Agenda item

Report of the Managing Director.

Members received a report of the Managing Director providing updates from the Barbican Directors on their respective areas.

The Managing Director provided a brief update in respect of the Centre for Music (CfM), advising that a project director had now been appointed. The successful candidate, Simon Johnson, was highly experienced and had recently delivered major projects including the new Francis Crick Institute building. Familiar with HM Treasury’s reporting requirements, he would be working closely with the Barbican’s Chief Operating & Financial Officer and the London Symphony Orchestra’s (LSO) Director of Finance & Resources to deliver the next phase of the CfM project in the coming period.

The Director of Arts took the opportunity to advise Members that the dates of the Walthamstow Garden Party referred to in her update would be 16 and 17 July. She also informed Members of the plans to install sculptures and other items in the foyer over the coming months to develop it in to a more creative and engaging space.

The Director of Creative Learning informed Members that a co-ordinating committee had now been established across the Barbican, Guildhall School and LSO to bring together the totality of creative learning work. This would allow for the various bodies to present the volume of activity being undertaken in a coherent and consolidated way. He also informed Members that a new Head of Creative Learning had been appointed, who would help to drive continued progress in the area.

Additional updates were also provided by the Director of Operations & Buildings in respect of the plans to refurbish the “superloos” and install a new retail outlet, both of which had been referred to the National Planning Casework Unit following objections from the 20^th Century Society. Permission had now been granted to proceed as planned in the case of the retail outlet; however, the Society’s objection in relation to the slab urinals in the “superloos” had been upheld, necessitating an amendment to the design.

Updating on two issues of concern surrounding evacuation arrangements which had been discussed at the previous meeting, Members were advised that new radios and repeaters had been installed in the cinemas to assist with communication and resolve previous issues there; a second foyer evacuation drill had also now taken place which had further assisted in strengthening planning and mitigation measures.

RECEIVED.