Agenda and minutes

There were no apologies.

There were no declarations.

To approve the public minutes and summary of the last meeting held on 2 November 2020.

The draft public minutes of the Finance & Risk Committee meeting held on 2 November 2020 were approved as a correct record.

Report of the Head of Audit & Risk Management.

The Committee considered a report of the Head of Audit & Risk Management providing Members with an update in respect of Internal Audit activity related to the Barbican Centre since the November meeting of this Committee.

Members were informed that the review of the Centre’s Bars had been completed; however, the recommendations from that review would be delayed in the absence of trading as a result of the current national lockdown.

The security audit was signed off and due to be implemented imminently. It was highlighted that this was given an amber assurance rating purely in light of the seriousness of the risks being addressed.

A summary of the 2021 Audit Plan for the year was presented to Members and it was noted that the planned Health and Safety Review would now likely be delayed until next year. The Head of Audit & Risk Management confirmed that other assurance sources could be used to measure health and safety concerns in the meantime.

A typo was noted in paragraph 12 of the report whereby the wrong year was listed and should say 2021/22.

With regards to audit recommendations, Members were advised that recommendation 3 concerning corporate sponsorship had been implemented and two follow-ups were undertaken.

In response to a query concerning Barbican retail systems, Members were informed that all recommendations were audited and approved prior to the last meeting and the systems were now completely compliant.

A Member felt it was important that the Committee gave Management a clear steer that dealing with Covid related risks were the priority and closing minor risks was not urgent and could be delayed until 2022. Members supported this sentiment.

RESOLVED - That Members:-

·         Note the report;

·         Consider the appropriateness of the delays in high priority recommendations implementation;

·         Provide input to high level audit planning proposals for

Report of the Director of Operations and Buildings.

The Committee received a report of the Director of Operations and Buildings providing Members with an update on the Centre’s Health and Safety activities and provision over the last year and agenda items for 2021.

The Director of Operations and Buildings advised that the focus for the year had been the Covid-19 pandemic. When the Centre was open, over 70k people visited with 98% of visitors recorded that they felt safe or very safe. Risks and security continued to be reviewed with management to deal with the appropriate recommendations.

RECEIVED.

Report of the Director of Operations and Buildings.

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

The Committee received a report of the Director of Operations and Buildings providing Members with an update on the Centre’s maintenance and refurbishment projects that fall under the Cyclical Works Programme (CWP) and additional projects funded from other sources.

The Director of Operations and Buildings confirmed that the Officers had used the time during the lockdowns wisely and the Centre looked better than ever. Thanks was given to the City Surveyor’s, Engineering and Projects Teams for their assistance.

RECEIVED.

There were no questions.

There were no urgent items.

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.

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.

To approve the non-public minutes of the last meeting held on 2 November 2020.

The draft non-public minutes of the Finance & Risk Committee meeting held on 2 November  2020 were approved as a correct record.

Report of the Chief Operating and Financial Officer.

The Committee 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.

Report of the Chief Operating & Financial Officer.

The Committee considered a report of the Chief Operating & Financial Officer updating Members on the Barbican business plan, setting out a reporting framework for future Board meetings.

Report of the Managing Director.

The Committee received a report of the Managing Director setting out the out the key areas of the business likely to be affected by the end of the Brexit transition period and how this could impact the Barbican’s work.

Report of the Chief Operating & Financial Officer.

The Committee considered a report of the Chief Operating & Financial Officer setting out the Business Review for the November 2020 (Period 8 – 20/21) accounts.

Report of the Chief Operating & Financial Officer.

The Committee received a report of the Chief Operating & Financial Officer providing Members with an annual summary of the Barbican’s Information Security posture, covering the most prominent external cyber threats, the cyber-related achievements for the year, professional training and development, current system proposals, staff cyber training programme and current risks.

Report of the Chief Operating & Financial Officer.

The Committee received a report of the Chief Operating & Financial Officer providing Members with an annual summary of the Barbican’s bad debts for the period up to December 2019.

To be read in conjunction with the report at Item _.

The Committee received the non-public Projects Update appendix to be read in conjunction with item 6.

Report of the Interim Artistic Director.

The Committee received a report of the Interim Artistic Director updating Members on the Programming Controversial Risk Register and the identified potential risks that occur as a result of specific programmed events and activities, as well as outlining the mitigation processes in place for each.

Oral update – the Director of Operations and Buildings to be heard.

The Committee received a verbal update from the Director of Operations and Buildings concerning Cote Restaurant.

Report of the Director of Operations and Buildings.

The Committee considered a report of the Director of Operations and Buildings updating Members on the risk management system in place at the Barbican, the significant risks that have been identified and measures for mitigation of these risks.

There was one question.

There was one urgent item.