Issue - meetings

Report of the Director of Community and Children’s Services.

The Committee considered a report of the Director of Community and Children’s Services, which proposed a programme of works to replace all lifts in Shakespeare, Cromwell, and Lauderdale Towers on the Barbican Estate.  Members noted that there are nine lifts in total, three serving each Tower.

The Assistant Director explained that this is a service chargeable item, with funding being sought to engage with residents ahead of the design work.   Members noted that, when the matter was discussed at the RCC, the representative for Shakespeare Tower was invited to speak to officers, outside of the meeting, to share ideas and concerns about the works and interim lift performance.  The report presented a strong argument for replacement rather than refurbishment but the entire lift car would not be removed.  Members also noted that the works would enable the lift to be more efficient and reliable, offsetting future service costs.

RESOLVED, that :

1.     A budget of £50,000 be approved to engage a specialist lift consultant to undertake liaison with internal and external stakeholders, to formulate a specification to tender and cover staff costs.

2.The project budget of £50,000 (excluding risk) be noted.

3.The total estimated cost of the project at £4,600,000(excluding risk) be noted.

Report of the Director of Community and Children’s Services.

The Committee received a report of the Director of Community and Children’s Services in respect of a programme of works to replace all lifts in Shakespeare, Cromwell and Lauderdale Towers on the Barbican Estate.  Members noted there are 9 lifts in total, three serving each Tower.

In response to a question about the options in the report; i.e., repair or replacement, the Assistant Director advised that the City’s Gateway Projects Procedure requires options to be set out and discounted where not viable.   It was suggested that this might be perceived as misleading, and the report should emphasise that repair is not an option in this case.   The Assistant Director also advised that this was a GW1-4 report, seeking fee approval and resident consultation to inform the specification.   The representative for Shakespeare Tower was invited to speak to the team, outside of the meeting, to share ideas and concerns about the works and interim lift performance. 

Members noted that, for consistency, a single contractor would be appointed and, as the team do not have expertise in house for a lift replacement; the project management aspects might need to be externalised.   The Assistant Director further explained that the project presented an opportunity to make the lift system more sustainable and efficient; with the possibility of tapping into green external funding streams rather than recovering costs entirely from leaseholders.    

RESOLVED, that - the report be noted.