Issue - meetings

This report asks the Executive to agree the next steps in a strategy designed to bring the Barbican Auditorium back into public use.

RESOLVED: (i)         That Option 2 in the report be approved, that is: to focus on progressing the work recommended by Drivers Jonas in order to develop options for the Barbican Centre through structured dialogue with the identified interested parties, whilst undertaking work now to make the building wind and water tight, safe and secure.

                        (ii)        That the Council’s aspirations be agreed for the Centre; that is, that it should provide:

a)     the major conference and / or entertainment facilities for the City;

b)     high quality facilities for the residents of York and for visitors, acting as a focus for important City events and a focus for civic pride;

c)      opportunities for community involvement and activities;

d)     no on-going requirement for public subsidy.

                        (iii)       That the following be agreed as the key next steps:

a)     Drivers Jonas to be retained as the Council’s advisers, to work with Officers in preparing a succinct brief to be used as a basis for further structured dialogue with the interested parties, and to further develop the approach to the market.

b)     Essential work to be carried out to prevent any further deterioration of the Centre.

c)      Independent legal advice to be taken to assist Officers in all aspects of procurement.

                        (iv)       That a further report be received, in the light of the structured dialogue, setting out the available options and the direction to be followed.

                        (v)        That an allocation of £120k of additional one-off budget in 2009/10, funded from general contingency, be agreed, to cover the costs of the actions set out under the recommended option.

                        (vi)       That Officers be instructed to ensure that, within the next fortnight, posters are displayed at the Barbican, signposting residents as to how they can access alternative leisure opportunities in the City.

                        (vii)      That Officers contact the organisers of the Festival of Remembrance and the Carol Service, to review how their events will fit into the programme of bringing the Barbican Auditorium back into use.

REASON:      To enable future plans for public use of the Barbican Auditorium to be developed and progressed as soon as possible, and to ensure that the public and other interested parties are kept informed.

Members considered a report which outlined, and sought approval for, the next steps in a strategy designed to bring the Barbican Auditorium back into public use.

Since the last update report to Executive, on 3 March 2009, the LHL Group had been commissioned to undertake a full condition survey of the building.  This work, and the specialist entertainment market advice commissioned from Drivers Jonas, had now been completed.  The Council had also carried out some improvements to the condition of the building, including cleaning, removal of graffiti and security patrols.  Key findings of Drivers Jonas’ work were set out in paragraphs 11 to 18 of the report.  An executive summary of the LHL Group’s report was provided in Annex A. 

Drivers Jonas had reviewed the options for future use of the Barbican and recommended that the options now be taken forward by the Council and developed further with those parties that had expressed an interest.  The LHL report had identified a cost of £818k to bring the Auditorium back into a usable condition, plus £1.097m over the next five years.  It was suggested that the Council should progress the work recommended by Driver Jonas and, at the same time, pursue one of the following options:

Option 1 – undertake immediately all the work necessary to return the building to a usable condition (cost - £818k) or

Option 2 – undertake immediately only that part of the work necessary to make the building wind and watertight, safe and secure (cost - £90k).

Option 2 was recommended, on the basis that this would protect the integrity of the asset whilst options for future use were explored.  Drivers Jonas had advised against spending the full £818k at this stage, since pursuing an interim use would distract from, and may be incompatible with, the principle aim of identifying a long-term sustainable use for the building.

Having noted the comments of the Shadow Executive and the comments made under Public Participation on this item, it was

*RESOLVED: (i) That Option 2 in the report be approved, that is: to focus on progressing the work recommended by Drivers Jonas in order to develop options for the Barbican Centre through structured dialogue with the identified interested parties, whilst undertaking work now to make the building wind and water tight, safe and secure.

                        (ii)        That the Council’s aspirations be agreed for the Centre; that is, that it should provide:¹

a)     the major conference and / or entertainment facilities for the City;

b)     high quality facilities for the residents of York and for visitors, acting as a focus for important City events and a focus for civic pride;

c)      opportunities for community involvement and activities;

d)     no on-going requirement for public subsidy.

                        (iii)       That the following be agreed as the key next steps:

a)     Drivers Jonas to be retained as the Council’s advisers, to work with Officers in preparing a succinct brief to be used as a basis for further structured dialogue with the interested parties, and to  ...  view the full minutes text for item 230