Agenda item

To note the report of the Chief Executive of Alexandra Park and Palace, Louise Stewart.

RECEIVED the report of the Chief Executive - Alexandra Palace Charitable Trust, Louise Stewart, as laid out on pages 25-30 of the agenda pack. 

a.         Strategic Vision and Priority Areas (section 6.1 and 6.2)

Louise Stewart acknowledged the hard work of Palace and Park staff and drew attention to the three priority areas going forward:

·         strategic vision

·         shaping the organisation for the future, and

·         organisational development.

NOTED, in response to concerns and questions raised, that

i.          previous consultations were acknowledged as having guided the work on the strategic vision to this point and would assist the move forward to establish a long-lasting vision.  An appropriate and sensitive method of engagement would be designed and presented to the Board;

ii.         staff had been consulted and supported the development of a long-term strategic vision;

iii.        plans for the wider Palace were necessary; potential funders needed assurance that the East Wing would not be the only focus of the Palace;

iv.        the expertise at the Palace and Park, the Council and the Board was recognised but it would still be necessary to bring in external consultants to support areas of expertise;

v.         Alexandra Park and Palace Charitable Trust (APPCT) would set the context of the vision with advice from the Alexandra Palace Trading Company (APTL, the “Trading Company”), who would deliver the vision;

RESOLVED to note the contents of the report and invited the CE to provide further plans and timetable the 3 priority areas.

ACTION: CHIEF EXECUTIVE

b.         Fireworks Event (Section 7)

            RECEIVED a verbal update on the Fireworks Event including that it had been

attended by 46,000 people, including 6,000 at the bier festival. All emergency parties had been satisfied with the operation.  Emma Dagnes thanked the events team for delivering the highly successful event.

NOTED, in response to questions, that

i.          Board members expressed that the event had been very well managed although there were concerns raised about the damage caused to the Park during the event and the need to ensure rapid repair to minimise the damage;

ii.         long term solutions such as installing track-way paths were being investigated to reduce ground damage.  It was recognised that this year was the wettest fireworks event in terms of rainfall and it had been a learning experience for the operational team about how to phase the build in future;

iii.        Redston Road had been the only point in the Park with no access during the event.  Emma Dagnes explained that the nearest gate to Redston Road was one of the lesser used areas of the Park, and during the event signs directed people to the nearest entrance.  It was necessary to consider the costs of providing an additional entrance for the event; the Board was reminded that the purpose of the fireworks event was to raise money for the Charity.  Additionally, the community had not given any negative feedback on this issue. 

The issue had been raised at the last meeting of the Joint Advisory and Consultative Committee (Joint SAC/CC) on 20 October 2015 (Minute No. 40iii, bullet points 1 & 2), and would be responded to at the next Joint SAC/CC meeting.  The Committees would be able to view a map and statistical information on the use of the gates as well as the minutes from the Safety Advisory Committee on this very point. 

ACTION: MANAGING DIRECTOR

RESOLVED to note the COMMERCIAL update within the report.

c.         Bedford Road (Section 7.IV)

REPORTED that Emma Dagnes had met with residents of Bedford Road to discuss concerns regarding the increase in events and had agreed a strategy for moving forward including monitoring and witnessing activities, working with Haringey to link CCTV around the Park.  Residents had been assured that staff employed to mitigate challenges with egress were Chapter H and SIA trained staff.

d.         Crossrail (Section 8)

REPORTED that the Park and Palace would be responding to the consultation which closed before the next meeting, therefore the Board would be consulted by email on the draft response.

NOTED, in response to questions, that

i.          the Trust’s response would clearly support one of the options for the Crossrail station (Wood Green or Alexandra Palace);

ii.         there were advantages and disadvantages to both options and consideration would be given to the effect each option would have on the egress of events from the Park and Palace;

iii.        the Trust would work closely with the relevant regeneration teams to be involved as much as possible in the event of either decision.  Trustees were invited to feed their comments to Louise Stewart before the Park and Palace response was drafted;

ACTION: TRUSTEES

iv.        in response to concerns about access to the Park during construction, Louise Stewart reported that there would be some impact on Station Road and that each of the stations proposed presented different challenges.

RESOLVED that Board members would be sent the Park and Palace’s draft consultation response for Trustees’ feedback via email in the second week in January.