Agenda item

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

Members considered a report of the Director of Community and Children’s Services in respect of the Annual Review of a Charging Policy for Car Parking and Stores. 

There was some challenge to the accounting methodology and the level of increase in respect of supervision and management.   The Chamberlain offered to circulate a schedule clarifying the baggage stores costs for the last two years. 

Members noted there was currently no waiting list for new stores or for car parking spaces.  Members also noted that, last year, the BRC had agreed to let 10% of the stores to close by non-residents, six months after the first lettings to residents.  Given the potential number of residents in close proximity to the Barbican Estate, and the possibility that the waiting list could increase, Members asked if this could be relaxed, with a higher threshold for seeking planning permission.  Members asked to see the current level of occupancy of the car park, with totals, and if this could be included in the appendix in future reports.  Members also felt that the rent of the stores in the Barbican buildings should remain at £25 per square foot per annum, that is £326.

RESOLVED, that – the work and recommendations of the Member/Officer Party be endorsed, subject to the variations recorded below, and :

1.      The Barbican car park charge per parking space for the ensuing year be paused at £1,340 per annum, subject to review in 2020.

2.     Rents for Stores within Barbican buildings be paused (that is, stores not constructed in the car parks) at £25 per square foot per annum, subject to review in 2020 (a variation to the Working Party recommendation).

3.     Rents for the resident occupiers of new stores in the car parks be paused at £20.00 per square foot per annum, subject to review in 2020.

4.     Rents for the non-resident occupiers of new stores in the car parks be paused at £40.00, including vat, per square foot per annum, subject to review in 2020.

5.     The Stores Management Plan be amended to increase the percentage of stores lettings to close by non-residents up to a maximum of 50%, so as to avoid the need to continually seek planning permission, but the percentage of stores lettings to close by non-residents should not exceed 25% unless further authorised by the Barbican Residential Committee.