Agenda and minutes

Apologies for absence were received from Wendy Mead, Jenny Waldman and the Rt Hon. the Lord Mayor Alderman William Russell.

There were no declarations.

To approve the public minutes and summary of the Barbican Centre Board meeting held on 16 September 2020.

The public minutes and summary of the Board meeting held on16 September 2020 were approved as a correct record.

To receive the draft public minutes and summary of the Finance & Risk Committee of the Barbican Centre Board meeting held on 2 November 2020.

The draft public minutes of the Finance & Risk Committee meeting held on 2 November 2020 were received.

Report of the Town Clerk.

The Board noted the various outstanding actions and the updates provided thereon. The work plan for Barbican meetings in 2020/21 was also noted.

Report of the Managing Director.

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 confirmed the Centre was again closed to the public for the second national lockdown. Streamed content would continue online. There had been significant activity up until the point of closure achieving a public confidence score of 97/8% and work would continue operationally behind the scenes. 

·         The Centre, whilst continuing to review the complex, everchanging options and scenario plan as much as possible, is working to reopen on 3 December.

·         It was hoped that the exhibitions would be able to reopen on 3 December, notably the successful Michael Clark: Cosmic Dancer exhibition which would end in January.

·         Innovation and Engagement were looking to archive working online and improve its digital products.

·         With regarding the Creative Learning, the Centre’s civic purpose was developing through the strengthening collaboration between Beyond Barbican, Level G and the hyper local work with Culture Mile.

·         The Director of Operations and Buildings gave thanks to the City Corporation and staff for their hard work and keeping the Centre safe. It was noted that times of closure had been used wisely to progress planned works on assets.

·         Members were informed that whilst fundraising across the arts was uncertain, Officers were working hard to develop to the changing landscape and scope potential funding opportunities of which there were several pending. It was acknowledged  

·         Whilst future partnerships and corporate memberships continue to be explored, the Corporate team have managed to retain the loyalty of many current members. Opportunities for audiences and patrons to donate online have also been made available.

RESOLVED – That Members endorse Management’s approach to the future activities of the Centre.

Oral update - the Director of Innovation & Engagement to be heard.

The Board received an oral update from the Director of Innovation and Engagement providing an update on the equality and inclusion work underway at the Centre.

Members were advised that setting up the Anti Racism Task & Finish Group, which will work as the engine room for the Centre’s work to address structural racism, remained a priority and was due to be announced imminently. The panel included internal and external expertise and was working on how it would be launched.

The Board were extremely supportive of the work of the new Task & Finish Group and the Chair agreed to send the Group a formal note of support.

A Member felt that the name should be changed as Task & Finish Group suggested the subject matter would finish. Members were advised that the final name was still being considered and it had already changed from “Taskforce” which was conserved too militaristic. An Officer noted that the Task & Finish Group would have a fixed period, and this was the first phase of this work. At its conclusion, this work would move into the wider long-term account of the organisation.

Members discussed best practice in the industry agreeing that wider resource was required to carry out a deep dive in line with work carried out by the Wellcome Collection to ensure diversity and inclusion was accessible at every level and create a truly open presence. The Chair saw this work as a priority and requested an update on best practice at the next Board meeting.

In response to a request by a Member, Officers agreed to share the details and job specification for the new Barbican senior role with Members for input.

Report of the Chamberlain.

Members considered a report of the Chamberlain concerning the resetting of departmental Budgets 2020/21.

RESOLVED – That Members of the Barbican Centre Board note the recommended budget adjustments of £12,452K increase.

The Culture Mile Manager to be heard.

Members received a presentation concerning the future of Culture Mile 2021-23 and the following points were made:

·         The Culture Mile Manager updated Members on plans to support communities and recovery post-Covid through a cultural revitalisation. It was hoped that hyper local work that was already taking place could be capitalised on. A number of opportunities between Culture Mile and the Barbican were explored including transformation of the area through public realm branding across the district, support for local creatives and businesses, collaboration on learning, funding and research opportunities, and sharing learning, expertise and contacts.

·         The five thematic areas of focus were a mixed economy model, creative livelihoods, creative spaces, creative communities and a skills-building agenda. It was hoped that civic, cultural and commercial sectors could be brought together through a mixed economy model to make the City an attractive destination for culture and commerce.

·         It was noted that Culture Mile was working to access those without access to digital.

·         Members were impressed with the high level of activity and supported Culture Mile’s plans to recover culture in the City during and post Covid.

·         In response to a query regarding exploring ideas to bring activity to the Beech Street tunnel and the Barbican’s Exhibition Halls, Members were advised that Covid had made the role of local residents and businesses more influential in developing local projects and it was hoped that local input would help develop the vision for Beech Street. Funding for these ideas would be requested next year.

·         It was noted that the Barbican Area Advisory Group worked to understand the different components of the area in terms of its story, transportation and projects.

·         A Member commended the work of the Culture Mile noting that it was acknowledged at the Lord Mayor’s Taskforce meeting that creative thinking would

Report of the Head of Audit & Risk Management.

The Board 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, the last written submission having been made to the January 2020 meeting of the Barbican Risk Committee.

RESOLVE - That Members:-

·         Note the report;

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

Report of the Director of Operations and Buildings.

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

The Board 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.

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 agree the non-public minutes of the Barbican Centre Board meeting held on 16 September 2020.

The non-public minutes of the Board meeting held on 16 September 2020 were approved as a correct record.

To receive the draft non-public minutes of the Finance & Risk Committee of the Barbican Centre Board held on 2 November 2020.

The draft non-public minutes of the Finance & Risk Committee meeting held on 2 November 2020 were received.

Report of the Interim Artistic Director.

The Board received a non-public report of the Interim Artistic Director providing an update on Barbican Music department’s activities and performance over the past year, setting out the opportunities, challenges and plans for the coming period within the context of the Barbican’s overall vision and mission and Strategic Business Plan.

Report of the Managing Director, London Symphony Orchestra.

The 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.

Report of the Town Clerk.

Report of the Chief Operating & Financial Officer.

Report of the Chamberlain.

Report of the Chief Operating and Financial Officer.

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 setting out the Business Review for the September 2020 (Period 6 – 20/21) accounts.

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.

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 5.

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.

Report of the Town Clerk.

The Committee noted a report of the Town Clerk updating Members on action taken by the Town Clerk under urgency or delegated authority in consultation with the Chairman and Deputy Chairman since the last meeting of the Committee, in accordance with Standing Orders No. 41 (a) and (b).