Agenda item

To receive the report of the Chief Executive, Alexandra Park and Palace.

Duncan Wilson introduced the report as set out.

NOTED:

·               The Annual Report would be available for distribution next week.

·               The Red Bull and 150^th Anniversary events had taken place since the last meeting in June 2013.  Both were very successful and popular.

·               It was anticipated that a smaller scale event based on the 150^th Anniversary could be continued in the future – one suggestion for example was that the Park would be an attractive venue for the Muswell Hill Festival.  However this would depend on resources and funding.  Any ideas would be reported back to the Committee.

·               There had been noise complaints received with regards to the circus – however this was from one resident, the Council’s Noise team had visited the property to measure the noise and it was not found to be above the limits set by the authority.  When events were held in the Palace and Park, there were parameters set by the Licensing Authority which the Palace had to comply with.  Some Committee Members commented that there may be occasions where noise from events can be heard in neighbouring streets, but local residents should be prepared to accept some noise, given that they had full use of the Park all year round.

Fireworks

·               Officers had met with the Safety Advisory Group, who were pleased with the progress so far.  The points raised by the Committee at the last meeting had been raised with SAG.

·               Residents would be contacted with regards to road closures in due course.  This information would also be made available on the website.

·               Tickets were available via the Alexandra Palace website and c.5000 tickets had already been sold.

Learning & Community

·               Isobel Aptaker – Learning Officer – circulated a leaflet which promoted the educational offer from the Palace.  It outlined the 3 Key Stage 2 programmes, and had been sent to all primary schools in the borough.  So far, there had been positive feedback.  Members welcomed this and were appreciative of this work.

·               Ms Aptaker would be attending the Secondary Headteacher Forum to discuss the possibility of extending the programme to secondary schools.

Open House

·               Ms Aptaker provided an update on the Open House tour.  490 people had attended a tour, and of those who had provided feedback, 100% said that they had enjoyed themselves.  The team were now looking to run regular tours, and there were currently 108 people on the waiting list.

·               18 volunteers had been used, each of whom have said that they would like to return for further work.

·               The Palace had also taken the opportunity to have a donation box, and £234 had been raised.

HLF bid – WW1 project

·               Melissa Tettey – Head of Learning and Community Programmes – outlined the details of the HLF bid.  A grant of £59,400 had been allocated to the Palace’s project to commemorate the centenary of the First World War.

·               Middlesex University were the project partners, and would be creating a short film and a media application which would work alongside the exhibition with support from the Hornsey Historical Society.

·               Melissa also reported on the Volunteer Strategy and Policy.  It was pointed out that most members were volunteers and came within the scope of the strategy.

·               HLF funding would also help make the Transmitter Hall more fit for purpose.

RESOLVED to note the report.