Agenda item

To consider the general update on activities in the Park and Palace.

The CEO Emma Dagnes presented the Chief Executive’s General Update report, which included updates on Creative Learning, Park, Property, and Events activities.

Regarding the North East Office Building Repairs Committee was informed that following a competitive tender exercise, ROOFF Limited have been appointed as the Main Contractor. The first phase of works will start in January after the Christmas break. The programme was expected to run until end of May 2024.

Campsbourne Building reactivation discussions have been taking place about reactivating the building for community use. Work was underway to find solutions to a funding gap in order to bring the building up to the required standards for allowing public access. There was also great TV coverage over the Christmas period.

The CEO urged members of the Committee to promote the People’s Picture (150 Lifetimes) within their area, there was a total of 1005 submissions to date. The project would culminate in the installation of a giant mural in the East Court, as well as the replacement of the various interpretation / information boards located around external areas of eastern end of the building (the BBC Tower, Transmitter Hall).

Regarding the Northern Area of the Park, an online visitor survey was launched in October to gather feedback and opinions on the northern part of the Park (skatepark, playground and Boating Lake). The purpose of the survey is to gather data that can be used to build the case for moving forward with improvement projects and to help with funding asks.

The Café Restaurant had been taken in-house and was being run by the APP, the CEO expressed thanks to the team making great use of the small budget.

Mark Evison, Head of Park and Environmental Sustainability, provided an overview of the Park and Environmental Sustainability section of the report. He highlighted updates on rubbish collection, volunteer activity, traffic improvements, and memorial benches. Furthermore, he mentioned that on New Year's Eve, approximately 6,000 visitors came to the park, necessitating a significant cleanup effort by the park team to preserve the space and the building. Regarding rubbish collection, it was observed that figures were nearly back to pre-pandemic levels. Corporate volunteers contributed to work in the woods, with the Chair commending their efforts on Bedford Road.

Following presentation of the report, the following was noted in the discussion:

-       In response to a question about  a theme for the East Court Café, this would be taken forward  when funding permitted this. It was noted that  during the East Wing Project  there was  not the resources to install a café but the trust did have plans and hoped to bring some interpretation into it.

The CEO encouraged committee members to visit the East Court and read the interpretation structure that the team had spent time creating, particularly the Ice Rink cube.

-       Regarding  the opportunity for a  BBC Documentary on Alexandra Palace, it was  noted that this was for the BBC to decide. However, the Trust  did have a strategic partnership with the BBC who worked with  young creative networks and Jools Holland in the Theatre etc. However, it should be noted that this activity was  very different to commissioning a programme to be made.  The Trust were communicating with the BBC at the moment about how to celebrate the 90 years of television.

-       It was noted that members were pleased to  see wider  borough engagement in the  creative learning activities  and looking forward to Macbeth  performance audience visiting the basements.

-       In reference to Section 8 and the detailed list of events, the details  on road closures were not yet finalised but as soon as these were available, they   would be shared publicly and with the  Statutory Advisory Committee and the Consultative Committee. The table of events listed at Appendix 2  would be removed and  instead  reference made to the  web link on the website. 

RESOLVED

To NOTE the report.