Agenda and minutes

There were no apologies.

There were none.

The Chair to be heard.

The Committee received a report of the Town Clerk providing the agreed Nominations, Effectiveness and Inclusion Committee Terms of Reference which were approved by Members at the May Board meeting.

Report of the Town Clerk.

The Committee considered a report of the Town Clerk providing a draft Work Plan for 2021/22 and meeting schedule for the Committee.

Members were advised that this work was a continuation of the Board reviewing itself and implementing a more structured process to improve overall Board effectiveness. This would be reviewed in nine months.

The Committee would now review elected Members (as well as external Members) and the remit had added a role to provide oversight, input and support for senior leadership. This would complement the Corporation’s existing processes and include succession planning.

Members noted the Committee’s responsibilities for people and agreed that Barbican Stories could not be taken in isolation and the whole picture and work environment must be looked at.

Given the importance of the work needed, Members agreed an increase to the number of meetings from three to five meetings per year was sensible. Members requested that meetings took place two weeks prior to Board meetings and that they were not on the same day as Finance & Risk Committee meetings. It was noted that informal conduit meetings for sound boards on specific topics would continue.

The Chair noted that the Town Clerk had requested that the Committee set in year objectives for Senior Management as soon as possible.

RESOLVED – That the Committee increase the number of its meetings to five times per year and the Town Clerk schedule these meetings.

The Director of Arts & Learning provided Members with a management update whereby it was acknowledged that the Directorate were simply too slow to communicate the failings of the EDI Strategy to staff. Management were working to rectify this by communicating with staff as quickly and accurately as possible and implement a suitable structure and a broader EDI Strategy. Members were advised that it would take a full team effort to deliver requirements to resolve the crises and elevate the HR function to create a better Centre for the future. Members were not surprised by situation noting that recommendations were made during the last year by the Initiate Group and staff.

A Member wished to understand what had happened over the last seven days including what care, communications and safe channels had been put in place. Members were informed that there had been emails from the Managing Director to all staff, management meetings followed up by department meetings to provide feedback, clearly sign posted support to staff, numerous schemes communicated from the City Corporation and Barbican HR, training for staff and management, plus 24 hour confidential support and counselling all in one place was being implemented. Further communications would also be sent to staff early next week. The Committee were keen to review the communications and provide advice where appropriate, especially if there was any feedback that staff still did not feel they had safe space.

The Deputy Chair was glad to hear there had been progress and saw this as an important moment for the Centre which must be seen to be taking action. It was felt that the City Corporation and management needed immediate support for diversity and hoped processes and structures would not stop swift action from occurring in the long and short term.

There was no urgent business.

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.

The Director of Innovation & Engagement to be heard.

The Committee received an oral update from the Director of Innovation & Engagement concerning outcomes from the Informal EDI Working Group.

The Chair to be heard.

The Committee received an oral update from the Chair concerning the need to develop Terms of Reference for an independent review into allegations of racism at the Centre, agree a person and/or people to approach to conduct the review, a timeframe and how the recommendations would be signed off. The Chair welcomed the Town Clerk and Comptroller & City Solicitor to the meeting and welcomed their views.

Report of the Managing Director.

The Committee considered a report of the Managing Director concerning the Barbican Equality and Diversity Action Plan and timeline.

There were no questions.

There was no business.