Agenda and minutes

As the Chair of the Joint Statutory Advisory Committee and Consultative Committee had given his apologies for the meeting, the clerk sought nominations for Chair of the meeting.

Councillor Gallagher nominated Councillor Jogee.  Councillor Barbara Blake seconded the nomination.

Jacob O’Callaghan nominated David Liebeck.  Caroline Hayter seconded the nomination.

David Liebeck agreed to Councillor Jogee taking the Chair for the meeting.

Councillor Jogee in the Chair

Apologies for absence were received from Jane Hutchinson, Caroline Hayter, Colin Marr, Gordon Hutchinson and Councillors Patterson and Marshall.

Caroline Hayter substituted for Jane Hutchinson, and Sarah Holding substituted for Caroline Hayter.  Jacob O’Callaghan substituted for Colin Marr.

A member with a disclosable pecuniary interest or a prejudicial interest in a matter who attends a meeting of the authority at which the matter is considered:

(i)        Must disclose the interest at the start of the meeting or when the interest becomes apparent, and

(ii)       May not participate in any discussion or vote on the matter and must withdraw from the meeting room.

A member who discloses at a meeting a disclosable pecuniary interest which is not registered in the Register of Members’ Interests or the subject of a pending notification must notify the Monitoring Officer of the interest within 28 days of the disclosure.

Disclosable pecuniary interests, personal interests and prejudicial interests are defined at Paragraphs 5-7 and Appendix A of the Members’ Code of Conduct.

None.

It being a special meeting of the Committee, under Part Four, Section B, Paragraph 17 of the Council’s Constitution, no other business shall be considered at the meeting.

It being a special meeting of the Committee, under Part Four, Section B, Paragraph 17 of the Council’s Constitution, no other business shall be considered at the meeting.

Presentation of final HLF design proposals by Andy Theobald, Feilden Clegg Bradley.

Duncan Wilson introduced the report as set out and handed over to Andy Theobald and Peter Higgins to present the HLF design proposals.  The following comments were made in response to the presentation:

BBC Studios

·                The build up of the story from the entrance to the Studios was a great idea, and the audio visual techniques helped to do this.  It was hoped that there would be a good collection of objects to complement the digital storytelling.

·                A big concern was that any structural changes in the studios would have to be supported by strong interpretation.

·                How would the displays transmit to visitors the difficulties that people were struggling with at the time?

·                Would at least one section of the bricked in arches be retained?

·                There was a concern that it was difficult to envisage what exactly was proposed, and what would be taken away in order to achieve the final result.

·                This was the last chance to ‘get the studios right’.  This was an opportunity to show the Baird Intermediate Film Techniques in Studio B.

·                There were two conflicting aspects to the vision of the project – the fact that Alexandra Palace was a Victorian building, and the fact that Alexandra Palace was crucial to television history.  The BBC and the Studios should be the highest priority.

·                Stephen Games, a designer, broadcaster, critic and local resident spoke as a member of the public on the proposals. He was critical of various aspects, including the digital representation of the narrative of the early history of television, contrasting it with the experience of actually watching television before the Second World War. He did not like the theatre as a multi-functional space either.

Peter Higgins responded to the comments made.  He pointed out that if the Studios were recreated with ‘fakes’ of the equipment that had been used, it would not be particularly inspiring to visitors.  It was more useful for visitors to know how the studios and equipments worked, what chemicals were used, the mechanics of the machinery – rather than creating replicas of the original equipment.  Studio A would start the story, and Studio B would show what current technology was, and what could happen in the future.  The story of the studios would be described very clearly in an animation.

Duncan Wilson informed the Committee that the former Chair of the Statutory Advisory Committee, Denis Heathcote, had written a letter to the HLF which supported the removal of the bricked up arches/windows.  The SAC had also commended the proposals at Stage 1 of the HLF bid.

Theatre / fabric of the building

·                Friends of the Theatre were delighted with the plans for the theatre.  One question that had been raised was whether it would be necessary for the floor to be flattened, as it was a huge part of the character of the space.

·                Concerns were raised that this was the last chance for the Committees to consider the application.  Duncan Wilson explained that proposals had been discussed in  ...  view the full minutes text for item 29.

To note the dates of future meetings:

20 January 2015

14 April 2015

NOTED the dates of future meetings:

20 January 2015

14 April 2015