Agenda item

Report of the Executive Director, Community and Children’s Services.

The Committee received a report of the Executive Director, Community and Children’s Services in respect of Major Works Programme Board and a recommendation of a full capital replacement of the tower lifts situated on the Barbican Estate.

The report sought approval from the BRC for £75,000 (£25,000 per tower) to draft specifications of works and tender lift replacement works across all three towers. The Assistant Director recognised the urgency of lift replacement at the towers and full capital replacement was favoured over refurbishment since this would ensure longevity, reliability and value for money. It was specified that an open protocol system would be implemented to avoid monopolisation by a contractor. The costs of this programme shall be spread over two financial years. A further report considering leaseholder funding options would be be submitted to Committee at a later date.

He assured the Committee that lifts would be replaced sequentially in the same financial year, replacing one lift per tower, with replacements taking approximately six to eight weeks. A Member raised a further concern about modernisation and full replacement, and whether the relevant house groups would be well informed of the process, the Assistant Director wanted resident and leaseholder involved and was also keen to establish a Tower Lifts Working Party with leaseholders representatives from each tower (preferably 2-3 per tower).. However, it was a professional recommendation that these lifts needed to be replaced.

A Member noted comments made by residents of Shakespeare Tower and increased estimate from £1.5 Million to £2.65 Million and it was noted that the delay by the City Corporation in progressing the original program may have contributed to these increased costs. He asked if the £2.65 Million was based on inflated costs for when the programme was expected to be completed or costed at current costs and would inflate further. The Assistant Director advised the Committee that the estimate was based over the project timeline (2 years). The Member asked for further explanation of costs and reasoning for going for replacement and not refurbishment, he also suggested spreading the costs over several years. The Assistant Director agreed to investigate and discuss further outside of the meeting.

A Member asked why the replacement of lifts at Cromwell Tower was £20,000 cheaper compared to other lift replacements. The Assistant Director agreed to investigate further, however attributed this decrease to a lift component. A Member asked whether Grants for improving disabled access were available and whether this could be classed as a landlord improvement. The Assistant Director agreed to investigate further.

RESOLVED, that – the report and its contents be noted.