Agenda item

To receive feedback from the Statutory Advisory Committee Working Group on the possibility of having joint meetings of the Statutory Advisory Committee and the Alexandra Palace and Park Consultative Committee.

The Committee received the  report of the Statutory Advisory and Consultative Committees Working Groups  on the possibility of having a joint committee and whether it would be more effective than the current two individual committees which often received and considered exactly the same information.

The Chair thanked the Consultative Committee Working Group for the report prepared in advance of the joint working groups meeting.

The Committee discussed the recommendations of the report which included adopting Model 1, a joint Statutory Advisory and Consultative Committee, on a trial basis and reviewing the possibility of adopting Model 2, a reconstituted single Statutory Advisory and Consultative Committee, in light of the experience of Model 1.

The Committee noted that the general consensus of both working groups was that joint meetings needed to be conducted within reasonable timescales.  The assumption would be that documents sent as part of the agenda pack had been read by all members and the length of time spent on certain items would be limited.

Members asked for clarity on how the joint meeting in Model 1 would be run.  It was noted that there would be a general meeting including both the Advisory and Consultative Committees where reports would be received and discussed and comments noted.  The meeting would then move into a Statutory Advisory Committee meeting where its recommendations to the Board would be agreed; Consultative Committee members could remain in the meeting but would leave the table.

The Committee was reminded that the Board was required to consult with the Advisory Committee and consider its recommendations, whereas there was no statutory duty for the Board to do the same with the Consultative Committee.

It was noted that operational matters would need to be discussed after the first trial joint meeting.  The Consultative Committee would consider the report at its meeting on 8^th February and the Board would consider it on 15^th February and a report to Full Council would follow.

Some members expressed concern about how a joint committee would work and that the number of potential  members on the joint committee might make it unmanageable. It was anticipated  that the residents’ associations with a member on each committee would have to decide if one or both of those members would attend the joint meeting(s). 

Councillor Watson suggested that Model 2 be adopted as soon as possible and this was supported by Councillor Demirci. The Chair reminded the Committee that it would be more appropriate to run  a trial meeting to see if a joint meeting was  workable.  For example, certain  members of the Consultative Committee had commercial interests in Alexandra Palace and Park; the membership of the Advisory Committee was restricted and was to provide direction and guidance to the Board on behalf of local residents and Councillors, who were directly affected by events in the Palace and Park.

It was noted that the Constitution of the Consultative Committee could be amended by the Council if any changes were required.  Should there be a requirement to change the remit of the Statutory Advisory Committee a change of the Alexandra Park and Palace Act, 1985, would be required.  However, it was mooted that the agreement of (or lack of any objection from) the Charity Commission was all that would be required to adopt a scheme that did not dilute the Advisory Committee’s remit.

Other comments from members of the Advisory Committee were to the effect that a decision on Model 2 should be deferred pending legal and Charity Commission advice.

RESOLVED

i.          That Model 1, a Joint Statutory Advisory and Consultative Committee, be supported and that two trial meetings take place, the first one taking place on 5^th April 2011, the next scheduled meeting.

ii.         That Model 2 be supported in principle and that Officers be asked to investigate the practicalities of having a single Statutory Advisory and Consultative Committee and seek legal and Charity Commission advice (after and subject to approval from  the Consultative Committee meeting on 8^th February 2011) before reporting back to the Advisory Committee