Agenda item

To receive the report of the Director of Property and Regeneration, Alexandra Palace, which advises members on a number of areas relating to property and regeneration at Alexandra Palace and Park.

Kerri Farnsworth, Regeneration and Property Manager, introduced the report.

NOTED

Key Stakeholder Relationships

·         That that it had been agreed that the Palace’s relationship with the BBC now needed to be formalised by way of a Memorandum of Understanding, due to the extent of the inter-relationship between the Heritage Lottery Fund project and the BBC, and that this was being progressed currently by senior staff within the BBC.

HLF Professional Team

·         That the two professional appointments were consultants employed to carry out specific tasks.

Surveyor to the Fabric

·         The sum total of investment advised over the 10-year lifespan of the Fabric Maintenance Plan (FMP) was £36m.

Planning Applications

·         A site plan showing the proposed positioning of the new climbing frame for the Little Dinosaurs playgroup was circulated at the meeting;

·         The climbing frame had been moved from its original position to a less obtrusive one at the edge of the Playgroup site;

·         A member of the Committee asked for clarification whether there was a limit of 28 days per year on the use of the Bouncy Castle at Little Dinosaurs.  Duncan Wilson said this would be checked.

Park Development Projects

·         The proposed urban orchard would be located in the Railway Field in the Grove, in the proximity of the maintenance yard;

·         That details of any proposal relating to the establishment of an orchard would be put before the next meeting of the Joint-Committee;

·         Bee hives could be installed in an appropriate location, possibly in the Park Yard, if bee-keepers could be found who were prepared to maintain the hives.

Keri Farnsworth drew attention to the two appendices to the report which related to the ‘Go Ape’ high-level adventure course.

Ben Davies, on behalf of Go Ape Ltd., gave a presentation on the proposal for Alexandra Park.

Following the presentation members of the Joint-Committee raised a number of issues including security arrangements associated with the course and its location within the Park, including the close proximity to the deer park; the proposed charges; the potential noise impact; the potential significant financial income to the Palace and Park; the fact that the facility would provide an interesting activity for local school children, and the length of the operating lease.

The Chair, as a representative of the Friends of Alexandra Park, raised concerns relating to the potential loss of a peaceful area within the Park, the use of the avenue of Plane trees flanking the road, the method used to mount the platforms in the trees, the height of the platforms, and the obtrusiveness of the adventure course.  He went on to say that the Friend’s Committee were firmly of the view that the proposed course was not an acceptable proposal because of the impact on the avenue of Plane trees.

RESOLVED:

i)             That the new position of the proposed climbing frame associated with the Little Dinosaurs Playgroup, as shown on the tabled site plan, was acceptable to the Joint Committee.

ii)            That in regard to the ‘Go Ape’ adventure course the Joint-Committee agree in principal to the proposal to have the adventure course in Alexandra Park, but that in regard to the scheme being taken forward, it be noted that there were a variety of differing views on the proposal; and that the Joint-Committee would wish to see more detailed information on the proposed facility, including how it incorporated the Plane trees on either side of the road.

iii)           That it be noted that the Statutory Advisory Committee would give further consideration to the proposals for the ‘Go Ape’ facility at the planning application stage of the process.

iv)           That Duncan Wilson, Chief Executive Alexandra Palace and Park, arrange a site-visit for members of the Joint-Committee to discuss possible changes to the ‘Go Ape’ course with Ben Davies of ‘Go Ape’.