLF WORK IN THE Park.

The Chair advised that Item 7(i) would be considered in conjunction with Item 6.

In a succinct introduction to the circulated report the Head of Facilities Mr Loudfoot gave a brief update of each of the areas of HLF work and answered points of clarification.

In particular comments were expressed in respect of:

·        The works to the entrances and the on-going situation with LBH Highways service as to the proposed scope of works. Further complications arsing as result of the LBH design being overspecified and the budgeted amount as a result being over that in the HLF budget. A meeting was scheduled for the following week (30/01) and the outcome would be conveyed.

·        The current vacancy of parks Development Manager to be filled shortly which will assist in the management of the Park

·        The continuing difficulties with parking on the left hand side of the Lower Road going down and the dangers of there being no pavement to walk on, the hazards of crossing the road and the possible inclusion of raised places to assist and also slow the speed of vehicles

·        The raising of the lake viewing platforms or their relocation in order for the bird viewing not to be obscured

·        Signage at various entrances to the Park to be reviewed and improved including the Muswell Hill entrances to the Park, and improvements to the Park entrances at various locations

·        Improvements to lighting in various locations around the Park and the pros and cons of having new lighting installed and the likely vandalism once installed

·        That Advisory Committee Members were welcome to attend a walkabout (to be arranged) with the HLF representative in the near future

·        Update on the proposed Haringey Heartlands Secondary School proposals and the subsequent need to use the park as the sports ground facility., and that the capacity use was almost at its limit .  The decision of the Schools Adjudicator was expected in May 2007 in respect of the successful bidder following the bidding competition.

The Chair then summarised and it was:

RESOLVED

i.                    that the contents of the report and Item 7(i) be noted; and

ii.                  that in respect of the issue of the continuing difficulties with parking on the left hand side of the Lower Road going down and the dangers of there being no pavement to walk on, the hazards of crossing the road and the possible inclusion of raised places to assist and also slow the speed of vehicles, the Alexandra Palace and Park Board be requested to consider and agree measures to address the health and  safety provision and ensure that action is taken to remedy the problems;

iii.                that a walk about be arranged in the near future with the HLF consultant in respect of the final auditing and required works.

i.                    Full Audit of HLF work in the Park – Further update on previously reported matter - raised by Mr Aspden – Warner Estate Residents Association

i.                    Full Audit  of HLF work in the Park – Further update on previously reported matter – raised by Mr Aspden – Warner Estate Residents Association

Matter dealt with in Item 6 above.

(i)                 List of Events at the Palace

Mr Aspden raised the issue of the previous list of events that the Committee did at one time receive but did no longer and whether it could be submitted in the future.

Following a brief discussion as to the type of list supplied it was AGREED that a list be provided to the next meeting of the Committee.

(ii)               Traffic and Parking Problems – New Years Eve

Mr Aspden referred to an issue raised resident’s of his association in respect of difficulties with traffic congestion and parking during the late evening of New Years Eve around the Palace caused by people viewing the Firework Displays across London.

Both Mr Holder and Mr Loudfoot had not been aware of such problems and the security personnel had not entered any difficulties in the log.

Following a brief discussion as to the reported difficulties the Chair summarised and it was:

RESOLVED  

That the Board be asked to look into the issue and ensure that on future New Year Eves there be adequate carparking to prevent such difficulties. 

27 MARCH 2007

27 March 2007