Agenda and minutes

Venue: Virtual Public Meeting. The meeting can be viewed at: https://youtu.be/I5Nbc2EovmA

Contact: Leanne Murphy
tel. no.: 020 7332 3008  Email: leanne.murphy@cityoflondon.gov.uk

Items
No. Item

1.

Apologies

Minutes:

There were no apologies received from Members.

 

The Chairman advised Members that Graham Packham stepped down as Chair of the Culture Heritage & Libraries Committee and had been subsequently replaced by the new Chair, Wendy Hyde, as the representative for this Committee. The Chairman thanked Graham for his input during his tenure on the Board.   

 

 ...  view the full minutes text for item 1.

2.

Members' Declarations under the Code of Conduct in respect of items on the agenda

Minutes:

There were no declarations.

 ...  view the full minutes text for item 2.

3.

Minutes pdf icon PDF 148 KB

To approve the public minutes and summary of the Barbican Centre Board meeting held on 22 January 2020.

 ...  view the full agenda text for item 3.

Minutes:

The public minutes and summary of the Board meeting held on 22 January 2020 were approved as a correct record subject to one typo. Members were reminded that the Board’s last meeting on 25 March was a non-public inquorate meeting and the meeting note did not require approval.

 

The Chairman advised Members that his term as Chairman had come to an end. Members were advised that due to the current pandemic restrictions, April Court had been unable to go ahead to reconstitute its Committees for the year and there would be no 2020 elections for the Chairman. Subsequently, the current Deputy Chair would become Acting Chair until the elections could take place. The Chairman thanked Members for their support during his tenure which had been a privilege and was sad to pass the baton on under the current circumstances. Members and Officers thanked the Chairman for his great support and leadership over the years.  

 

The new Chair thanked the outgoing Chairman who was a privilege to work with. The Chair advised that these were difficult circumstances and the Barbican Centre had big challenges to overcome in the next few years.

 

Vote of Thanks to the Outgoing Chairman

 

Alderman Graves paid tribute to Giles Shilson, the past Chairman.

 

RESOLVED UNANIMOUSLY: 

That the Members of this Board take great pleasure in expressing to:

 

DR GILES ROBERT EVELYN SHILSON, DEPUTY

 

their sincere gratitude and appreciation for the dedication he has shown in all aspects of work of this Board, and the exemplary manner in which he has presided over proceedings during the last three years as Chairman of the Barbican Centre Board.

 

HIS detailed knowledge of, and involvement in, the work of the Centre - together with his committed enthusiasm for the arts - have been of great value to the Board. During

 ...  view the full minutes text for item 3.

4.

Management Report by the Centre's Directors pdf icon PDF 247 KB

Report of the Managing Director.

 ...  view the full agenda text for item 4.

Minutes:

Members received a report of the Managing Director providing updates from the Barbican Directors on their respective areas. The following comments were made:

 

·         The Managing Director stated that the Covid-19 pandemic was the biggest issue that the Barbican Centre had ever experienced. The Centre officially closed on 17 March 2020 leading to a total loss of income and cancelled events. The Managing Director highlighted the impressive ongoing commitment be undertaken to keep the Barbican safe ready for when it can reopen. The recent Government guidance included step 3 which would allow re-opening but no timeline of when that would be. 

 

·         Members welcomed Leonora Thomson back to the Barbican in the new role _.

 

·         Members were advised that issuing refunds had been a main focus since the lockdown.

 

·         Within Creative Learning, two responses to the lockdown had been developed. The first was a local response and the team were working with Culture Mile and the London Borough of Islington to help families without internet (one in ten families). The other was a digital response including work with the National Youth Orchestra and young sessions.

 

·         With regards to Innovation and Engagement, Members were advised that digital/technology was the key focus. Good businesses processes and digital outputs had been developed and technology and innovation were the next area focus with some Members already inputting and pushing this workstream.

 

·         Despite the Joint Barbican/Guildhall School Away Day being unprecedentedly cut short, work was pressing ahead with the discussed framework with a socially engaged focus.

 

·         The Director of Operations and Buildings thanked staff, Members, Officers and local residents for their ongoing support as the Projects Team continued with plans to develop the Barbican as a destination for the future. It was confirmed the building was safe and staff continued to ensure the Centre remained compliant even

 ...  view the full minutes text for item 4.

5.

Barbican Art Gallery Chiller Replacement pdf icon PDF 131 KB

Report of the Managing Director.

(N.B. – To be read in conjunction with the non-public report at Item 10).

 ...  view the full agenda text for item 5.

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The Board considered a Gateway 2 report of the Managing Director regarding Barbican Art Gallery Chiller Replacement, noting the non-public appendix at Item 10.

 

Members were advised that the current unit was at the end of its life, was already failing and required replacement to reduce risk to the gallery and maintain the conditions for the artwork. The new unit would not be reliant on a district system, would be better for the carbon footprints and reduce risk and costs. Members were supportive of the new unit.

 

RESOLVED - That Members:

 

·         Approve a budget of £14,000 to reach Gateway 3/4 (staff costs, consultant fees and surveys);

 

·         Note the estimated cost range of £300,000 (excluding risk);

 

·         Approve a costed risk provision of £4,000 to be drawn down via delegation to Chief Officer.

 

 ...  view the full minutes text for item 5.

6.

Questions on Matters Relating to the Work of the Board

Minutes:

There were no questions.

 ...  view the full minutes text for item 6.

7.

Any other Business that the Chairman considers Urgent

Minutes:

Thanks to the Director of Creative Learning

 

The Chair gave thanks on behalf of the Board to Jenny Mollica as this was her last meeting. The following speech was given:

 

Jenny joined the Barbican in December 2008 as an Education Officer and following the creation of the Creative Learning department she worked as a Theatre and Cross-Arts Producer. She has been one of the most important people in working out the whole agenda of our creative learning department with the Guildhall School, and we are much in her debt for her continual commitment to that Alliance, and to developing the strategy and purpose of the Creative Learning department - as can be seen in today's Board report for information.

 

As Head of Creative Learning from 2016 and then Director from 2018, she has contributed much to the overall direction and strategy of the Barbican in this time. The Board would like to thank her and send her all our good wishes as she moves to her new role as Director of the Baylis Programme at English National Opera.

 

Members thanked Jenny for her significant impact developing creative learning at the Barbican and wished her all the best in her new role.

 

External Membership

 

The Chair stated that the Board’s external members were hugely important in bringing a range of expertise and skills to the Board. The Chair felt that now, more than ever, was an important time to ensure the Board had the right skills sets and would be having discussions with the Directors. Members were encouraged to make recommendations to the Chair regarding skills and individuals.

 ...  view the full minutes text for item 7.

8.

Exclusion of the Public

MOTION – That under Section 100A of the Local Government Act 1972, the public be excluded from the meeting for the following items, on the grounds that they involve the likely disclosure of Exempt Information, as defined in Part 1, of Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act.

 

 ...  view the full agenda text for item 8.

Minutes:

RESOLVED – That under Section 100A(4) of the Local Government Act 1972, the public be excluded from the meeting for the following items on the grounds that they involve the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in Part 1 of Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act.

 

Item No.

Paragraph No.

9-14

3

 

 

 

 

 ...  view the full minutes text for item 8.

9.

Non-Public Minutes

To approve the non-public minutes of the Barbican Centre Board meeting held on 22 January 2020.

 ...  view the full agenda text for item 9.

Minutes:

The non-public minutes of the Board meeting held on 22 January 2020 were approved as a correct record.

 

 ...  view the full minutes text for item 9.

10.

Non-Public Appendices: Barbican Art Gallery Chiller Replacement

To be read in conjunction with Item 5.

 ...  view the full agenda text for item 10.

Minutes:

RESOLVED, that the non-public appendix to Item 5 (Gateway 2 Barbican Art Gallery Chiller Replacement) be noted.

 

 

 ...  view the full minutes text for item 10.

11.

Covid-19 Update

Report of the Chief Operating & Financial Officer.

 ...  view the full agenda text for item 11.

Minutes:

The Board considered a report of the Chief Operating and Financial Officer providing Members with an update on the current situation for the Centre as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic.

 

 ...  view the full minutes text for item 11.

12.

Barbican Exhibition Halls - Enabling Works

Report of the City Surveyor.

 ...  view the full agenda text for item 12.

Minutes:

Members considered a Gateway 3/4 report of the City Surveyor regarding Barbican Exhibition Halls – Enabling Works.

 

 ...  view the full minutes text for item 12.

13.

Non-Public questions relating to the work of the Board

Minutes:

There were no questions.

 ...  view the full minutes text for item 13.

14.

Any other business the Chairman considers urgent whilst the public are excluded

Minutes:

There were no urgent items.

 ...  view the full minutes text for item 14.