York archive project ‘to go private’ (From York Press)

York archive project ‘to go private’

8:51am Tuesday 7th February 2012 in News By Mark Stead, Political Reporter

Coun Sonja Crisp in the City of York Council’s archives and local history service vaults

COUNCIL bosses have called for the “urgent” appointment of a private firm to design a new home for York’s priceless archives after deciding they cannot use the authority’s own teams.

City of York Council last year secured £107,500 in Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) cash to develop a “Gateway To History” scheme which would revamp the first floor of the York Explore centre in Museum Street.

The scheme would allow records stretching back more than 800 years to have a purpose-built base.

A second bid to the HLF, seeking the £1.2 million needed to make the project happen, will be submitted in August. The council is now looking to appoint an external design team to develop its bid and carry on the work if the necessary funding is obtained.

Coun Sonja Crisp, the council’s cabinet member for leisure, culture and social inclusion, will next week be asked to approve London-based Bisset Adams as the chosen firm, which will bring in an architect, mechanical and electrical engineer and structural engineer if its appointment is confirmed, after officers said not bringing in outside help quickly could put the overall project at risk.

The company would be paid through the HLF funding which has already been secured and would not be retained if the second bid for financial support fails.

If it succeeds, the ongoing fees would be met through this grant and an allocation of cash set aside for the scheme within the council’s capital programme, A report by Charlie Croft, assistant director for communities and culture, said: “It was originally envisaged that the council would be able to use its in-house team.

“However, this has not proved possible and it has therefore been necessary go out to tender. This has created a risk to the project plan for submission of the stage two bid and an immediate appointment is therefore essential in order to remain on track.”

Mr Croft’s report said Bisset Adams did not submit the lowest bid, but emerged as a “clear leader” through an evaluation process because of its track record on similar projects. If the scheme goes ahead, an entire new floor on Explore’s east wing would house the archives.