Agenda and draft minutes

Apologies for absence were received on behalf of Councillors Demirci and Patel due to attendance at a special Licensing A Sub-Committee of which they are Members, Councillor Bloch due a work commitment outside of the UK, and Councillor Beynon due to the recent birth of her child.

The Clerk – Clifford Hart sought, and the Committee unanimously agreed to send its congratulations to Councillor Beynon on the recent birth of her daughter Megan.

NOTED  

There were no declarations of interests.

NOTED

            The Clerk to the Committee Mr Hart advised of the resignation of Councillor Justin Portess from the Council and the resultant Council-wide vacancy on the Advisory Committee.  Mr Hart advised that the Committee would be informed of newly appointed Member once they had been appointed thereto.

NOTED

i)                    To approve the minutes of the meeting of the Advisory Committee held on 16 October 2007  (attached).

                        ii)         To consider any matters arising from the Minutes.

                        iii)        To note the draft minutes of the meeting of the Alexandra Palace and Park Board held on 30 October, 5 & 17 December 2007 (Special meetings), Alexandra Palace and Park Panel – 22 & 29 November 2007) and the   Alexandra Palace and Park Consultative Committee of 23 Octoberl 2007.

Minutes of the meeting of the Advisory Committee – 16 October 2007

                        RESOLVED 

That the minutes of the Alexandra Park and Palace Advisory Committee held on 16 October 2007 be confirmed as an accurate record of the proceedings, subject to the amendment of the date in para 3 – page 3 – to read 17 and not 16. 

Matters arising

(i)                 Page 5 – last bullet point

Councillor Dobbie commented on the requirement for a special Advisory Committee or an Urgency Sub Committee and as he was not a Member of the Urgency Sub-Committee asked if he could be notified if any such meeting was called. Councillor Oatway commented that she had originally suggested Councillor Dobbie sit on the Urgency Sub-Committee.

The Clerk advised that in the event of any urgent matter requiring consideration by the Urgency Sub-Committee all Advisory Committee Members would be notified of the date and time and were welcome to attend the meeting if they so wished to observe.

NOTED

(ii)               Page 7 – Resolution (ii)

Councillor Oatway sought clarification as to whether the requested maps had been circulated in an A4 mode.  The Park Manager – Mr Evison responded that the maps had been TABLED at the meeting in A3 form. He would undertake to ensure that the maps were sent to all Members in A4 form and he apologised for the oversight.

NOTED 

(iii)             Page 3 (ii) Cricket Club

In response to a query from Jane Hutchinson on progress with the Cricket Club application – Mr Loudfoot advised that no formal proposals had been received as yet. When an application for planning permission was received then the application would come before the Advisory Committee.

With reference to Park usage for the proposed new school and  should the football/sport facilities around the park require floodlighting, such matters would be considered by the Advisory Committee.

iv)      In response to points of clarification in relation to the attaching of the                                                                                        Judicial Review Judgement to the minutes of the meeting of 16 October 2007 from Mr Aspden, Mr  Hart advised that they were placed on file with the minutes automatically but would not form part of the actual minutes when circulated. Should any Member of the public wish to view the minutes files they would see the copy there for viewing if they so wished.

At this point in the proceedings the Chair felt it appropriate for the Committee to discuss the resolution passed by the Board which was attached to the Minutes of the meeting of the Advisory Committee of 16 October 2007.

Resolution of the Alexandra Palace and Park Board - 30 October 2007

Mr Aspden asked whether it was appropriate to raise the issue of the Judicial Review Judgement at this juncture. On a point of order from Councillor Dobbie that  this part of the meeting should be dealing with Matters Arising from the previous minutes, the Chair ruled that anything relating to the Judicial Review be raised under the item “ Future of  ...  view the full minutes text for item 27.

The Chair asked for a brief update and introduction.

The Consultant Development Manager, Mr Holder, advised the Committee that the circulated report detailing the Chair of the Board’s statement to the press on 23 January 2008 was the most up to date position as to where the situation was in terms of the future of the asset. The Firoka Group had confirmed its continuing intention and to that end officers were attempting to arrange a  further meeting at which Mr Kassam could be present in order to progress matters. It was unlikely that any further progress would be made before the Board’s scheduled meeting on 26 February 2008.

In response to points of clarification from Councillors Oatway and Whyte, Mr Holder advised that following the quashing of the order in the High Court on 5th October 2007 the Board had met on 10 October 2007 and had confirmed its strategy of ‘holistic’ development. The Board further confirmed its intentions on 5th December 2007 and had asked that the Firoka Group confirm it’s continuing interest in developing the Palace. Following the Christmas and New Year period the Firoka Group confirmed its continuing interest.

In response to a number of points of further clarification from the Committee Mr Holder responded  that he had been advised that the Charity Commission, in light of the Court’s decision, were now seeking advice on how it should proceed in terms of further consultation. In respect of the existing lease, project agreement, master agreement and supplementary documents agreed with the Firoka Group  some further discussion would take place but it was unlikely that the content of any of the documents, other than the Master Agreement, would be substantially amended.

At this point Mr Aspden read a personal statement that he felt the Committee should consider in relation to the judgement.

The Chair commented that he was of the view that it was not in the remit of this Committee did not include comments on the detail of a court judgement . The Advisory Committee’s remit was to consider matters relating to the Park and Palace and its operation. Councillor Dobbie commented that he wholeheartedly agreed with the Chair’s comments and if the Committee were to accept the comments expressed then he would seek legal advice as to whether this Committee should be considering such issues.

Councillor Oatway also commented that in her view it was not a matter that this Committee should be commenting upon but that a number of the points had already been covered in the resolution passed earlier although she personally agreed with some of the comments expressed.

Ms Myers commented that the point was that the Charity Commission had not consulted properly, whether influenced by the Board/Council or otherwise and that that was the point of the judicial review and the resultant judgement. It was not in the best interest of the Charity Commission to be humiliated in this manner as a result of the judgement. Mr Frith shared this view and  ...  view the full minutes text for item 28.

The Chair then asked for a brief introduction of the report.

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

The Committee particularly commented and/or sought clarification as to the following issues:

• the possibility of a gravel path or paving at the Redston Road entrance, and the need for general improvements to paths across the Park as a whole
• the possibility of having details of the birds that nest in the park both on signage and on the website
• the excellent boating facilities
• the need for a new crossing point on the western corner of the palace

RESOLVED

i.                that the HLF update be noted; and

ii.               that the comments expressed during discussion of the item be noted and actioned, and report backs to the next Advisory Committee.

The General Manager advised the Committee of those events provisionally confirmed (in italics) and those confirmed on the events sheet.  In particular he referred the Committee to ‘Slammin Vinyl’ on 21-22 March 2008 which would now not be taking place.

In response to questions from the Chair, Mr Loudfoot commented that it was likely that recent issues had affected the events  programme and that some months for example July and August were quite quiet, but with the resumption of APTL it was expected that the take up of events would improve.

NOTED  

The General Manager Mr Loudfoot gave a brief introduction to the report  and explained the background to the requirement for additional antenna

RESOLVED

That the application by National Grid Wireless to install two new antennas on the existing transmission mast be supported. 

i.                    Items raised by Muswell Hill & Fortis Green Association

·                    The committees recommendations to the Board on consultation   and disclosure regarding the terms of the ongoing negotiations with Firoka, and the terms eventually agreed;

·                    The Board’s response to any recommendation made by the Committee should not be a simple “noted, as in the past, but indicate whether the Board accepted or declined to accept the Committee’s recommendation and their reasoning in the case of a rejection.

ii.                  Items raised by Warner Estate Residents Association

·                    Application made for a permanent gambling licence for track betting in the Panorama Room.

·                    Traffic arrangements for Fireworks night 2007

i.                    Items raised by Muswell Hill & Fortis Green Association

·                    The Committee being consulted and disclosure being given to the Committee of the terms of the ongoing negotiations with Firoka, and the terms eventually agreed;

·                    The Board’s response to recommendations of the Committee should not be simply “noted”, as in the past, but the Board should explain their reasoning in the case of rejecting the Committee’s recommendations.

Ms Myers commented (and the Chair concurred) that the issues raised by the Association had been dealt with earlier in the meeting.

                  NOTED

ii.                  Items raised by Warner Estate Residents Association

·                    Application made for a permanent gambling licence for track betting in the Panorama Room.

·                    Traffic arrangements for Fireworks night 2007

In response to questions from Harry Aspden as to the application for a permanent track betting licence the General Manager emphasised that the need for the licence had been solely to accommodate the world professional darts championships and not (as had been suggested in the local press) an attempt to provide a gambling venue outside that event (or future darts events) as a whole, nor was it an attempt to keep the concept of a casino alive, nor was it the thin end of a wedge designed to soften up the public. There were no other plans to expand betting beyond the darts championships.

The General manager further commented that the Licence application was made by Trethowans Solicitors working with Ladbrokes who were the major sponsors of the event. It was submitted as a permanent licence due to the high fees that would be due each year if a permanent licence was not in place. Regrettably ,there had been some confusion over in whose name it should be processed which had been resolved in discussions with the Local Authority.

 He also explained that due to the licence not being granted in time the organisers had acted under  the provisions of  the Gaming Act and taken out an ‘occasional’ use License for, in any one calendar year up to 10 days but, the allocation meant that the facility was not used on some days of the event in order to keep within the limits.

In response to points raised by Mr Aspden, Councillor Whyte commented that the rules and criteria governing the objection to grant of a licence were very clear and set out in statute, and the advice given by the Local Authority was correct in what could/could not be objected to. . Mr Aspden explained that it was the very fact that the objection criteria were so narrow that led him to believe that the matter should be referred to the Committee before the application was even submitted.

The Chair questioned whether it was within the remit of the Statutory Advisory Cttee to consider such applications, as it did indeed cover planning applications relating to the Palace and Park. In referring to Part III, para 19(a) of the Act,  the Chair asked that  advice be sought from the Council’s Head of Legal  ...  view the full minutes text for item 32.