Agenda and draft minutes

Apologies for absence were received on behalf of Councillor Oatway, Paul Wastell, and Jackie Baker due to attendance at post office closure meeting,  Councillor Whyte for whom Councillor Reid was substituting, and Councillor Dobbie due to attending a Local partnership meeting within his Ward.

NOTED

There were no declarations of interests.

N.B. THIS IS NOT A VERBATIM NOTE, BUT AN OUTLINE OF THE PRESENTATION.

The Chair informed the Committee that a deputation request had been received from the ‘Save Ally Pally’ Campaign.  The Chair welcomed the representatives from the Group and asked that they give their presentation to the Committee.  The Chair also advised that the time allowed for presentations was usually 5 minutes but the Committee would allow a full presentation and an opportunity for questions and answers.

The Presentation

Mr J O’Callaghan on behalf of the Campaign (SAP) informed the Committee that Ms Zilkha and Mr Hay from the Campaign would each give a short presentation and then would be happy to respond to questions and discuss their proposal. Mr O’Callaghan briefly outlined his personal history and involvement with the Palace, his view of the history and benefits of the Palace as a recreational and educational facility, ensuring that the future usage was governed by what people wanted and not purely for profit as the current proposals with the Firoka Group were based upon. The proposals put forward would not have in a sense a ‘casino royal’ scheme or any unsuitable usage. Mr O’Callaghan stated that if a development agreement was entered into with the Firoka Group by the Board this would not stand up to future High Court challenges. SAP proposed that the building would be restored to the usage it was always intended for, and they would ensure that the Palace was recognised (nationally) as the birth place of television.

Mr O’Callaghan then asked that Ms Zilkha and Mr Hay to address the meeting.

Ms Zilkha informed the meeting that she was a resident and also a business woman in Muswell Hill and belonged to the Muswell Hill Road Residents Association and the Muswell Hill and Fortis Green Association. Ms Zilkha expressed her love of the area and its history and that Alexandra Palace was a landmark of unique importance to the area, London, and the Country as a whole. Ms Zilkha commented on the history of the Park and Palace which existed before the building of houses and shops in the area did, and was then and still was ‘the people’s palace’. The new “Trust” proposed by SAP would ensure that ‘the people’s Palace’ was recognised, and that it would bring back into use existing historic elements of the building, including the Victorian Theatre, a museum and visitors centre for the TV Studios, restoring the Willis Organ, and ensuring the KUFOS building was maintained for community usage. The costs of this would partially be met from the successful marketing of the trading arm of the Palace. Ms Zilkha commented on the 1996 letter which referred to the £35 million, and SAP’s view that the current debt was as a result of mismanagement of the Palace in spite of the £1 million + injected by the LB Haringey. Ms Zilkha commented on the charitable status of the Trust and charity law (in terms of specific public  ...  view the full minutes text for item 35.

To consider and agree the minutes of the meeting of the Advisory Committee of 5 February 2008.

The Chair advised that given the lateness of the hour he proposed that the Committee not consider the draft minutes of the meeting held on  5 February 2008.

NOTED

In receiving an update from the General Manager the Committee will consider the deliberations of the Special Alexandra Palace and Park Board held on 10 March 2008 where it considered the resolutions of this Committee of 5 February 2008. 

Matters pertaining to this item were discussed during consideration of the deputation.

NOTED