Agenda and draft minutes

*Members present.

Also in attendance

Councillor Hare

Mr K. Holder - General Manager - Alexandra Palace

Mr D. Loudfoot  - Facilities Manager Parks - Alexandra Palace

Mr C. Hart – Clerk to the Committee

At 19:30HRS the Clerk – Mr Hart advised those present that the meeting was inquorate, and in accordance with the rules of procedures there would be a 15 minute period in order to allow those members who were not present to arrive.

At 19:45HS Mr Hart advised that the meeting was now quorate and the meeting was able to commence.

There were no apologies given.  There were no declarations of interest.

           To note the resignation of Councillor Wayne Hoban (Alexandra Ward) from the Advisory Committee and the appointment of Councillor David Beacham (Alexandra Ward)  to fill the vacancy, as confirmed at the Full Council meeting of Haringey Council on 9 January 2006.     

            The Chairadvised the Committee of the resignation of Councillor Wayne Hoban (Alexandra Ward) from the Advisory Committee and the appointment of Councillor David Beacham (Alexandra Ward)  to fill the vacancy, as confirmed at the Full Council meeting on 9 January 2006.  

            The Chairalso advised the Committee of the resignation of Ms E Tulloch - Palace Gates Residents’ Association from her position on the Advisory Committee and the appointment of Ms Jackie Baker to fill the vacancy.

            On behalf the Advisory Committee the Chair welcomed both Ms Baker and Councillor Beacham as newly appointed Members of the Advisory Committee.  

i)                    To note the notes of the inquorate meeting of the Advisory Committee held on 15 November 2005 (attached).

                        ii)         To note the draft minutes of the meeting of the Alexandra Palace and Park Board held on (a) 29 November 2005 attached and (b) the special Board meeting held on 10 January 2006 (To follow).

(i)                 Notes of the Inquorate Advisory Committee – 15 November 2005

The Chair asked if there were any points of clarification as to the notes.

Mr Aspden referred to the issue of the previous meeting of the Advisory Committee being inquorate and asked for clarification as to:

·        the rules and procedures in this respect of Advisory Committee meetings being inquorate;

·        the status of the notes of the inquorate meeting and whether they could be formally endorsed, together with whether the minutes  that were put to that meeting could be considered and signed off;

·        the notes of the inquorate meeting showed that 3 members were present at 19:45HRS before Cllr Hoban arrived. 

The Clerk – Mr Hart, responded that in terms of inquorate/ quorate meetings, as detailed in the rules of procedures it was stated that should a meeting be inquorate at the commencement time a 15 minute period of time should be given to await the arrival of members. Should, after that time the member attendance still be inquorate then the meeting should be declared abandoned.  The Committee was then able to have an informal meeting, the notes of which would be presented to the next meeting of the Committee. 

Mr Hart advised that at the previous inquorate meeting the meeting was declared inquorate at 19.45HRS and although Councillor Hoban arrived at 19.58HRS the meeting could not then become quorate.  Mr Hart further advised that should members of the public have been present at the point 19:45HRs and had subsequently left due to the meeting being declared and then the meeting was declared quorate on a Member’s arrival then this would be open to challenge by the members of the public who had left the proceedings with the impression that such proceeding were inquorate and that no decisions could be taken.

Mr Hart also advised that the notes of the proceedings were inaccurate as Cllr E. Prescott had not been present at all during the proceeding and should be amended thus. With regard to the status of the notes of the proceedings of 15 November 2006 it was the case that as the meeting was inquorate the notes had no legal stand as a formal record and therefore could not be acted upon.  With regard to the minutes of the meetings held on 14 June 2005 and 6 September 2005 these would be brought to the next meeting of the Committee for its approval.

Following further comments and points of clarification from Mr Aspden in terms of regulating the rules and procedures the Chair felt that it would be appropriate for the Committee to address these issues later in the proceedings. In terms of the notes of the inquorate meeting held on 15 November 2005 the Chair felt that these should be formally endorsed and it was:

RESOLVED

i.                    That the notes of the inquorate meeting of the Advisory Committee held on 15 November 2005 be noted and endorsed as an accurate record of those proceedings.

ii.                  That the minutes  ...  view the full minutes text for item 35.

The Chair asked the General Manager – Mr Holder to give a brief introduction and background.

Mr Holder advised that following the meeting of the Board of 29 November 2005 the 3 preferred bidders - The Business Design Centre Group Ltd, Earls and Olympia Group Ltd, and Firoka (Heythrop Park) Ltd. had been required to submit their detailed proposals (“Proposals”) by 6^th January 2006, and the Bidders had been asked to provide significant amounts of information in their Proposals, as detailed in section 4 of the development brief.  He advised that as Members of the Committee were aware The Business Design Centre Group Ltd had withdrawn from the process on 21^st December 2005.

 At the Board meeting on 29 November 2005 it had been agreed that each of the bidders had been asked to make a presentation of their proposals to the Board. Of the two remaining bidders Earls and Olympia Group Ltd. [ECO] had declined to give a presentation to the Board whereas Firoka (Heythrop Park) Ltd,[Firoka] had complied with the development brief and given a presentation to the Board on 10 January 2006. Further ECO did not submit presentation boards for public display.  

                           Mr Holder then gave a succinct outline of the Firoka bid which covered:

·        to introduce additional uses to supplement the existing activities within the Palace, in a manner that reflected the original vision of the Palace, as a place of public entertainment on a grand scale.

·      three distinct areas of use and related phases (as illustrated by an axonometric). Phase 1(central areas) related to Exhibition use, Phase 2 (west end) to Hospitality and Phase 3 (east end) Community uses. The phases could be sequential or concurrent depending on the level and complexity of the existing business use at any one time. The existing Exhibition Halls would be refurbished and additional means of escape provided to increase both the capacity and flexibility of the Halls.

·      Firoka’s intention to work with Mr Smith & the Alexandra Palace Organ Society to ensure The Willis Organ could be retained with the goal being, an increase in the range of concerts and attractions at the Palace.

·      In respect of Hospitality - this included the existing Palm Court from which the Hotel, Bar, Restaurant and relocated 1000 seat replacement Panorama Room were accessed. The 150 bedroom Alexandra Palace Hotel would be located in the restored south wing relating to the arcaded façade and the historical Glazed Corridor with lounges and suites located in the south west tower.

Also, a casino and “Camden-style” market.

·      the Community facilities, arranged around the three centrally stacked uses of Studio Cinemas, Bowling and a new 3^rd floor Ice Rink. The historical Theatre would be incorporated within the Studio Cinemas to restore both its historical use as a Cinema whilst also providing a historical setting for theatre groups;

·      other Community facilities including a Fitness Centre, Children’s Indoor Play and Crèche, Cafes, Bars, Retail and a rooftop Restaurant. A Museum celebrating the history  ...  view the full minutes text for item 36.

Following a brief introduction of the report by the Facilities Manager – Mr Loudfoot,    the Chair summarised and it was:

RESOLVED

That the planning application and associated listed building consent for the Panorama Room at Alexandra Palace be endorsed and the Board be advised accordingly.

Following a brief introduction of the report by the Facilities Manager – Mr Loudfoot,    the Chair summarised and it was:

RESOLVED

That the listed building consent for the Theatre Stage at Alexandra Palace be endorsed and the Board be advised accordingly.

(i)     Ms Hutchinson sought clarification and Mr Holder responded in  respect of the cost monitoring of the future development of the asset.

(i)                 In respect of the rules of procedures and governance arrangements for the Advisory Committee the Chair advised that it would be appropriate for the Committee to discuss the matter at the next meeting of Committee In March 2006.

Time meeting concluded: 22.45hrs           

David Liebeck

Chair of the Advisory Committee