Hillingdon Council Cabinet Member and Officer Decisions
Battle of Britain Bunker Enhancement - Faces of the Battle - RELEASE NO: 1
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Democratic Services
Location: Phase II
Ext: 0693
DDI: 01895 250693
CMD No: 646
To: COUNCILLOR MARTIN GODDARD
CABINET MEMBER FOR FINANCE
COUNCILLOR EDDIE LAVERY
CABINET MEMBER FOR RESIDENTS’ SERVICES
c.c. All Members of th e Residents’ Services Select
Committee
c.c. Rachael Abbiss – Place Directorate
c.c. Perry Scott – Corporate Director of Place
c.c. Ward Councillors for Hillingdon West
Date: 28 November 2022
Non-Key Decision request Form D
CAPITAL RELEASE REPORT (November 2022)
DEPARTMENT: Place
SERVICE AREA / PROGRAMME: Battle of Britain Bunker
Enhancement – Faces of the Battle
RELEASE NO: 1
Dear Cabinet Member
Attached is a report requesting that a decision be made by you as an individual Cabinet
Member. Democratic Services confirm that this is not a key decision, as such, the Local
Authorities (Executive Arrangements) (Meetings and Access to Information) (England)
Regulations 2012 notice period does not apply.
You should take a decision on or after Tuesday 06 December 2022 in order to meet
Constitutional requirements about publication of decisions that are to be made. You may
wish to discuss the report with the Corporate Director before it is made. Please indicate your
decision on the duplicate memo supplied, and return it to me when you have made your
decision. I will then arrange for the formal notice of decision to be published.
Steve Clarke
Democratic Services Officer
Title of Report: Battle of Britain Bunker Enhancement – Faces of the Battle - Release No:
1
Decision made:
Reasons for your decision: (e.g. as stated in report)
Alternatives considered and rejected: (e.g. as stated in report)
Signed ……………………………………………………… Date……………………..
Cabinet Member for Finance / Cabinet Member for Residents’ Services
Capital Release Report – 28 November 2022 Page 1
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CAPITAL RELEASE REPORT (November 2022)
DEPARTMENT: Place
SERVICE AREA / PROGRAMME: Battle of Britain Bunker Enhancement
– Faces of the Battle
RELEASE NO: 1
Cabinet Members Councillor Martin Goddard
Councillor Eddie Lavery
Cabinet Portfolios Cabinet Member for Finance
Cabinet Member for Residents’ Services
Officer Contact Dr Rachael Abbiss – Place Directorate
Papers with report Appendix A - Capital release request for approval
HEADLINES
Summary
To seek Cabinet Member approval for the release of capital funds
and single tender actions.
Putting our
Residents First
Delivering on the
Council Strategy
2022-2026
This report supports our ambition for residents / the Council of:
Enjoy access to green spaces, leisure activities, culture and arts.
This report supports our commitments to residents of:
A Thriving Economy.
Financial Cost This report seeks the release of £ 20k from the 20 22/23 Battle of
Britain Bunker Enhancements budget for The Faces of the Battle
(underground permanent enhancement works). The works will
commence upon release of the funds and are due for completion
before the end of the financial year, dependent upon supply chains
and availability of materials.
Relevant Select
Committee
Residents’ Services Select Committee
Ward(s) affected Hillingdon West
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RECOMMENDATION
That the Cabinet Member for Financ e and the Cabinet Member for Residents’ Services
agree to the capital release request of £20k from the Battle of Britain Enhancement 2022/23
budget for the funding of The Faces of the Battle - underground permanent enhancement
works. (Appendix A)
Reasons for recommendation
The Battle of Britain Bunker, owned and operated by the London Borough of Hillingdon, has a
national profile in terms of marking important anniversary dates, including the Battle of Britain in
2020 and Operation Jubilee in 2022 . As the steward of this key piece of national heritage,
Hillingdon Council pursues plans to deepen and extend the interpretation at the site and, following
the Covid- 19 lockdown, wishes to install permanent exhibitions/visuals to refresh the visitor
experience at the site.
While it was not possible to schedule the full programme of exhibitions originally planned for 2020,
it is believed possible to install new displays and interactive features in the Bunker during
2022/23.
The ongoing creation of interpretation of the Borough's heritage assets is pursued through the
Council's Local Plan policy HE1:
The Council will:
1. Conserve and enhance Hillingdon's distinct and varied environment, its settings and the
wider historic landscape, which includes:
• Designated heritage assets such as statutorily Listed Buildings, Conservation
Areas and Scheduled Ancient Monuments; and
• Locally recognised historic features, such as Areas of Special Local Character
and Locally Listed Buildings.
2. Actively encourage the regeneration of heritage assets, particularly those which have
been included in English Heritage's 'Heritage at Risk' register or are currently vacant.
3. Promote increased public awareness, understanding of, and access to the Borough's
heritage assets and wider historic environment, through Section 106 agreements and via
community engagement and outreach activities.
The date for project delivery is expected before the end of the 2022/23 financial year, depending
upon the availability of materials and supply chains, and any necessary amendments to the scope
of work in-line with building conversation needs.
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Alternative options considered
The alternative was not to install a permanent exhibition or to further develop the interpretation at
the Battle of Britain Bunker. This was rejected because of the Council's commitment to good
stewardship and ongoing interpretation of Second World War history that occurred in the Borough.
Select Committee comments
None at this stage.
SUPPORTING INFORMATION
Overview
As part of the Battle of Britain Bunker enhancements project, the Faces of the Battle is an
educational and interactive engagement installation aimed to refresh the public offering, increase
footfall, and engage with a wide variety of visitors.
Other than the soundscape (installed in 2020), the underground Bunker has had little work done
to enhance the visitor experience since 2017 in preparation for opening the Visitor Centre. The
Bunker tour has been revised and improved during Covid- 19, and the Faces project will further
benefit public, family and school visits to the site with new interactive elements to explore.
The project consists of two components totalling £20k, including contingency:
1. Historic display refurbishment and installation
We are currently restoring the Army/Navy liaison and Observer Corps cabins, and to
ensure display consistency and historical accuracy is maintained, this release will
renovate and update the Intelligence, WAAF and Bomber room s. All spaces will be
restored to a 1940s aesthetic and visitors will feel as though they are stepping back into
the original offices.
Cabin displays renovation and refurbishment will be completed by staff with specialist
knowledge on the historic aesthetic and materials that would have been used in the
Bunker during the 1940s. Age appropriate and themed furniture, equipment and items will
be purchased via specialist suppliers, including auction houses and militaria experts.
2. Improvements to Bunker interpretation
The company Gpex will print and install interpretation panels , silhouette wall plates,
wartime/historic maps, and artefact labels. Text and images will be aimed at adults and
children, ensuring better engagement for younger audiences. Gpex is the corporate
contracted print supplier for Hillingdon C ouncil and has produced the other exhibition
panels at the Bunker. The same supplier will be used to ensure consistency and continuity
in design and aesthetic.
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Procurement
This procurement is made on a single tender action basis, which is justified due to the need to
use specialist suppliers. Our display standards must have total continuity of appearance with the
previously created Visitor Centre, and this will involve the r e-use of resources from the previous
and current contracts with Gpex . To brief another supplier at this stage would incur additional
costs that would make a comparative tender process unviable.
Costs will be controlled by officers managing budgets and altering the scope, if necessary, to
control funds efficiently.
Project contingency
A small contingency budget will be required in case of problems with fitting audio, furniture, or
inflation of costs for supplies, equipment and historic objects. Officers may need to hire specialist
support or use different materials for the installation.
Table 1 below provides a breakdown of the costs:
Table 1: Cost Plan
Details Amount
Bunker interpretation (design, print & fit) 2,000
Room restoration, refurbishment, and installation 15,000
Removals and disposal of existing furniture and materials 1,000
Project Contingency 2,000
Total £20,000
Financial Implications
(Budget £100k, Previously Released £80k, Capital Release Requested £20k) – Appendix A
The revised 2022/23 Capital Programme approved by Cabinet and Council included a budget re-
phased from 2021/22 to 2022/23 of £10 0k for the Battle of Britain Bunker & Visitor Centre
Enhancement from which £80k was released for schemes completing this financial year, funded
from Council resources.
The report seeks the capital release of £2 0k from the 2022/23 Battle of Britain Bunker & Visitor
Centre Enhancement budget for the Faces of Battle works. The costs are based on quotations
and includes contingency of 10% of the works. The contractor is to be appointed under single
action tender to ensure consistency with previous exhibition enhancements to the visitor centre.
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RESIDENT BENEFIT & CONSULTATION
The benefit or impact upon residents, service users and communities
The outbreak of Covid-19 has created unprecedented circumstances, resulting in a change to the
original proposal for Faces of the Battle. The Faces project (conceived in 2019) was intended as
a permanent memorial sculpture installed in the Visitor Centre. Given the time that has e lapsed
since the Battle of Britain anniversary, the successful launch of two other large commemorative
projects, and the difficult recovery period at the Bunker and across the B orough, officers
recommended that the budget should be spent on a long -term educational and interactive
engagement project for residents and visitors . The release of capital funds for this project, will
allow the Battle of Britain Bunker to honour the Council’s commitment to commemorate and
educate about all the men and women that served in the Bunker during the Second World War.
This will provide residents with a new and interesting installation at the Bunker, which visitors can
continue to enjoy well beyond 2022. In addition, this new element of interpretation will bring the
Bunker to ‘life’ and help build a stronger relationship between people and place.
Consultation carried out or required
As the Bunker is a Grade I listed building, the Principal Conservation and Urban Design Officer
will be kept informed of work to be carried out. The installation work will not impact on or interfere
with the internal or external structure of the Bunker. The only features that will be impacted are
some areas of wall space. If a problem is encountered during installation, the project team will
liaise with the Principal Conservation and Urban Design Officer to seek guidance and advice.
CORPORATE CONSIDERATIONS
Corporate Finance
Corporate Finance concurs with the financial implications above, confirming that there is a £100k
capital budget for the bunker and visitor centre enhancements, financed by Council resources.
Legal
The Borough Solicitor confirms that there are no legal impediments to agreeing the
recommendation set out in this report; namely authorising the necessary capital release. The
Council, as owner of the Battle of Britain Bunker, is responsible for protecting and maintaining the
building in line with its Grade 1 listed status. Any contract that is entered into must comply with
the Council's Procurement and Contract Standing Orders.
Infrastructure / Asset Management
No implications.
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Planning
The project expenditure in this report may be eligible for a contribution from planning obligations,
i.e., balances received from Section 106 agreements . A contribution of £10k is held towards
community facilities in the Borough (S106 reference PPR/91/331C). The allocation of eligible
Section 106 monies to the project detailed in this report will be subject to formal approval by
relevant Cabinet Members.
Capital Release Protocol
The release of all capital funds, and certain revenue funds, held by the Council is to be made by
a formal democratic decision. No expenditure can be placed or committed by officers until this
formal approval is given by Democratic Services. Release of funds must be for identified projects
only and strictly not for the general release of funds for projects to be identified at a later date. No
block releases of capital or funding will be allowed, except if authorised by the Leader of the
Council in advance to Corporate Finance. The release of funds will only be made if previous
Council, Cabinet or Cabinet Member agreement has been given to the project and only if there is
an approved budget.
BACKGROUND PAPERS
NIL
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APPENDIX A - CAPITAL RELEASE REQUEST FOR APPROVAL
The Battle of Britain Enhancement Budget 2022/23 – Faces of the Battle –
Release No. 1
Location
Project /
Expenditure
Title
Information
Funds
Release
Sought
£000’s
Approve Hold
More
Information
Required
The Battle
of Britain
Bunker
The Faces of
the Battle
The Faces of the Battle
is an educational and
interactive engagement
installation aimed to
refresh the public
offering, increase
footfall, and engage
with a wide variety of
visitors.
20
Total seeking release 20
Previously released 80
Budget 100
Remaining budget 0