Agenda and minutes

Barbican Centre Board - Wednesday, 22nd October, 2025 11.00 am

Venue: Frobisher Rooms, Level 4, Barbican Centre, Silk Street, London, EC2Y 8DS

Contact: Kate Doidge  Email: kate.doidge@cityoflondon.gov.uk

Items
No. Item

1.

Apologies

 

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

Minutes:

Apologies for absence were received from Tobi Ruth Adebekun, Alderman Sir Nicholas Lyons, Anett Rideg, and Jens Riegelsberger.

 

Mark Page, Tobi Ruth Adebekun, and Stephen Bediako observed the meeting virtually.

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

2.

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

 

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

Minutes:

There were no declarations.

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

3.

Board Minutes pdf icon PDF 126 KB

To approve the public minutes and non-public summary of the Barbican Centre Board meeting held on 17th July 2025.

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

Minutes:

RESOLVED: - that the public minutes and non-public summary of the previous meeting held on 17th July 2025 be approved as an accurate record.

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

4.

Sub-Committees

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

Minutes:

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

4a

Finance and Risk Committee

To receive a verbal update on the public section of the Finance and Risk Committee of the Barbican Centre Board meeting held on 30th September 2025.

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

Minutes:

The Board heard a verbal summary of the public section of the meeting of the Finance & Risk Committee of the Barbican Centre Board, held on 30th September 2025.

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

4b

People, Culture & Inclusion Committee

To receive a verbal update on the public section of the People, Culture & Inclusion Committee of the Barbican Centre Board held on 23rd September 2025.

 

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

Minutes:

The Board heard a verbal summary of the public section of the meeting of the People, Culture, & Inclusion Committee of the Barbican Centre Board, held on 23rd September 2025.

 

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

5.

Public CEO Report pdf icon PDF 205 KB

Report of the Interim CEO, Barbican Centre.

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

Minutes:

The Board received a report of the Interim CEO, Barbican Centre, comprising of public updates from across the Centre.

 

The Interim CEO thanked Board Members for their ongoing support of the autumn season. He highlighted the audience feedback, the progress on EDI, and staff culture engagement and wellbeing as items to particularly note within the report.

 

RESOLVED: - that the report be received, and its contents noted.

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

6.

Annual Review of Terms of Reference pdf icon PDF 122 KB

Joint report of the Town Clerk and Interim CEO, Barbican Centre.

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

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The Board received a report of the Town Clerk and Interim CEO, Barbican Centre, concerning the annual review of the Board’s own Terms of Reference.

 

It was agreed that any matters for consideration be submitted to the Town Clerk for discussion at its January 2026 meeting.

 

RESOLVED: - that Members:

·       Consider the Board Terms of Reference set out at Appendix A and agree whether they sufficiently encapsulate the responsibilities of the Board;

·       Consider the Board Composition, also set out at Appendix A, and agree whether the Membership is appropriate for the exercising of these duties; and

·       Any matters for consideration be submitted to the Town Clerk for discussion at the January 2026 Board meeting, to submit for onward consideration by the Policy & Resources Committee and Court of Common Council.

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

7.

Questions on Matters Relating to the Work of the Board

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

Minutes:

There were no public questions.

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

8.

Any other Business that the Chairman considers Urgent

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

Minutes:

There were no public items of urgent business.

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

9.

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 9.

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.

 

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

10.

Non-Public Board Minutes

To agree the non-public Minutes of the Barbican Centre Board meeting held on 17th July 2025.

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

Minutes:

RESOLVED: - that the non-public minutes of the previous meeting held on 17th July 2025 be approved as an accurate record.

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

11.

Sub-Committees

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

Minutes:

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

11a

Finance and Risk Committee

To receive a verbal update of the non-public section of the Finance and Risk Committee of the Barbican Centre Board held on 30th September 2025.

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

Minutes:

The Board heard a verbal summary of the non-public section of the meeting of the Finance & Risk Committee of the Barbican Centre Board, held on 30th September 2025.

 

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

11b

People, Culture & Inclusion Committee

To receive a verbal update on the non-public section of the meeting of the People, Culture & Inclusion Committee of the Barbican Centre Board held on 23rd September 2025.

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

Minutes:

The Board heard a verbal summary of the non-public section of the meeting of the People, Culture, & Inclusion Committee of the Barbican Centre Board, held on 23rd September 2025.

 

 

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

12.

Non Public CEO Report

Report of the Interim CEO, Barbican Centre.

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

Minutes:

The Board received a report of the Interim CEO, Barbican Centre, comprising of non-public updates from across the Centre.

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

13.

Music Department Update

Report of the Interim CEO, Barbican Centre.

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

Minutes:

The Board received a report of the Interim CEO, Barbican Centre, concerning an update on the Music Department.

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

14.

London Symphony Orchestra - Annual Review for 2024/25

Report of the Managing Director of the London Symphony Orchestra.

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

Minutes:

The Board received the London Symphony Orchestra’s Annual Report to the Barbican Centre Board on its 2024/25 season.

 

NOTE – Following the conclusion of this Item, it was agreed to amend the agenda order to receive Item 15, Barbican Immersive Update and Future Plans, following Agenda Item 17, Barbican Renewal Programme – Change Control (Scope Inclusion).

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

15.

Barbican Renewal Quarterly Report

Report of the Interim CEO, Barbican Centre.

 ...  view the full agenda text for item 15.

Minutes:

The Board received a report of the Interim CEO, Barbican Centre, concerning an update on the Barbican Renewal programme.

 ...  view the full minutes text for item 15.

16.

Barbican Renewal Programme - Change Control (Scope Inclusion)

Report of the Interim CEO, Barbican Centre.

 ...  view the full agenda text for item 16.

Minutes:

The Board received a report of the Interim CEO, Barbican Centre, concerning the approval of a change control (scope inclusion) for the Barbican Renewal programme.

 

NOTE: At this juncture, the Board agreed to extend the meeting to 1:30pm, as per Standing Order 39.

 ...  view the full minutes text for item 16.

17.

Barbican Immersive Update and Future Plans

Report of the Interim CEO, Barbican Centre.

 ...  view the full agenda text for item 17.

Minutes:

The Board received a report of the Interim CEO, Barbican Centre, concerning a comprehensive overview of the current state, market context, potential and history of Barbican Immersive.

 ...  view the full minutes text for item 17.

18.

Commercial Deep Dive

Report of the Interim CEO, Barbican Centre.

 ...  view the full agenda text for item 18.

Minutes:

The Board received a report of the Interim CEO, Barbican Centre, concerning a deep dive on the status and opportunities in the two areas of the Barbican’s Commercial Directorate: Business Events, and Commercial Development (which incorporated restaurants, cafes and bars, and car parks).

 ...  view the full minutes text for item 18.

19.

*Programming & Events Risk Register

Report of the Interim CEO, Barbican Centre.

 ...  view the full agenda text for item 19.

Minutes:

The Board received a report of the Interim CEO, Barbican Centre, concerning the Arts Programming & Business Events Risk Register.

 

 ...  view the full minutes text for item 19.

20.

Non Public Questions relating to the work of the Board

 ...  view the full agenda text for item 20.

Minutes:

There were no non-public questions.

 ...  view the full minutes text for item 20.

21.

Any other business the Chairman considers urgent and which the Board Agree should be considered whilst the public are excluded

 ...  view the full agenda text for item 21.

Minutes:

There was no non-public items of urgent business.

 ...  view the full minutes text for item 21.

22.

Confidential Minutes

To agree the confidential minutes of the meeting held on 17th July 2025.

 ...  view the full agenda text for item 22.

Minutes:

RESOLVED: - that the confidential minutes of the previous meeting, held on 17th July 2025, be approved as an accurate record.

 ...  view the full minutes text for item 22.