Issue - meetings

Report of the Cabinet Member Finance

RESOLVED THAT

1.    a tender process be undertaken to procure a contractor to restore the War Memorial based on the recommendations made in the conservator’s report.

2.    additional names be inscribed on the War Memorial using proposed eligibility criteria detailed in the conservator’s report and as outlined in section 4.2.2 of this report.

3.    the basic maintenance works programme as outlined in the conservator’s report be endorsed.

The Cabinet Member Finance introduced the report and explained that as part of the War Memorial restoration project a conservator had been commissioned to review the state of the Memorial, identify options for its restoration and recommend the most appropriate approach to take. He reported that the conservator had now submitted his report to the project team with recommendations and estimated costs.

The Cabinet Member explained that the report had identified that a rigorous cleaning regime over the years had caused damage to the memorial and therefore a more sensitive regime for cleaning had been recommended. He also highlighted the recommendation that more work was required on testing the techniques used for restoring and clarifying the existing lettering. New inscriptions on the memorial had also been considered following work undertaken by Gloucestershire Family Archives and a local historian. The project team were therefore recommending including the inscription of additional names for those who lived in the borough with its current boundaries as opposed to as it stood in 1918. The project team were also recommending that women on active service who had lost their lives were also included.

The Cabinet Member Finance informed members that officers had consulted with a number of key stakeholders including the War Memorials Trust who would consider the application for a grant to facilitate the work. The WMT acknowledged the report from the conservator which was deemed to be sensitive, proportionate and evidenced.

The Cabinet Member reported that the next stages would be to commence restoration of a trial area andprocure a contractor to undertake the overall work. The contract for the restoration work would be awarded in accordance with CBC procurement guidelines and would be project managed by Odgers Conservation Consultants in accordance with their contract with CBC.

The Cabinet Member explained that the war memorial restoration project had received a warm response from the public. He was encouraged by the positive progress to date. He explained that the intention was for completion of the project before 2018 and the anniversary of the end of WW1.  He highlighted that an educational project would complement the work.

Finally, the Cabinet Member wished to put on record his thanks to Jane Stovell, project manager and Hannah Wright.

RESOLVED THAT

1.    a tender process be undertaken to procure a contractor to restore the War Memorial based on the recommendations made in the conservator’s report.

2.    additional names be inscribed on the War Memorial using proposed eligibility criteria detailed in the conservator’s report and as outlined in section 4.2.2 of this report.

3.    the basic maintenance works programme as outlined in the conservator’s report be endorsed.