Agenda item

To receive and note the report of Louise Stewart, Chief Executive, Alexandra Palace and Park, including updates on commercial, park and  learning and community activities.

RECEIVED the report of Louise Stewart, Chief Executive, Alexandra Palace and Park (pages 31-87 of the agenda pack).

 

The following matters arose from discussion of the report:

 

a.         Commercial Events

 

            i.          July – September

                       

                        REPORTED that

·         Prime Impact was the organisation that ran the Mind, Body and Soul exhibition;

·         Braemar Avenues and neighbouring roads had been disturbed by the noise of the PA during this year’s Red Bull event.  This had not occurred during previous events, and Jason Beazley requested that the speakers be repositioned in the future.

ACTION: MANAGING DIRECTOR

 

ii.         Events Licence

 

REPORTED that residents of Bedford Road had logged a complaint as they were disturbed after live music events.  The Palace had evaluated the egress after the Wombats concert and, as a result, had put a number of additional measures in place for security, traffic management, roadside cleaning and signage in place.

 

Emma Dagnes was hoping to meet with Bedford Road residents and the lead officer for licensing at LB Haringey  in order to talk through issues before moving forward with further mitigation.

ACTION: MANAGING DIRECTOR

 

iii.        Fireworks (paragraph 5.4 of the report)

 

NOTED that

·         members expressed concern that discussions at the previous meeting about opening an entrance at south east corner of park for the fireworks event had not been taken forward.  Emma Dagnes offered to discuss the matter with the safety advisory group, which included the emergency services.  Reasons for not opening this entrance during the fireworks event would be reported back to the committee.  It was also suggested that signage be installed at the south east corner to direct visitors to the nearest entrance, i.e. Redston Field;

ACTION: MANAGING DIRECTOR

·         Cllr Jogee confirmed that Redston Field Gate would be open for ticket holders and Northview Exit will be open for exit only but there would be no entrance at Newland Road;

·         The bonfire would be held on the Newlands Field;

·         Barriers erected for a previous firework event had blocked the rear exit from 110 Dukes Avenue and this would be resolved.

ACTION: MANAGING DIRECTOR

 

 

b.         Marketing

 

REPORTED that new ‘what’s on’ lamppost banners were demonstrated on page 45 and in response to a question it was reported that these would replace current banners but advertising consent would also be sought for additional banners.

 

c.         The Bar and Kitchen (paragraph 5.6)

 

NOTED that on a show of hands the committee clearly agreed that the name ‘The Phoenix’ was preferred to ‘Bar and Kitchen’.  Louise Stewart suggested ‘The Phoenix Bar and Kitchen’ as an option to let visitors know that it was a pub.

 

            d.         Fundraising

 

NOTED the comments of some committee members that Alexandra Palace memorabilia should be available to purchase at other outlets, including online, and not only at events. 

 

Emma Dagnes explained that the retail aspect of the fundraising campaign was very limited with low numbers of tea towels and prints sold at exhibitions. Future options for merchandise would be discussed with the Chief Executive. There was a merchandise strategy for concerts linked to the artists but retailing Palace memorabilia could be resource intensive at a time when the Palace’s fundraising manager was focussing on funding applications, which potentially brought in more money.

 

Other sponsorship opportunities were discussed and the committee noted that a future report would be presented to the Trustees outlining the possibilities for public contribution including the sponsorship of theatre seats.

 

A clearer picture of the fundraising programme would be provided at the next meeting.

ACTION: CHIEF EXECUTIVE

 

e.         Facilities

 

NOTED that the Chair felt the report was very useful in illustrating the substantial amount of work which was being undertaken to bring the Palace services up to modern standards.

 

Tim James was the Head of Facilities for Alexandra Palace.

 

f.          Fabric Maintenance plan

 

Great hall – clean fabric linings and walkways

 

NOTED that

·         Hugh Macpherson requested the Organ Society be consulted about the cleaning of the fabric linings and walkways as falling dirt could affect the organ;

ACTION: MANAGING DIRECTOR

·         the proposal for the North West Service Wall, was to install a building to support the wall, which could be used for storage as a long term solution to secure its structure.  There was no bracing on the other side of the wall and falling masonry had damaged parked vehicles in the past.  The wall was, however, regularly surveyed;

·         in response to a question: the former railway bridge, crossing Dukes Avenue was the property of Network Rail, who had conducted some maintenance work recently.  The Chair would raise with the Park Manager that the area should be re-examined for further maintenance.

ACTION: CHAIR

                       

g.         Restoration Project

 

REPORTED that the tender returns for the enabling works contract were due the following week and Trustees had been invited to a workshop on the procurement contract on 11 November.  A decision to appoint a contractor would be taken on 26 November.  Once appointed the contractor would work with the Palace to review the timelines for the contract, which would be reported on at the next meeting.

 

NOTED, in response to a questions, that:

 

·      as part of the tender contractors had to provide a strategy for how they would keep the ice rink open during works;

·      a curator had been appointed on a part-time basis. The Palace and Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) were considering a possible future merge of the archivist and digital archivist roles to ensure consistency and delivery.  A more detailed structure chart would be provided at the next meeting such as staff on the design team, the consultant, and the Palace’s own appointed personnel who were part funded through the HLF;

·      the Friends of the Theatre would be updated on the conditioning survey, which was not yet complete;

·      the extensive repairs to the Londesborough room referred to in the report were external works;

·      Emma Dagnes would check to confirm whether the Palace had yet obtained listed consent for the south elevation brick and mortar repairs to Traitors Gate.

ACTION: MANAGING DIRECTOR

·         the Chair expressed disappointment that the report on the restoration project did not contain information pertaining to the departure of the interim director of regeneration project, details of the staff engaged in the project, or the overall project programme.

 

AGREED to request a further report including the organisation structure, details of management and whether the project timescales were being met. 

ACTION: CHIEF EXECUTIVE

 

h.         Parks

 

i.          Awards Recognition

 

NOTED that Mark Evison, Park Manager, acknowledged the  hard work of grounds team and the work of the Friends of Alexandra Park who had contributed to achieving those awards year after year.

 

ii.         Park Vision

 

NOTED that Mark Evison thanked all who had been involved in the vision consultation and reported that phase 1 of the habitat report had been received on Friday.  The report proposed a review of the trees on site.  A new masterplan would be developed linking to the borough’s planning and health strategies.

 

The following matters arose:

 

A.         Views

 

NOTED that

 

·         Colin Marr commended the plan and echoed concerns raised during the consultation about protecting the views from the Palace, which he felt had not been reflected in the nine areas to be reviewed at appendix c.  Mr Marr suggested adding some wording to the following effect:  “retention and enhancement of views particularly within and out of the park”;

·         Mark Evison reminded the committee that protecting the view, specifically St Pauls Cathedral, had been included in the vision;

·         a number of members raised concern about the views, including the effect of development of high buildings outside of the park, and the potential loss of the countryside characteristic of the park through overdevelopment;

·         the Chair reported that the Friends of Alexandra Park were developing further input for the vision. This would  focus on open space heritage of the park and, that the park provided an opportunity for entertainment.  The statement would emphasise the importance of the entertainment aspect not affecting the first three aspects.

 

B.        Trees

 

NOTED that a discussion about trees took place including:

 

·         that consideration be given to the impact of tree growth on those who lived on the periphery of the park where light and privacy might be affected;

·         in response to issues raised Mark Evison reported that some trees had been removed on safety grounds but would be replanted after the review;

·         the dead tree near the garden centre had been disrupted by development around it and had been removed.  There was still a dead oak tree on the other side of the site near the deer enclosure which would remain;

·         the Allotments Association would not be formally consulted as part of the trees review but was welcome to submit any comments.

 

C.        Drainage

 

NOTED, in response to questions, that

·         plans to improve the drainage on the lower road, experimental works had been conducted and had not resolved the issue;

·         other repairs such as blockages and sewage works took priority;

·         a survey was being undertaken for a similar issue at Holland Park (Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea) and it was hoped that Alexandra Palace could learn some lessons from this;

·         Frances Hargrove reported that Haringey Council was conducting some sustainable drainage system road works in the area, which might provide useful information. 

 

 

 

 

i.          Heartlands High School – use of upper football field

 

NOTED that

 

i.          the survey of the upper football field site (which Heartlands School had requested to use as a sports field) had recommended a survey for drainage improvements and other repairs which were being considered.  Alexandra Park football club was being consulted about the proposals;

            ii.         in response to questions:

·         the school proposed long term use of the field, which was situated between the boating lake and the football club;

·         the field would still be available for public use;

·         any agreement was still in the early stages of discussion but the school had some capital funds for the work detailed in the survey.

 

j.          Graffiti Wall

 

NOTED that a full discussion on the issue of the graffiti wall took place, including the following comments:

 

i.          to date the Trust had received one complaint concerning the drift of paint spray from the graffiti wall;

ii.         the options were:

·         to move the pit or wall;

·         to install advisory signage, which the Palace had done in a number of different languages but the signage had been spray-painted over.  Security staff were encouraged to talk to artists directly but resources would not enable conversations with every artist;

Trustees would consider these options in November;

iii.        Emma Dagnes recognised that the issue had been first raised in April 2015 and that the matter required a cautious approach;

iv.        comments of Colin Marr including:

·         that some people avoided using the pit when graffiti artists were using the wall;

·         he felt there had been ineffective communication with artists as many had said they had not been asked to avoid using spray while the sandpit was in use;

v.         the following comments from committee members:

·         the cost of moving the wall was estimated at £10k and the cost of moving the sandpit was around £12k but would not necessarily solve the problem;

·         artists should be asked where they would like to see the wall moved to;

·         a member expressed that they felt graffiti was a spontaneous act, and the sand pit could be in use all day which would limit creativity;

·         a log should be maintained of which artists had been spoken to and reported to the joint committee;

·         moving fixtures to another area would not be a good use of funds but if artists co-operated and it was policed and reported effectively it could save thousands being spent;

vi.        Emma Dagnes expressed some concern that reports that artists had reacted favourably to consultative committee member’s requests did not reflect the experiences of the security staff who had spoken to artists.  Security staff would be asked to continue to approach the artists.

ACTION: MANAGING DIRECTOR

 

k.         Learning and Community

 

RECEIVED a verbal update from Isobel Aptaker, Learning Officer -  Alexandra Palace, including that

·         a 2016 Calendar, containing photos of the Palace taken by Accuml8 (a social enterprise working with residents of the Tottenham YMCA) was being produced;

·         the objects from the Palace’s centenary exhibition had been handed back to collectors and consideration was being given to how the project could be taken further forward;

·         the last performance of the internee concert had taken place before construction started and good feedback had been received;

·         the profits from the Accum18 YMCA project would be split between the young people and the Palace;

·         in response to questioning, leaflets of the Palace’s learning and community projects were sent to schools and headteachers and followed up;

·         Nigel Willmott thanked Ms Aptaker for an amazing year;

·         Councillor Hare and Hugh Macpherson had attended the orchestra concert and expressed that they had been very impressed.

 

Emma Dagnes would inform committee members where the 2016 Calendar would be available for purchase.

ACTION: LEARNING OFFICER

 

Clerk’s note:  The order in which the items contained in the report were considered was varied to enable Parks and Learning and Community to be considered at the start of the meeting.  Therefore Isobel Aptaker and Mark Evison left the meeting at 20:36hrs

 

l.          Miscellaneous

 

            NOTED, further to questions, that:

 

·           there was a borough wide dog control limiting dog walkers to a maximum of 6 dogs at a time;

·           it was hoped that previous studies on car parking charging would be taken forward;

·           Mark Evison agreed to investigate:

·           the cost of installing signs which flashed as speeding vehicles approached;

·         the possibility of removing the parking bays on Alexandra Palace Way.

ACTION: PARK MANAGER