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 Tower Lifts projects.

Officers explained the factors leading to the change in recommendation from a full capital replacement to a major modernisation. It had been established that warranties would still be available if existing guides, counterweights and frames were retained which were better quality than could be achieved today. This would also reduce the costs.

Members noted that the project had repeated a previous exercise (and had come to similar conclusions). Officers advised that they felt the review had been necessary, but would discuss the areas of duplication with the Resident Steering Group. It was generally agreed that the work should be expedited. Officers advised that an experienced project manager who would take responsibility for this programme of work had been appointed and was due to start on 6 May 2025.

Officers, in reply to a question on whether they had appropriate data to provide details of breakdowns and the costs of their repair, undertook to bring a cost benefit analysis to the Committee in due course.

In response to a question on warranties, officers advised that it was likely that a package of warranties would be available, with terms dependant on the particular lift component. Guidance would be obtained from the consultants in this regard. Officers advised that the third-party consultant would monitor the lift warranties and any potential claims, as would the Estate Office team in accordance with the suite of standard operating procedures.

A report on the terrace lifts would be brought to the Committee in September, incorporating the lessons learnt from the tower lift project. At the request of some Members, officers agreed to circulate the consultant’s reports on the individual lifts to the House Group Chairs for dissemination as they see fit.

Officers agreed to amend the Terms of Reference of the Barbican Towers Lift Project Resident Steering Group to include a member of the Major Works Programme Board.

Officers confirmed that the only implication of not having to comply with the NH120 requirements for new lifts was that the reporting would be less burdensome.

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