Issue - meetings

This report provides Cabinet with a summary of the recent options appraisal and heritage significance / views analysis study undertaken for the Guildhall complex. It requests members to confirm their support for running a Royal Institute of British Architects RIBA Open Ideas Competition exercise to stimulate ideas to explore the opportunities afforded by this unique setting.

RESOLVED:       That Cabinet agree option 1 as set out in the report, to proceed with an RIBA Open Ideas Competition.

 REASON:           To facilitate the exploration of options for the future of the Guildhall in an innovative and cost effective way – that will generate publicity for the City and the site; facilitate a level of consultation and with the potential for securing interest in progressing a solution.

Cabinet Members considered a report which summarised the recent options appraisal and heritage significance/views analysis study undertaken for the Guildhall complex. Support was also required for the running of a Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) Open Ideas Competition in the form of a design exercise to stimulate ideas to explore the opportunities afforded by the Guildhalls unique setting.

The report provided further information on the consultation undertaken and an appraisal of the suggested options available in paragraphs 23 to 36 of the report with the format of the competition set out at Annex 1.

The Cabinet Member confirmed that this was an opportunity to seek innovative solutions to secure the future of the Guildhall complex for the city.

Consideration was then given to the following options:

Option 1 – to note the options appraisal work carried out by PMT and agree the proposal to proceed with an RIBA Open Ideas Competition.  An officer group working would prepare a detailed brief for the RIBA Open Ideas Competition to be launched in September 2012.

Option 2 – to note the options appraisal work carried out by PMT and commission further detailed studies as suggested to investigate the potential for future uses and ownership options by directly commissioning additional feasibility work.

Option 3 – to note the options appraisal work and take no further action.

RESOLVED:        That Cabinet agree option 1 as set out in the report, to proceed with an RIBA Open Ideas Competition. ^1.

 REASON:           To facilitate the exploration of options for the future of the Guildhall in an innovative and cost effective way – that will generate publicity for the City and the site; facilitate a level of consultation and with the potential for securing interest in progressing a solution.