Agenda item

Report of the Head of Operations and Events on a variation to increase capacity of Great Hall for live music/concert events

Ms Rebecca Kane (Managing Director of Alexandra Palace Trading Limited (APTL)), introduced the report which detailed APTL’s proposal to request a variation in the Premises Licence to enable the capacity for live music/concert events to be extended from 7,250 to 10,400. None of the events currently scheduled at Great Hall would be at maximum capacity.

The Advisory Committee expressed concerns that events could potentially disturb local residents until the early hours of the morning.  Ms Kane explained that all events would finish at 23:00hrs as detailed in the report.  Mr De’Ath, Acting head of Operations and Events, added that promoters often wanted to end events at 22.30hrs to enable visitors to get home before the close of public transport.

A double-decker shuttle bus was provided by the Palace when any concert was being held, regardless of size.  Palace staff would discuss with promoters of large events the possibility of providing additional buses.

In response to Committee Members’ concerns that noise from smokers outside the premises would disturb local residents, Mr De’Ath (Acting Head of Operations and Events -Alexandra Palace) explained that a designated area outside the Great Hall was provided and past experience showed that approximately 20-30 people used the area.

Mr De’Ath highlighted that visitors to the Ice Rink, which was open to the public until 23:00hrs and until 01:00hrs for ice-hockey club training, had an impact on the number of people allowed in to events at the Great Hall. If the Ice Rink was in a full capacity use for an event then use of the Great Hall would not be possible.

In response to the Advisory Committee’s concerns Mr De’Ath confirmed that risk assessments would be conducted before each event and would be based on information given by the promoters. An experienced security team worked at the Palace and safety measures were in place for such large events.

Committee Members were concerned that the Fire Main required repairs works and asked if this would need to be done prior to full capacity being in attendance at the Great Hall.  Mr Gill (Acting General Manager, Alexandra Park and Palace Charitable Trust) explained that the Fire Main was operational but did require long-term repair works.  There were contingency procedures in place if the Fire Main was ever not fully operational.

The Chair highlighted that the Statutory Advisory Committee’s remit was to consider the frequency of events.  He expressed the opinion that the Committee should be consulted about large events where more than 10,000 people would be expected and that advance notice should be given to residents.

Ms Kane explained that she did not expect there to be many more events than there currently was, five or six concerts were held per annum, which did not cause disruption to residents.  However, if the variation to the premises licence was granted APTL would be able to host events for bigger artists and generate more profit.   Prior consultation with residents could cause APTL to lose business as promoters expected to finalise bookings within 24-48 hours.

Committee Members suggested that the Advisory Committee received details of any concerts which were likely to attract more than 10,000 ticket sales in the Forthcoming Events paper and that the Advisory Committee negotiated with APTL if it was felt that there were too many large events coming up at the same time.

Ms Kane and Mr De’Ath were asked to note the comments made by the Advisory Committee and bring provisional large bookings to the Chair’s attention so that he could decide if an Urgency Sub-Committee meeting was required.

RESOLVED

i.          That the Committee be informed of  large events in future Forthcoming Events papers and that the Committee negotiate with APTL if it was felt that there were too many large events coming up at the same time.

ii.         That provisional large bookings would be brought to the Chair’s attention so that he could decide if an Urgency Sub-Committee meeting was required.

ii.         That Residents’ Association representatives take details of the planning application and respond to the consultation if they so wished.