Agenda and draft minutes

Apologies for absence were received on behalf of Councillors Demirci and Patel, due to their attendance at a rescheduled LB Haringey Planning Committee (rescheduled from 2 February 2009 due to inclement weather), form Councillor Whyte due to attendance at a meeting of Homes for Haringey, and also from Councillor Beynon due to being unwell.

NOTED

At this point in the proceedings prior to the consideration of minutes, the Chair welcomed Councillor Pat Egan – Chair of the Alexandra Palace and Park Board to the meeting and asked that Councillor Egan give his view of the current position regarding Alexandra Palace and Park.

Councillor Egan thanked the Committee for the opportunity to give an address in respect of the current position at the palace. Councillor Egan advised that following Councillor Cooke’s relinquishing the role of Chair of the Board – having been appointed as Cabinet Member for Community Cohesion and Involvement, he had taken the position as Chair, with Councillor Dogus taking the position of Vice-Chair.

Since taking on the position, Councillor Egan advised that he had commenced a series of individual meetings with members of the Alexandra Palace and Park Consultative Committee to glean views as to how people saw the future of the Palace, which had been very successful and informative.  It was now intended to cascade the individual meetings to the Advisory Committee representatives, and attendees. Councillor Egan, in commenting at the chequered history of the Palace, stated categorically that the process of talking with individuals was part of a stock taking exercise, of where things were at, and where people saw the future direction of the Palace. As previously expressed by Councillor Cooke, Councillor Egan advised that no future proposal or idea was being ruled in or out, and that the future was a blank canvass with no particular vision, and it was hoped that a shared vision/concept would emerge.

Councillor Egan also advised that in terms of the Advisory Committee’s comments in respect of involvement in the away day there had been one away day thus far where only Trustees had been in attendance – and this had been a positive exercise. Counci8llor Egan commented that he had always adored the Park, which for him was as of much importance as the Palace and that any future palace development must ensure that the Park was kept to the level of maintenance and upkeep. Councillor Egan commented that thus far, as Chair, the process had been a steep and tremendous learning curve for him, and that in speaking to individual representatives a considerable feeling of passion had radiated from such discussions, for the Palace and the Park.

The Chair, in thanking Councillor Egan for his brief address, asked if there were any particular questions from the Advisory Committee, and he himself sought clarification as to whether there was a time-line in terms of deliberations and an emerging vision. In response, Councillor Egan advised that there were no timelines and that the current time the focus was on  ...  view the full minutes text for item 21.

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 meeting of the Advisory Committee held on  7 October 2008  (attached marked A).

                                    To consider any matters arising from the Minutes.

ii)                  To note the draft minutes of the meeting of the Alexandra Palace and Park Board held on 21 October 2008  and the responses of the Board to recommendations of the Advisory Committee, (attached marked B, Bi), special meeting of the Board held on 5 November 2008 (attached marked C), and 6 January 2009 (attached marked D);and

iii)                To note the minutes of the Alexandra Palace and Park Consultative Committee held on 15 July 2008, and draft minutes held on 14 October 2008 (attached marked E& F).

               Minutes of the meeting of the Alexandra Park and Palace Advisory Committee - 7 October 2008

               RESOLVED

               That the minutes of the meeting of  Alexandra Park and Palace Advisory Committee held on 7 October 2008 be agreed as an accurate record of the proceedings.

ii.                        Draft minutes of the meeting of the Alexandra Palace and Park Board held on 21 October 2008  and the responses of the Board to recommendations of the Advisory Committee

The Clerk to the Committee - Mr Hart – advised the Committee that a revised set of draft minutes had been TABLED following some minor amendments submitted by Mr Aspden.

The Chair asked if there were comments on the draft minutes and whether Mr Aspden would wish to comment upon his attendance at the Board meeting on 21 October 2008.

Mr Aspden commented on the contents of the circulated minutes which reflected the discussions of the Board meeting of 21 October 2008.  The minutes recorded the exchange of views at that meeting between Members of the Board, the Council’s legal representative and himself.  Mr Aspden advised that in his view he had not done such a good job to get across the views of the Advisory Committee, and he offered his apologies to the Committee Mr Aspden in particular referred to the discussion at page 13 of the circulated minutes regarding Resolutions (a) i-iii of the Committee’s 7^th October 2008 meeting. It was his view that the first two responses did not address the points raised by the Committee regarding the future of the asset and the Firoka Licence arrangements, the findings of the Walklate report in relation to that agreement, and the levels of communication between the Advisory Committee and the Board.

The Chair responded that hopefully lessons had been learned in relation to the findings of the Walklate report, and that a further report was expected. The Chair commented that there needed to be further recognition by the Board of the need to consult on such issues in the future. He asked whether Councillor Egan wished to comment further.

Councillor Egan advised that the further report was yet to be completed and that this would cover a whole range of other issues arising from the findings of the Walklate report. Also, the Board would be considering an update at its next meeting in respect of governance – which had been highlighted in the Walklate report.  In terms of governance the Board would also in the next few months be looking at its relationship with the Advisory and Consultative Committees in terms of creating an open dialogue.

Mr Loudfoot also commented that the Report to the Board meeting did not go to any great depth in terms of the Board’s relationship with both the Advisory and Consultative Committees, as it was a code of governance for the trustees. However, given that the issues referred to were ‘live’, these would be flagged.

Mr Aspden felt that it would be appropriate to consider the process of  ...  view the full minutes text for item 23.

Report of the Park Manager – To update the Committee on forthcoming events and works within the Park.

The Chair asked for a brief introduction of the report.

In a succinct introduction to the circulated report Mr Evison gave a brief update of recent activities carried out in Alexandra Park and answered points of clarification.

The Committee then discussed the following matters;

• Safety & security in and around the Park entrances particularly the Grove and at Muswell Hill;
• The possibility of a joint venture to fund a new bridge and entrance area at Muswell Hill to replace the existing featureless and unsightly entrance;
• Better entrance signage, particularly at Muswell Hill and confirmation that a TLF/Council scheme would install signage as part of the Parkland walk and entrance;

(Councillor Demirci arrived at 20.55hrs)

·        The difficulties with the Thames Water work at the Bedford road end of the lower road and the resultant difficulties with traffic movement etc and the expected completion of the works;

·        The proposals by Warner Estate Residents Association for an all-weather path to replace the present informal, and very muddy, desire line from the top of Park Avenue North across the Redston Road playing fields and the old race-course to join the Lower Road at the eastern end of the car park, and the Committee’s endorsement of this proposal for recommendation to the Board, noting that the proposal will also be considered by the Consultative Committee on 17 February 2009.

Following a summary by the Chair it was:-

RESOLVED

i.                    That the Board be asked to consider exploring a joint funding venture in conjunction with the local Community and external funders in respect of revamping and improving the entrance to the Park at Muswell Hill including a newly designed bridge and path; and

ii.         That the Alexandra Palace and Park Board be asked to note that the Alexandra Park and Palace Advisory Committee endorses the proposal of the Warner Estate Residents Association for an all-weather path to replace the present informal, and very muddy, desire line from the top of Park Avenue North across the Redston Road playing field and the old race-course to join the Lower Road at the eastern end of the car park, and requests that the Board gives consideration to and approves the proposal as outlined.

Report of the General Manager, Alexandra Palace – To advise the Committee on forthcoming events to the end of the financial year 2008/09.

The Chair asked for a brief introduction of the report.

The Managing Director of Alexandra Palace Trading Limited (APTL) – Ms Kane gave a brief and succinct introduction to the report and highlighted the confirmed and provisional bookings at the Palace for the remainder of 2008/09 and also to 2010., and answered a number of points of clarification in respect of the various events as detailed,.

Mr Braybrook assisted Ms Kane in respect of responses.

The Committee then briefly discussed the current economic climate and its effects on the overall confirmed and provisional bookings and the levels of drop out, and Ms Kane responded in terms of the number of bookings that were definite. It was the case that there was a 10-15% reduction in venue bookings but APTL was not only driven by this aspect.  It was necessary to look at cost effectiveness and value for money, and also the opportunity of picking up bookings where an event had been booked at another venue i.e. EXCEL or NEC, and as a result of costs was now looking at alternative venues. Ms Kane also highlighted to the Committee those events where there was considerable effort on the part of the event organiser in terms of the staging and appearance of the event and the use of materials to improve the overall internal appearance.

In response to clarification from Councillor Oatway in terms of the Darts Championship and the space allocated for gambling Ms Kane advised that this area had been clearly marked and separated from the main event although in the same area, and had the clear appearance of a betting type facility. Mr Braybrook confirmed that no child under 11 was permitted to enter and any minor between the ages of 11 and 16 had to accompanied by an adult.

The Chair then summarised and it was:

RESOLVED

That the contents of the report be noted.  

Considering the legal advice/ opinion of the Local Authority's lawyer (attached) on the SAC's remit in relation to the granting of the gambling licence, and the question of prior consultation

The Chair referred to the item for consideration and in respect of the circulated letter from the LB Haringey’s Legal Services representative in terms of the occasional use notice the Chair advised that he agreed with the advice/opinion as stated.

The General Manager – Mr Loudfoot advised that the initial permanent licence was withdrawn, and the licence was then resubmitted for consideration.  The terms of the resubmitted application was for licence valid for a 3-4 year period but limited only for the Darts Event only. The occasional licence was not used.  

The Committee then discussed the matter of the advice and the course of action open to it., the main comments being:

·        That the legal opinion as stated was narrow in its content though it was recognised that at this juncture there was little value in seeking further legal opinion, and whether the Committee may/would reserve its right to seek in the future further independent legal opinion ;

·        That the issue of the actual event was not being disputed but the mechanism of consultation regarding the event, as well as the implications of the original intended licence was;

·        That principally it was a further matter whereby the Advisory Committee felt that it should be  consulted upon and that the Board should be requested to note and ensure this course of action in the future;

·        That this issue should be a further matter that the Board needed to consider as part of its governance and consultation arrangements.

The Chair then summarised and it was:

RESOLVED

That in noting the written advice of the LB Haringey’s Legal adviser that the Board was not obliged to consult the Advisory Committee regarding the granting of the gaming licence, with which it does not concur, the Committee requests the Board to consider, as part of its relationship and arrangements with the Advisory Committee, that in future it be consulted in respect of such applications as a matter of course.

i.          ITEM RAISED BY WARNER ESTATE RESIDENTS ASSOCIATION

Proposal for all-weather path to replace the present informal, and very muddy, desire line from the top of Park Avenue North, across the Redston Road playing fields and the old race-course, to join the lower road at the eastern end of the car park

ITEM RAISED BY WARNER ESTATE RESIDENTS ASSOCIATION

Proposal for all-weather path to replace the present informal, and very muddy, desire line from the top of Park Avenue North, across the Redston Road playing fields and the old race-course, to join the lower road at the eastern end of the car park

Item dealt with under agenda item 4.

Mr Aspden asked the Clerk to the Committee whether this meeting was to be the last that he would be clerking.

Mr Hart advised that he would be overseeing the next meeting of the Advisory Committee, but that a newly appointed officer within his team would be taking on this role, from the summer of 2009. Mr Hart also advised that as he was taking on other duties it was not possible for him to continue clerking this body.

Mr Aspden, placed on record his thanks to Mr Hart for his efforts and support to this Committee during the past 5 years.  Councillor Oatway echoed this sentiment on behalf of the Committee as a whole.

NOTED