York Liberal Democrats

Labour Barbican Motion

This Lib Dem amendment acknowledges that the lack of activity at the Barbican is a loss

to our city. It would be foolish to pretend otherwise.

Whether we are talking music concerts or events such as the Snooker Championships, the

Barbican has provided entertainment enjoyed by many thousands of people across York.

I believe that it is vital, particularly during this period of economic uncertainty, that we

send out a message that this city is open for business, and that we demonstrate that

commitment by providing attractions and staging events that draw in audiences and users,

to ensure that our economy stays vibrant and jobs are protected.

Our cultural life is also important, in its own right, as culture. We are not machines and

we all benefit from the pleasures culture brings and the opportunity it provides for us to

have fun, to marvel at the ability of those with talent, to learn from each other, to

perform, to be happy, and to share each other's company.

Events have moved on since this motion was submitted and members will by now be

aware that negotiations with Absolute Leisure have already ceased, hence the need for an

amendment.

When the new administration took over last summer, I and the new leader held a series of

meetings with Absolute Leisure, accompanied by various senior officers. In the wake of

the long delays and the many missed deadlines that had occurred as the result of a series

of appeals, we were keen to establish what obstacles, if any, were blocking the revamp of

the auditorium.

In October, a meeting took place with Absolute Leisure, myself, the Director of City

Strategy, the assistant director of Lifelong Learning and Culture, and the senior planning

officer involved with the Barbican project. We discussed the various planning preconditions

that had still not been satisfied and agreed how to progress them. We agreed a

date by which all these matters would be resolved and building work would begin. This

date was proposed by Absolute Leisure and all parties agreed that it was reasonable and

realistic. I and officers then worked to assist in ensuring the time table was adhered to.

The one thing we could not do was the one thing that absolutely had to be delivered on

that due date, namely, the depositing of a cheque into an escrow account. Absolute

Leisure were served notice at the start of December of the council's intention to hold

them to the date that had been agreed.

While it is deeply sad that this deal did not reach the conclusion we all wanted, I believe

it was right to pursue the course we did rather than to let the situation continue to drift.

We will never know whether, in the absence of the vociferous and ultimately fruitless

campaign run by a protest group, the building would now be open and functioning, but

we do all know that the deal was reached in economic circumstances very different to

those that prevail today. The whole nation is suffering the impact of an economic

downturn that has seen banks refuse to lend and this has jeopardised developments

everywhere.

A report has come before the executive this week setting out the options for the future of

the Barbican.

We must proceed with our eye open. The Barbican was costing £750K a year to run

before it closed. Different administrations were right to conclude that there must be better

ways to run such a venue than for the council to do it.

A caution on the viability of the venue, as currently configured, to host conferences.

Successful conference centres are more than an auditorium. They provide exhibition

space, rooms for fringe events, a range of catering and, usually, an integrated hotel. There

is clearly work to be done to create a thriving conference centre at the Barbican.

I would, in closing, draw your attention to one of the contentions in the motion that I

disagree with strongly, and that is the idea that this administration has failed to provide

York residents with an entertainments programme as befits a city such as York. We were

involved in supporting in one way or another 285 events in 07/08 I have here a list of 169

of those events. The range of events is enormous and will have impacted on the lives of

almost all York residents, including all of you. We also support the Theatre Royal, Cube

media / Accessible Arts, the NCEM, Pilot theatre and others.

Could we do more? Yes, of course, but to suggest we have failed to produce an

entertainments programme is a disservice to the amazing work done by our arts and city

centre teams. From the ice rink to the duck race, from the grand tour to the illuminate

festival, dragon boat races, literature festivals, food and drink festivals, the youth

mysteries, and on and on, we have a great deal to be proud of.

I urge you to support the amendment.