Agenda item
Town Hall - Impact on Assets/LBTH Estate; Financing, Capacity
- Meeting of Online 'Virtual' Meeting, Overview & Scrutiny Committee, Monday, 22nd March, 2021 6.30 p.m. (Item 8.1)
- View the background to item 8.1
The Committee will undertake a review the progress on the plans for the New Town Hall and how this is being delivered.
Minutes:
The Committee considered a presentation that reviewed the progress on the plans for the New Town Hall and how this is being delivered. The presentation covered (i) financing of the project; (ii) changing “the way we work”; and (iii) “Resident Hub” and the “Local Presence” The Chair welcomed Mayor Biggs; Ann Sutcliffe (Corporate Director for Place); Yasmin Ali Project Director and Sarah Steer Project Manager (Town Hall Project) to tonight’s meeting. The key themes arising from the questioning on the presentation may be summarised as follows:
v Was advised that the funding for the project comes primarily from the Public Works Loan Board (PWLB) which operates under a policy framework set by HM Treasury and ensures that lending to local government complies with statute. Also borrowing from the PWLB is very straightforward and at a very low rate of interest.
v Observed that the new civic centre will make full use of its location in the most accessible part of Tower Hamlets. It will be served by four different train and tube lines including Crossrail, along with well-used bus and cycle routes. The building has been designed to be more than just an office for council staff.
v Was reminded that the business case for this project it had been demonstrated that it was better value for money than renting a building elsewhere or extending tenancy agreement for Mulberry Place and that in spite of being subject to a further review in the light of the different financing options becoming available it still is the most viable method of financing the project.
v Noted that it is being constructed on the site of the former Royal London Hospital building, the new civic centre will provide 26,700m2 of civic space, with the ground floor designed for public use. In addition, LBTH will be welcoming partner organisations to co-locate in the building, which will enable residents to be served by a diverse range of services from one site.
v Noted that the entire ground floor of the new civic centre will be dedicated to public use. A new Idea Store that will include supported access to a full range of council services alongside books, a café, drop in space and new public square.
v Expressed concern that as the new civic centre has been designed to be more than just an office for council staff how will this impact on the future of the libraries and arts provision in Whitechapel for example given its close proximity to the London Hospital site on the Whitechapel Idea Store. Especially as this was a trusted space where residents are able to explore and share reading, information, and knowledge. In response it was noted that the Whitechapel Ideas Store was to be re-developed into part of a learning campus with a stronger focus on learning, skills and supporting residents into work.
v Noted in response that the intention of the Council regarding cultural and creative enrichment in the Borough was to promote venues such as the Brady Centre as welcoming places where local people can immerse themselves in every form of art; learn from local artists; create their own art; watch theatre, music, and dance performances; and learn about art and culture through books and reading.
v Noted that it is estimated that the cost of this project is in the region of £114.5 million. The Council will be saving public money because as well as securing ongoing annual savings of at least £5m from rental of Mulberry Place, there will be additional savings from more efficient working. Also capital receipts: £78.2m to £91.2m from potential disposalsfrom the sale of old council buildings that will no longer be needed once staff have moved to the new civic centre, which will go towards the £114.5m estimated total cost of the new civic centre.
v Wanted a breakdown of the capital receipts from the above-mentioned disposals as outlined in the updated Business Case.
v Noted that the design of the new civic centre will celebrate the rich history of the building – with a new building ‘wrapping’ around the old to create dynamic and flexible spaces for the workforce. Also, by moving from Mulberry Place to Whitechapel will relocate the Councils ‘Front Door’ presence to the centre of the Borough.
v Noted that the new civic centre would be heated by an air source heat pump system that does not create heat. It simply moves it from one place to another through the vapour compression cycle thereby raising its temperature.
v Noted that engagement is currently underway with staff on facilities within LBTH buildings in a post Covid environment and that elements of the Covid layout will be considered alongside the revised plans i.e. one-way systems around the floor layouts.
v Noted that staff are to continue working as they have been and are not being instructed to return to work in the office, this is purely preparing to be ready when the guidance allows LBTH to commence a phased return.
v Was advised that as part of the wider vision on changing the way LBTH works an engagement programme is underway with staff to review the desk to staff ratio from 6:10 to 4:10, with more flexible working furniture within the building for different work styles.
v Was informed that Staff will be relocated from John Onslow House and Albert Jacob House to Mulberry Place. Also, that all desks at Mulberry Place have been allocated at divisional level, rather than individual teams, allowing greater flexibility and enabling LBTH to test how the 4:10 principle works ahead of the move to the new civic centre. Whilst also creating additional flexible working spaces within Mulberry Place.
Accordingly, it was agreed:
1. ThankedMayor Biggs; Ann Sutcliffe; Yasmin Ali Project and Sarah Steer for their presentation and to all members for their contributions in the discussions on this topic; and
2. Indicated that the following should be added to the Committees Action Log.
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A. (i) the evolution of the new civic centre business case; (ii) the capital receipts from the potential disposalsfrom the sale of old council buildings as outlined in the new civic centre business case; and (iii) the assessment of the relocation of the Councils ‘Front Door’ presence to the centre of the Borough.
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Supporting documents:
- New Town Hall Cover Sheet 22.03.2021, item 8.1 PDF 36 KB
- OS NTH Spotlight presentation 22 March 2021v2, item 8.1 PDF 3 MB