Agenda and minutes

An apology for absence was received from Councillor Newton and an apology for lateness was received from Councillor Davies.

The meeting started at 19:40 hrs.

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 in relation to items on the agenda.

i)          To approve the minutes of the Advisory Committee held on 16^th June 2009.

ii)         To receive the draft minutes of the meeting of the Alexandra Palace and Park Board held on 16^th April 2009 and 30^th June 2009 (TABLED) to be noted.

iii)        To receive the draft minutes of the meeting of the Consultative Committee held on 23^rd June 2009 to be noted.

iv)        To receive the draft minutes of the meeting of the Alexandra Palace and Park Panel held on 3^rd June 2009 to be noted.

Minutes of the Advisory Committee held on 16^th June 2009

Committee members expressed dissatisfaction that the Advisory Committee’s views on the Heartlands Planning application were rejected by the Board and considered not to be within the Committee’s remit.  The main concerns of the Advisory Committee had been about the impact of the development on the view from the Palace which Committee members considered to be relevant.

Committee members also expressed concern at the Board’s responses to the Advisory Committee’s comments about the Park Workshop Building and            that the Board had ignored the resolutions of the Advisory Committee.

With regard to minute no. APSC04 - Appointment of Members to the Alexandra Park and Palace Statutory Advisory Urgency Sub-Committee for the Municipal Year 2009/10 – the Committee noted that Councillor Dobbie was no longer a member of the Advisory Committee.

Councillor Oatway nominated Councillor Whyte to take Councillor Dobbie’s place on the Statutory Advisory Urgency Sub-Committee.  This was seconded by Councillor Davies and it was:

RESOLVED

That Councillor Whyte be appointed to the Urgency Sub-Committee of the  Advisory Committee for the Municipal Year 2009/10.

Minutes of the meeting of the Alexandra Palace and Park Board held on 16^th April 2009 and 30^th June 2009

The draft minutes of the Alexandra Palace and Park Board held on 30^th June 2009 were tabled.

Andrew Gill (Interim General Manager, Alexandra Palace) brought members attention to minute number APB007 which deferred consideration of the Redston Park proposed pathway.  Mr Gill informed the Committee that Board members had attended a Redston Park site visit on 23^rd June and that the matter would be considered by the Board in October 2009.  Mr Gill further advised that there was no budget available for this work.

RESOLVED

That the minutes of the draft minutes of the Alexandra Palace and Park Board held on 16^th April 2009 and 30^th June 2009 be noted.

Minutes of the meeting of the Consultative Committee held on 23^rd June 2009

RESOLVED

That the draft minutes of the Consultative Committee held on 23^rd June 2009 be noted.

Minutes of the meeting of the Alexandra Palace and Park Panel held on 3^rd June 2009

RESOLVED

That the draft minutes of the Alexandra Palace and Park Panel held on 3^rd June 2009 be noted.

To receive the report of the Park Manager, Alexandra Palace, updating the Advisory Committee on events and works within the park.

The Committee received the report updating on park activities, presented by Mark Evison (Park Manager).

Members of the Committee congratulated officers and Friends of the Park, particularly Gordon Hutchinson, who played a large part in helping the Park to obtain Green Flag status for the second year.

The Chair highlighted some water drainage problems in the Redston Field area of the Park.  Mr Evison stated that this could be due to the leaking fire main and agreed to investigate.

Mr Evison reported that the operator of the Workshop Building had obtained planning permission and relevant parties were in the process of agreeing the lease.  Committee members complained that the boundary in the map provided as part of the planning application seemed different to the map provided in the lease.  Mr Evison stated that the area shown on a plan as part of the lease, was likely to become smaller when the lease was agreed.

Mr Evison informed members that the Park would be responsible for cutting the grass on the land within the fenced area of the Workshop Building.  This area, however, will be exclusive to children using the Little Dinosaurs project in the Workshop Building although it was still part of the public park.  The tenant would be responsible for maintaining security in this area.

The Committee were informed that Adidas had offered to supply the Borough with Adizone outdoor gym equipment at the Newlands Road playing field area which would be open to the public. There would be only 12 Adizone gyms in London and installation and maintenance would be free of charge to Alexandra Palace.  Trustees and the Advisory and Consultative Committees would be consulted and installation would be subject to a planning application and consultation with the local community.

RESOLVED

That the report be noted.

To receive the report of the Managing Director, Alexandra Palace Trading Limited (APTL) advising the Advisory Committee on forthcoming events to the end of the financial year.

The Committee received the report on forthcoming events presented by Rebecca Kane (Managing Director, Alexandra Palace Trading Limited (APTL)).

Ms Kane highlighted that no events consisting of more than 10,000 people had been organised except for the fireworks event which was expected to be attended by 30-40,000 people.

The Knitting & Stitching and Darts events were currently being planned. Ms Kane emphasised that APTL relied on hosting 3 to 4 concerts each year but only one concert had been booked so far (with a further 20 days available) and that the licence application for additional capacity in the Great Hall should improve the number of bookings.

Ms Kane reported that the Christmas Pantomime was always a popular event and APTL was considering how the ice-rink foyer could be used; a Christmas Market was one of the options.

Ms Kane informed the Committee that raising capital to improve and update the ice-rink freezing mechanism was a priority.  The gas which was currently used to freeze the ice would soon become obsolete.

RESOLVED

That the report be noted.

Before the Chair considered any other business he asked the officers present (Mr Gil and Mr Evison) to leave the meeting.

Clerks note: The Committee moved into informal session for this discussion.

To note the dates of future meetings of the Advisory Committee as follow:

3^rd November 2009

9^th February 2010

30^th March 2010

The Committee noted the dates of future meetings as detailed below:

3^rd November 2009

9^th February 2010

30^th March 2010