Agenda and minutes

In advance of the meeting, formal apologies for absence were received from Tijs Broeke, Michael Asante, Aaron D’Souza, Zulum Elumogo, Alderman Sir Nicholas Lyons, and Irem Yerdelen.

Jaspreet Hodgson declared an interest in Items 6 and 6a, namely the Barbican Renewal Update Report and the Barbican Renewal Programme Milestones Report. As a Member of the Planning & Transportation Committee, Ms Hodgson recused herself from these items and Barbican Renewal matters in general at Barbican Centre Board meetings going forward.

To approve the public minutes and summary of the Barbican Centre Board meeting held on….

RESOLVED, that – the public minutes and non-public summary of the meeting held on 8^th May 2025 be approved as an accurate record.

The Board considered a Report of the Town Clerk concerning appointments to the Board.

In addition to Michael Asante’s re-appointment, the Chair highlighted Brendan Barns’ interest in restoring the role of Chairman of the Culture, Heritage and Libraries Committee to ex-officio status on the Barbican Centre Board.

The Chair indicated his support for this change and several Members welcomed the move as a helpful and logical step. One Member did raise a concern that this would result in elected Members of the Board being in a majority; the Chair acknowledged this concern and suggested that the Board look again at the composition when it carried out its annual review of its Terms of Reference in the autumn, in advance of the Board being formally re-appointed for the 2026/27 civic year at the Court of Common Council in April.

RESOLVED: - that the Board:

·       Approved the reappointment of Micheal Asante for a further three-year term, ending in July 2028.

·       That the Board endorsed the restoration of the role of the Chairman of the Culture, Heritage and Libraries Committee to sit as an ex-officio Member of the Board, pending a Report being submitted to the Policy & Resources Committee to agree to this change in the Board’s composition. In addition, the Board will consider its options over the autumn with regards to maintaining the balance on the Board between elected and non-elected Members.    

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

RESOLVED: - that the Board noted the Report.

The Board received a Report of the Interim CEO, Barbican Centre concerning the Barbican Renewal Programme.

RESOLVED: - that the Board noted the Report.

The Board considered a Report of the Interim CEO, Barbican Centre concerning the first Milestone in the promotion and delivery of the Barbican Renewal Project.

RESOLVED: - that the Board authorise the submission of the Planning Application summarised in Appendix 2 in July 2025.

There were no public questions.

On behalf of the Board, the Chair thanked the departing Despina Tsatsas for all her support during her time as a Member of the Board. Despina had made a significant contribution to the Centre’s activities and would be fondly remembered by her fellow Board Members and officers alike.   

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

RESOLVED, that – the non-public minutes of the meeting held on 8^th May 2025 be approved as an accurate record.

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

The Board considered a Report of the Interim CEO, Barbican Centre concerning a drawdown of funds for Barbican Renewal.

This item was deferred.

The Board received a Report of the Interim CEO, Barbican Centre concerning Visual Arts at the Centre.

The Board received a Report of the Interim CEO, Barbican Centre concerning the Centre’s Cyclical Works Programme and Capital Projects.

The Board received a Report of the Interim CEO, Barbican Centre concerning Health and Safety at the Centre.

The Board received a Report of the Interim CEO, Barbican Centre concerning the Centre’s Business Review for Period 12 (March 2025).

The Board received a Report of the Interim CEO, Barbican Centre concerning the Centre’s Business Review for Period 2 (May 2025).

There were no non-public questions.

There was no other urgent (non-public) business.

RESOLVED: - that the confidential minutes of the meeting held on 8^th May 2025 be approved as an accurate record.