Agenda and minutes

Apologies for absence were received from Tom Hoffman, Roly Keating, Sir Brian McMaster, Judith Pleasance, Trevor Phillips, Deputy Dr Giles Shilson and Tom Sleigh.

There were none.

To approve the public minutes and summary of the Barbican Centre Board meeting held on 14 October 2015.

The public minutes of the meeting held on 14 October 2015 were agreed.

To receive the draft public minutes and summary of the Finance Committee of the Barbican Centre Board meeting held on  2 December 2015 (TO FOLLOW).

The draft public minutes of the meeting held on 2 December 2015 were received.

To receive the draft public minutes and summary of the Risk Committee of the Barbican Centre Board held on 13 October 2015.

The draft public minutes of the meeting held on 13 October 2015 were approved.

Report of the Town Clerk.

The Board received a report of the Town Clerk setting out the outstanding actions list and noted the various updates and additions. The forthcoming work plan for Board meetings in 2016 was also noted.

Flying System: It was advised that the outstanding defect had now been resolved and this action could be closed.

Board Composition: The Court of Common Council had approved the Board’s recommendation that it be permitted to appoint up to an additional two external Members. A meeting of the Nominations Committee would be arranged for the New Year to facilitate initial discussions as to prospective appointees to fill identified skills gaps.

Staff Terms and Conditions: The Head of HR advised that a meeting had recently taken place with the Chamberlain to discuss this matter. It was noted that some savings would be expected to be made in respect of overtime and rota payments. Other changes were likely to be taken forward as part of the wider review of the City Corporation’s pay and reward arrangements taking place in late 2016.

Catering: The interim Head of Catering would be attending the January Board meeting to provide Members with an update on how the new catering arrangements at the Centre were embedding.

Toilets: In response to Members’ queries, the Director of Operations & Buildings clarified that the female toilets would also be renovated. It was noted that a variety of flush systems were being proposed, with speedier flush recovery times essential to combating both queues and the odour issue. Lights above doors to indicate occupancy and motionless sensors for sinks were also being considered so as to improve the customer experience.

RECEIVED.

Report of the Managing Director.

Members received a report of the Managing Director providing updates from the Barbican Directors on their respective areas.

RESOLVED: That the report be received and its content noted.

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

The Board received a report of the Director of Community and Children’s Services informing Members of the activity of the Local Authority Designated Officer (LADO) from April 2014 to March 2015.

RESOLVED: That the report be received and its content noted.

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 agree the non-public Minutes of the Barbican Centre Board meeting held on 14 October 2015.

The non-public minutes of the meeting held on 14 October 2015 were approved.

To receive the draft non-public minutes of the Finance Committee of the Barbican Centre Board held on 2 December 2015 (TO FOLLOW).

The draft non-public minutes of the meeting held on 2 December 2015 were received.

To receive the draft non-public minutes of the Risk Committee of the Barbican Centre Board held on 13 October 2015.

The draft non-public minutes of the meeting held on 13 October 2015 were received.

Report of the Managing Director (LSO).

Kathryn McDowell, Managing Director of the London Symphony Orchestra (LSO), provided the Board with an update on the LSO’s activities and financial position and gave an overview of the Orchestra’s future plans. The Managing Director (Barbican) also provided a brief update in respect of the Centre for Music feasibility study.

RECEIVED.

Report of the Director of Arts.

The Board received a report and accompanying presentation from the Head of Visual Arts setting out the work of the department over the past year, plans for the year ahead, and posing questions for Members’ consideration.

Members offered congratulations for the successes of the past year and took the opportunity to raise a number of queries and points for consideration.

·      The restrictions on marketing and advertising in the City were discussed, with clarification on the position sought particularly in respect of highlighting that certain shows or performances might be taking place. It was asked that officers in the Barbican’s marketing team liaise with colleagues in the Department of the Built Environment to ascertain the position and provide clarity on the position at a future meeting.

·      Members noted the imminent establishment of ‘Olympicopolis’ to the City’s east with branches of artistic institutions such as the Victoria & Albert museum and Sadler’s Wells, as well as the Tate Modern extension opening soon to the south. These represented significant challenges with the risk that they could potentially draw audiences away from the City and the Barbican. The point was made however that these potential challenges also represented real opportunities, as the increased cultural offering was likely to increase the overall arts audience.

·      Members expressed enthusiasm for the concept of pop-up installations as an experimental and novel way of bringing the arts to people in unexpected places.

·      Suggestions were also made as to methods through which City workers might be attracted in larger numbers to exhibitions.

The Head of Visual Arts and Director of Arts thanked Members for their support and for the suggestions and comments made.

RECEIVED.

Report of the Chief Operating & Financial Officer.

The Board received a report of the Chief Operating & Financial Officer which set out the Barbican Centre Trust’s latest fundraising results against budget.

RECEIVED.

Report of the Managing Director.

The Board received a report of the Managing Director providing an update on the Centre’s progress in meeting the Service Based Review and Strategic Plan targets.

RECEIVED.

Report of the Chief Operating & Financial Officer.

The Board received a report of the Chief Operating & Financial Officer presenting the Business Review for the Period 6 Accounts 2015/16.

The Head of Finance also provided an oral update in respect of the latest Period 7 figures, whilst the Director of Arts advised of the financial impact of the recent Hamlet and Antigone productions.

RECEIVED.

Report of the Chief Operating & Financial Officer.

The Board considered and approved a report of the Chief Operating & Financial Officer presenting the draft budget for 2016/17. It was noted that the final budget would be presented for information to the March Board meeting.

RECEIVED.

Report of the Director of Operations & Buildings.

The Board received a report of the Director of Operations & Buildings providing an update on the Barbican Centre’s Capital Cap programme and a number of non-Capital Cap projects.

RECEIVED.

Report of the Director of Operations & Buildings.

The Board considered and approved a report of the Director of Operations & Buildings providing the lessons learnt from a project to replace the Centre’s intelligent lighting system and recommending the project’s closure.

RECEIVED.

----

RESOLVED: With two hours having elapsed since the start of the meeting, in accordance with Standing Order No. 40 the Committee agreed at this point to extend the meeting by up to thirty minutes.

----

To consider a note of the special meeting of the Risk Committee of the Barbican Centre Board, held on 2 December 2015.

The Board received the notes from a special meeting of the Risk Committee which had taken place on 2 December, along with a report which set out the Centre’s responses to a number of queries and recommendations.

RECEIVED.

There were no questions.

There were no urgent items.