Agenda item

This report provides information to the Statutory Advisory and Consultative Committees on planning and policy issues in relation to Alexandra Park and Palace. It also provides additional information on the events programme and a range of activities of the Charitable Trust.

The Committee considered the CEO’s report and the following was raised:

Park Update

The Committee congratulated Mark Evison, Park Manager, for his work towards the park.

The Committee asked whether there was evidence that the dog walkers’ trails had been used. The CEO responded that the trails had been regularly used and that representatives of the dog walking community had been involved in the planning. The purpose of the dedicated dog walking tracks was to change behaviour and encourage the picking up of dog waste, by naturally directing dog walkers on a route with regularly placed bins.

Pavement Parking

With regard to groups of drivers parking their vehicles on the pavements of Alexandra Palace Way in the evenings, the CEO sought feedback from the Committee on whether they had received any negative feedback from residents on this matter. The Committee confirmed that residents had complained of feeling unsafe and intimidated walking along this path. The CEO informed the Committee that the matter had been a problem in previous years but had become more prevalent. The police had been assisting, when they could, in helping to move on vehicles and had powers of enforcement that Alexandra Palace security did not have. The Committee queried whether the police had been paid for their services and were informed by the CEO that they had not asked for individual payment. The CEO further informed the Committee that the Trust was not able to clamp vehicles. Clamping on private land was made illegal in 2012.

Whilst not in the report, the CEO provided a verbal update on the recent issue with travellers in the park. The CEO informed the Committee that, following representation to the High Court and then the County Court, the travellers had been removed from the Park. Additional security was hired to minimise waste and ensure that no toxic waste was left behind on their departure.

East Wing Restoration Project

The Committee praised the BBC Proms as being a terrific success and all the staff for their work in contributing to that success.

The Committee queried how the Proms came to be held at the Alexandra Palace Theatre and what its future programme would be. The CEO informed that there was a 10-year strategic partnership with the BBC which set the foundations for the hosting of the event. Additionally, the event was successful in highlighting how the volunteer team worked alongside the employees of the Palace and resulted in more individuals volunteering. The Theatre had a programme of events commencing in December.

Creative Learning

The Committee noted that not all of the projects within the report had dates. The CEO informed that dates would be asked to be included in future reports wherever possible and advised that these would be reissued in the minutes. They are as follows:

·         BBC Proms Learning Event (Theatre) 1^st December 2018

·         Home for Christmas (part of the Christmas Carnival) 7^th-16^th Dec 2018  

·         Haringey Music Service 2^nd December 2018

·         Little Inventors (Interpretation Structure) launch 1^st Dec and live for 1 year with celebration event on 9^th Nov 2019 (World Inventors Day)

·         Open House 2018 22^nd - 23^rd September 2018

·         Black History Month October 2018

It was originally felt by the AP team that, as the peoples Palace, it was not appropriate for a single individual formally opening the East Court but in agreement with the project’s funders a ribbon cutting ceremony, will be held. The Committee felt it appropriate that the opening was marked and celebrated. 

Regarding the move of learning activity from the Transmitter Hall to the East Court, the CEO informed that heritage learning professionals and major funders had been involved in the discussion about the potential change and all supported the move, agreeing that it was appropriate from a safeguarding children perspective and other practical operational issues.

West Yard Storage Building

Progress on the project had been made and the North Wall now had received a permanent fix.

Following questions from the Committee, the CEO noted that:

·         There was no update on the status of the lifts in the storage unit. 

·         The Tower had been refurbished but not to the point of enabling occupation and funds were being sought to fit-out the top floor of the storage unit.

·         It was intended to use the Tower as office space and for meetings by the Trust.

·         The project had been funded by a loan from Haringey Council, which was to be paid back over a 30-year period.

·         The original plan included using the Tower for income generation but this was no longer likely; the priority was making the Tower safely accessible, possibly for inclusion in future open house tours.

·         A tenant may be sought to occupy the BBC Tower if the Alexandra Palace staff team relocated to the North West Tower and other areas in the storage building. 

Brand Refresh

The CEO noted the positive feedback that the new branding had received during the testing for the Great Fete and Fireworks Festival. A presentation on the new brand refresh would be presented to the Joint Committee at a future meeting.

Further to concerns of one member of the Consultative Committee, the CEO reminded the Committee the Trust was not required to consult with the SAC/CC on marketing issues. It had a team of paid professionals and had engaged a creative agency to a brief. The CEO accepted that marketing was subjective and that whilst some might love the new design, some might not. Due process was followed and the Trust Board had approved the brand refresh. The Committee would be shown how the Trust intended to use the new branding at a future meeting.

Further to the comments of one member of the Consultative Committee the CEO informed the Committee that the Board would be considering the Trust’s policy on what was to be considered exempt and what was not..

Events and noise management

Following discussion, the Committee:

·         Praised the swift response to noise complaints, the concert management team, and the success of the Kaleidoscope Festival and the Great Fete. The CEO informed it was anticipated that Kaleidoscope Festival would return. 

·         Noted the low number of complaints recorded for Kaleidoscope Festival and The Great Fete. The CEO confirmed that it was a low figure and that, where complaints had been identified, there was a concerted effort to address the issue.

·         Queried access to the railway footpath during the Fireworks Festival. The CEO informed that the footpath would be temporarily closed but an agreement was in place to ensure that this was done in consultation with Campbourne School to keep the route open to allow pupils to get to school.

·         Noted incorrect information surrounding bus diversions and signage that had been released before the Fireworks Festival. The CEO responded human error in the security contractor team caused incorrect information in signage but this had been quickly corrected. Existing errors would be raised with the marketing team to be addressed. The Committee noted the confusion surrounding the diversion of bus 184 and the CEO would raise this with TfL.

·         Regarding leaflets and notifications, the CEO would enquire as to why some areas had not received them.     

Red Bull Soapbox

The CEO highlighted organisers of Red Bull Soapbox had requested a change in time of the event, starting and finishing 2 hours later, and invited any comments by the SAC/CC members on the change. The Committee noted there had been noise level complaints with the event previously and the CEO informed there had been adjustments made in consultation with sound experts to address those complaints. The Committee acknowledged that the noise level had improved following this.