Agenda item

Joint report of the Chief Executive Officer, Barbican Centre and City Surveyor.

The Committee considered a joint report of the Chief Executive Officer, Barbican Centre and City Surveyor proposing the establishment of governance arrangements to oversee delivery of the Barbican Renewal Programme (BRP).

Reference was made to the previous discussion regarding a 10-year Business Plan, but with this not having been provided and a suggestion that it should have been included.    There was also no reference to partnerships, with there being some great organisations around the world who might prove to be very good partners for the Barbican Centre.  The City Corporation’s significant financial contribution to Barbican Renewal was also highlighted, with it not being clear what the relationship should be with Capital Buildings Board given the existing governance structures for large scale capital programmes that already existed.

A Member, also Chairman of Finance Committee, remarked on there being a very large item of potential expenditure from City Fund and proposed that the composition of Barbican Renewal Working Group should comprise of at least two Members of the Finance Committee given the financial liability involved in the programme.    The position on Optimism Bias contingency funding requests was noted, with these requiring Policy and Resources Committee approval; with it also being stressed that as soon as any potential risks were identified that may require optimism bias funding that Policy and Resources Committee should be alerted at the earliest opportunity.

It was questioned to what extent thought was being given to linking the Barbican Renewal Programme to the Markets relocation, particularly given the plan for Smithfield and its regeneration.

In response to the various points raised, clarity was provided that Capital Buildings Board had not been included as an option for governance following the previous decisions of this Committee and the Court of Common Council and it was now about implementing what had already been agreed.  The query regarding the Business Plan was addressed, and clarity given that this was being developed in line with the agreed delivery date of end of 2025/26 financial year. There was an acknowledgement of the valid points raised, through links to Smithfield and also looking at partnerships,  with an assurance given that the Barbican Centre was in live conversation with the team working on Smithfield, to ensure coordination, and was looking at a potential partnership for the development of the Exhibition Halls, which form a future phase of Renewal. 

It was confirmed that an options appraisal for the Exhibition Halls would follow, with this considering longer term solutions for the Barbican Centre through looking at partnership opportunities and also looking at linking up with other locations e.g., Smithfield.  An assurance was given that an early warning system would be running on the programme; early sight of any potential risks on the project would be reported accordingly.

Deputy Henry Colthurst proposed an amendment, seconded by Benjamin Murphy, that ‘two Members of Finance Committee’ be included in the Composition of the Barbican Renewal Sub-Committee, with this being voted on and agreed unanimously. The amendment was carried.

RESOLVED: That Members: -

1.     Agreed the appointment of the City Surveyor and CEO of the Barbican Centre as joint SROs for the undertaking of the BRP.

2.     Agreed that the joint SROs be granted the authority to make decisions with a cost implication of up to £5m, noting that the City Surveyor already holds signatory authority up to £15m, for the approval and signature of contracts only (in consultation with the Commercial Director), as detailed in paragraph 16.

3.     Agreed option B contained within the report, which involves the creation of a Barbican Renewal Working Group (BRWG) that would be consulted monthly, or as needed, by the SROs for scrutiny and council over the exercising of decisions within these delegations, noting that the Working Group itself would have no decision-making authority over the programme.

4.     Agreed that the CEO of the Barbican Centre be authorised to confirm the role of Director of Building and Renewal as Delivery Director for the Barbican Renewal Programme. In doing so, Members are invited to note the intention to appoint the Barbican Centre’s Director for Buildings and Renewal, and to agree the delegations to the Director, also outlined in paragraph 16.

5.     Noted that, in keeping with the decision taken by the Court of Common Council in December 2024, funds required beyond the agreed budget envelope of £231m, but within the Optimism Bias contingency of £57m, must be brought to the Policy and Resource Committee and Finance Committee for their consideration and approval before any part of it is utilised.

6.     Noted that, subject to approval this day, an Options Analysis on use of the Exhibition Halls was to be reviewed by Resource Allocation Sub-Committee, and Barbican Centre Board to note, before presentation to Policy and Resources Committee, and therefore excluded from the remit of the proposed BRWG.

7.     Noted that a 10-year business plan (in conjunction with the City of London Corporation’s wider approach to culture and service provision) has been commissioned, setting out options for a sustainably funded arts and cultural offering at the Barbican Centre, supported by the tax-payer, commercial income generation, and support from the corporate sector, to be developed by no later than the 2026/27 tax year. The 10-Year Business Plan would be managed as a separate programme, and updates would not be provided through the governance arrangements outlined in this paper.