Agenda item

Report of the Park Manager - To update the Committee on events and works within the park.

The Chair then 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. In particular Mr Evison advised that Warner Estate Residents Association had consulted their members over their request for a new pathway from the Redston Road entrance.  Mr Evison commented that he had attended the WERA AGM on 6 July 2008 where the meeting had fully endorsed the proposals. He would now commence drawing up detailed plans.

Mr Evison further commented that:

·      The Alexandra Park Ornithological Group (APOG) held a public bird walk in May and 43 species were sighted.  This list has been published on the Alexandra Palace Website and is available in the Information Centre.  APOG is preparing a ‘Birds of Alexandra Park’ leaflet detailing all species that may be seen;

·      Traffic Engineers have reviewed the crossing point on Alexandra Palace Way (below the Palm Court entrance) and feel a traffic island could be installed to provide a refuge for pedestrians.  Quotations for this project are being sought.

Mr Evison also advised that following the conclusion of the HLF an event had been arranged for Sunday 10 August 2008 to celebrate the success of the HLF project, with full media coverage, and all members of the Advisory, and Consultative Committee, and the Alexandra Palace and Park Board would be invited to the event. In response to points of clarification Mr Evison advised that the event was not open to the public and was by invitation only.  The event would also be appearing on the Palace’s website.

Mr Evison also advised that there had been a positive visit from the Green Flag Judges at the end of May 2008, where it had been remarked upon how improved the park had appeared since the previous year by one of the judges who had been judging the park the previous year.  The judges’ results were expected on 17 July 2008. 

The Committee then briefly raised the following points of concern;

·        Concerns with regard security issues in and around the Park and at various entrances and concerns that incidences should be followed through, in particular incidences either sexual attack/exposure. In response the General Manager – Mr Loudfoot advised that the system operated whereby on site security at the palace received daily reports of any incidents in the park such as attacks etc although it was the case that not all incidents were reported to the Palace. The incidents, if reported to the Council’s Safer Neighbourhood Team, were fed back to the palace and vice versa.  In terms of frequency of incidents it could be said that there could be periods of weeks where no serious incidents occurred and then as was the case the previous week a number of incidents occurred within 2/3 days.  Mr Evison reported that a number of those incidents had been tracked on camera and the identities of the attackers were being investigated, and arrests had or would be made shortly. Mr Evison advised that the park was monitored by both security staff and the park Police, in conjunction with the Safer Neighbourhood team;

·        The need for an security/incident report to be provided for the next meeting of the Advisory Committee;

·        Whether the gantries would be replaced and the response from Mr Loudfoot that the columns had been cast iron, filled with concrete which had subsequently caused corrosion which resulted in the need for their removal.  The gantries would not be returning.

RESOLVED

i.                that the update be noted; and

ii.               that the comments expressed during discussion of the item be noted and actioned, and report backs to the next Advisory Committee, together with a report on the level of incidents in the park.