Agenda and minutes

To elect a Chair of the Joint Informal Meeting of the Alexandra Park and Palace Statutory Advisory Committee and the Alexandra Palace and Park Consultative Committee for the remainder of the 2012/13 Municipal Year.

As Chair of the previous meeting, Colin Marr opened the meeting and called for nomination for a Chair for the remainder of the 2012/13 Municipal Year.

Gordon Hutchinson nominated Colin Marr, Jacob O’Callaghan seconded the nomination and it was

RESOLVED that Colin Marr be elected as Chair of the Joint Informal Meeting of the Alexandra Park and Palace Statutory Advisory Committee and the Alexandra Palace and Park Consultative Committee.

Colin Marr in the Chair

Apologies for absence were received from Councillor Beacham, Councillor Cooke, Councillor Demirci, Councillor Peacock, Councillor Stewart, Jimmy Athanassiou and David Liebeck.

Members of the Committee are invited to disclose any interest they may have in any of the items appearing on this agenda.

Councillor Jenks declared a personal interest as he was a member of the Warner Estate Residents’ Association.

i.          To approve the minutes of the informal Joint Statutory Advisory and Consultative Committees held on 22 May 2012.

ii.         To note the minutes of the Advisory Committee held on 22 May 2012.

iii.        To note the minutes of the Consultative Committee held on 22 May 2012.

iv.        To note the minutes of the meeting of the Alexandra Palace and Park Board held on 3 April 2012.

RESOLVED

i)          To approve the minutes of the informal Joint Statutory Advisory and Consultative Committee meeting held on 22 May 2012, subject to the following amendment:

            Apologies for absence to be noted for Liz Richardson.

ii)         To note the minutes of the Statutory Advisory Committee meeting held on 22 May 2012.

iii)        To note the minutes of the Consultative Committee meeting held on 22 May 2012, subject to the following amendment:

            APCC12 (b) to read – Colin ‘Marr’, rather than ‘Frith’.

iv)        To note the minutes of the Alexandra Palace and Park Board meeting held on 3 April 2012.

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

RECEIVED the Park Activities Update as set out in the agenda papers, introduced by Mark Evison – Park Manager, Alexandra Park.

NOTED

Red Bull BMX Event

·        The recent weather had not helped with the restoration of the grounds, although some re-seeding had now taken place using acid-loving grass species as recommendation by an ecologist.

·        Some Committee members raised concerns over the ‘spoil’ left behind by Red Bull and asked when it would be removed.  Duncan Wilson explained that Red Bull had requested to hold another event in the Park next year.  Although no decision has been made with regards to this, and Red Bull would still have to submit a proposal, it was decided that removing the spoil would incur high costs and cause significant disruption especially if it were to be brought back again should another event take place.  It was anticipated that Alexandra Palace would be in a position to take a decision at the end of the year.

·        A discussion continued and the following was noted:

-          Councillor Hare suggested that the perimeter fence be moved in closer so that the area looked tidier, until a decision was made.-

-          Gordon Hutchinson spoke on behalf of Friends of the Park and stated that although the event was said to be successful, it was felt that the disadvantages outweighed the benefits.  The main disadvantages were noise from the event, noise from the movement of vehicles, damage done to the park, delay in the restoration of the park, and general interference with normal park activities.

-          Some members of the Committee felt that moving the debris to a different area in the park could cause as much disruption as it would to remove it completely.  Other members felt that Red Bull should have removed everything after the event, as they had promised to do, and any further proposals for events would be considered at a later date.

-          The Chair proposed a recommendation to the Board, and it was agreed that the view of the joint committee should be made to the Board – this to request that Red Bull be asked, at their expense, either to clear the site of all the debris, or remove it to some other agreed and safe location within the park.  Further that any proposal  for another similar event next year be considered on its merits at a later date.  The Statutory Advisory Committee would separately consider its’ recommendation.

-          Duncan Wilson said that it would be known by October whether Red Bull wanted a repeat event and a fresh proposal could be considered then and would be open for review by the joint committee.

Improvements to Cricket Grounds – Sam Davison

·        Since the last meeting, site visits had been carried out for members.  A couple of further options had been suggested, but after investigation by the project team, were considered unsuitable.

·        The new proposal was to bury the tank.  Additional funding would be required for this, but assurances had been made that  ...  view the full minutes text for item 79.

To receive the report of the Chief Executive, Alexandra Palace advising the Committee on forthcoming events to the end of the financial year.

RECEIVED the Forthcoming Events report as set out in the agenda papers, introduced by Duncan Wilson – Chief Executive, Alexandra Palace.

NOTED

·        Further information was requested as to access to the park from the north side on Torch Relay day.  Duncan Wilson undertook to check this and publish access information on the Alexandra Palace website.

·        Jacob O’Callaghan queried the two dates for Gardeners Question Time – one was provisional and the other looked to be confirmed.  Duncan Wilson explained that both dates were still provisional.

·        The Committee requested that timings of events be included on the event list.

RESOLVED to note the report.

To receive a verbal update on governance issues, including responses to the Chief Executive’s letter to SAC and CC members of 29 June 2012.

The Chair introduced the item and referred to the recent letter sent to Committee members, which suggested that a Chair of the joint committee could be elected for the remainder of the Municipal Year and included a proposal for rationalisation of the membership.  The Chair explained that the origins of this went back to the adoption of the joint committee idea early in 2011 when it was always envisaged that there would be continuity of chairmen and rationalisation / streamlining of membership, both to make the joint committee manageable in size and to improve its effectiveness.

The Chair said that it was overdue that these matters were looked at again and proposed that a working group be re-established to address streamlining the committee by eliminating duplicate membership and resolving representation of lessees, tenants and employees.  Other issues that should be resolved include the need for common agendas / paperwork and moving towards a more formalised and statutory nature for the joint committee.  All of these issues had been anticipated in the original approach to joint working between the two committees, but had not been progressed.

In the discussion on this item, Duncan Wilson suggested to the Chair that somebody from the executive could be involved with the working group to help it with its deliberations.  The Chair thanked Duncan Wilson for his offer and recalled that the working group had in the past worked effectively and had liaised with the Trust Chair and the General Manager in the conclusion of its work..

RESOLVED that the Statutory Advisory Committee and Consultative Committee Chairs would work together to facilitate the working group.

To receive the report of the Head of Regeneration and Development, Alexandra Palace, on progress with the regeneration project.

RECEIVED the report as set out in the agenda pack, introduced by Duncan Wilson – Chief Executive, Alexandra Palace.

NOTED:

·        Over 2000 responses had been received in response to the consultation.  A full report had been included in the papers for the Alexandra Palace and Park Board meeting on 24 July 2012, and were published on the Council website - http://www.minutes.haringey.gov.uk/ieListDocuments.aspx?CId=105&MId=5935

·        The general conclusion was that people were please to see that proposals for improving the Palace were being considered.  There was significant support for bringing the theatre back into use.

·        The consultation showed some negative responses to the hotel idea, but these were put down to confusion as to what was actually proposed.  Similarly, concerns about increased road traffic were to be seen as misunderstandings.

·        Concerns were raised by committee members about one or more of the display panels that seemed to show some specific proposals in the south east wing, e.g. for a ‘BBC TV experience’ that were not part of the consultation plan.  Duncan Wilson responded that the labelling here was entirely illustrative and was not indicative of any firm plan.  Duncan went on to say that ideas were moving ahead for a ‘visitor experience’ in the Transmitter Hall and he expected to have some developed proposals for consideration in the Autumn.

·        Duncan Wilson said that he hoped to have a significant bid for Heritage Lottery Funding for the next phase of regeneration in November, this would include plans for the Theatre and the south east wing / TV studios.  Duncan agreed that these proposals at a formative stage would be put to the joint committee in October in advance for formal consideration by the Board.

RESOLVED to note the report.

None.

i.          Noise from concerts/events at Alexandra Palace

            Raised by Jane Hutchinson - Alexandra Residents’ Association

Noise from concerts/events at Alexandra Palace – raised by Jane Hutchinson on behalf of the Alexandra Residents’ Association.

Jane Hutchinson raised concerns over noise nuisance from concerts at the Palace.  The noise levels seem to have risen from previous years, and this needed to be addressed especially as the amount of concerts at the Palace was rising.  Local residents were carrying out surveys, the results of which would be presented to Duncan Wilson.

Duncan Wilson responded by saying that until specific examples were provided to him, he was not able to comment in detail.  He added that all events at the Palace were bound by the terms of the Palace’s licence and all music must be set at a certain level as prescribed by the Council.  This did not mean that there would not be any noise heard from events, but that this level of noise was one that was deemed acceptable by the Local Authority.

The Chair welcomed Evelyn Regan from the Alexandra Palace Allotments Association, who would replace Colin Mahony as a Consultative Committee member.

Tuesday 16 October 2012

Tuesday 15 January 2013

NOTED the dates of future meetings:

Tuesday 16 October 2012

Tuesday 15 January 2013