Proposed Alterations to West Door and Access at St Magnus Cathedral
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Item: 3 St Magnus Cathedral Sub-committee: 11 September 2019. Proposed Alterations to West Door and Access at St Magnus Cathedral. Joint Report by Executive Director of Education, Leisure and Housing and Executive Director of Development and Infrastructure. 1. Purpose of Report To present the outcome of consultation on the proposed alterations to West Door and access of St Magnus Cathedral, together with options. 2. Recommendations The Sub-committee is invited to note: 2.1. That, in May 2019, when considering proposed alterations to the West Door and access at St Magnus Cathedral, the Council agreed that, in order to provide the necessary reassurance that the project had the approval of the community, the Executive Director of Education, Leisure and Housing should undertake a wide- ranging consultation. 2.2. That the consultation in respect of proposed alterations to the West Door and access at St Magnus Cathedral was undertaken during July and August 2019, with the outcome detailed in section 4 of this report. It is recommended: 2.3. That, in principle, the proposed alterations to the West Door and access at St Magnus Cathedral be approved. 2.4. That, as an exception to process in that the project was fully funded by a third party, the Executive Director of Education, Leisure and Housing should submit, to the Policy and Resources Committee, a Stage 2 Capital Project Appraisal in respect of the proposed alterations to the West Door and access at St Magnus Cathedral. Page 1. 3. Background 3.1. At its meeting on 3 April 2019, the St Magnus Cathedral Sub-committee noted proposals to install a new internal vestibule and associated external level access, at an initial budget of £166,000. 3.2. The proposed alterations will provide a glazed inner vestibule with automated doors and alterations to the external plat and steps to provide level access to the West Door, as detailed on the plans attached as Appendices 1 to 4 to this report. 3.3. The Sub-committee also recommended that in order to provide the necessary reassurance that the project had the approval of the community, the Executive Director of Education, Leisure and Housing should undertake a wide-ranging consultation. 4. Consultation 4.1. The consultation commenced on 2 July 2019 in the St Magnus Centre with a public presentation of the proposals by Council officers and the Cathedral Architect. This was attended by 25 members of the public and while there were some comments against the proposal, the majority were in favour. 4.2. The proposed plans were on public display in the St Magnus Centre from 3 July until 7 August 2019. A follow-up consultation meeting was held in the St Magnus Centre on 7 August 2019 and was attended by 15 members of the public. 4.3. In addition to the public consultation, Council officers met with specific groups who regularly use St Magnus Cathedral, specifically the Church of Scotland, local funeral directors and the Accessibility Panel. The comments received from these groups are summarised in Appendix 5 attached to this report. Page 2. 4.4. Members of the public were able to provide comments via comment cards which had been placed at the St Magnus Centre or by email. Additional comments were received via the Council’s Facebook page. The media type and total comments received are detailed in the table below: Media. Total Comments Comment Received. Comment Cards. 19. Positive Response 10. Negative Response 3. Other Response 6 (expressing specific terms 3 – disability access, 3 – funeral access). Emails (via Development 27. Positive Response 15. and Infrastructure email Negative Response 4. address). Other Response 8 (additional concerns expressed). Social Media. 25. Positive Response 21. 78 “Likes”. Negative Response 2. Other Response 2 (additional concerns expressed). Total. 71. Positive 46. Negative 9. Other 16. 4.5. All comments received are detailed in Appendix 6 attached to this report and have been divided into various categories. As can be seen from the table above, 64% of responses were in favour of the project, while a further 23% were positive towards the project but expressed some concerns on the proposals. 13% were not in favour of the project. 4.6. The key points raised by those consultees who had additional concerns can be summarised as follows: • Lacking symmetry on the West Front. • Removal and preservation of current vestibule. • Automatic door mechanism suitability for the Orkney weather. • Latin inscription concerns. • Stone selections for new sections. Page 3. • Disabled parking area and level access. • Parking access for funeral and wedding vehicles. • Requirement for handrails. 4.7. Issues and solutions to the key points referred to at section 4.6 above are as follows: • Handrails – The requirement for handrails on both the new and current steps to the existing apron was raised. It is felt that this could be accommodated within the project. • Parking – In terms of parking access this will require some further design work and will be taken forward as part of the ongoing design development. • Inscription –The element of inscription shown on the proposal also elicited comment. It was felt that the inscription was not necessary and that the element would be better to be glazed. Again, this will be considered as part of the design development. • Weather proofing internal doors – Concern raised over the weather proofing of the internal doors is a relevant one and it is also a concern for the Council. The detailing and specification of the internal vestibule doors, including the door gear, will be carefully developed to ensure the correct solution is installed. • Symmetry – The query over the symmetry has been deliberated by the design team. Due to the level difference from the Kirk Green on the north side of the plat and the West Door, it would mean a more unmanaged quantity of steps, or indeed, if a ramp was to be installed to the north, this would result in a very long ramp and would continue past the memorial gate. This proposal is not, therefore, recommended to proceed. 4.8. As a result of the consultation it is proposed that the project proceed, taking on board the comments and concerns raised above, as far as practicable, with a report to Policy and Resources to provide the necessary corporate governance as an exception to the Capital Project Appraisal process. 5. Budget 5.1. The initial estimate for the proposed works is £166,000, being £90,000 for alterations to the West Door with a further £76,000 required for the external plat and ramp alterations. 5.2. The Society of the Friends of St Magnus Cathedral have confirmed that they will meet in full the costs referred to above. Page 4. 6. Corporate Governance This report relates to the Council complying with its governance and financial process and procedures and therefore does not directly support and contribute to improved outcomes for communities as outlined in the Council Plan and the Local Outcomes Improvement Plan. 7. Financial Implications Through the generosity of the Society of the Friends of St Magnus Cathedral, the cost of this project will be fully funded. However, to ensure the appropriate governance has been established for the project, a report will require to be submitted to the Policy and Resources Committee to seek approval for adding the project to the Council’s capital programme. 8. Legal Aspects 8.1. In terms of the Local Government and Planning (Scotland) Act 1982, section 14, the Council shall ensure that there is adequate provision of facilities for the inhabitants of their area for recreational, cultural and social activities. 8.2. In terms of section 15(2), the Council may provide or do or arrange for the provision of or doing of, or contribute towards the expenses of providing or doing, anything necessary or expedient for the purpose of ensuring that there are available such facilities as appropriate. 8.3. Case law has established legal precedent in respect of consultation as follows: • That consultation must be at a time when proposals are still at a formative stage. • They must give sufficient reasons for any proposal to permit intelligent consideration and response. • That adequate time must be given for consideration and response. • That the product of consultation must be conscientiously taken into account in finalising any proposals. Page 5. 9. Contact Officers Wilfred Weir, Executive Director of Education, Leisure and Housing, extension 2433, Email [email protected]. Gavin Barr, Executive Director of Development and Infrastructure, extension 2301, Email [email protected]. Peter Diamond, Head of Education (Leisure, Culture and Inclusion), extension 2436, Email [email protected]. Ian Rushbrook, Capital Programme Manager, extension 2713, Email [email protected]. 10. Appendices Appendix 1: West End Vestibule – proposed Images. Appendix 2: Scheme Design; Plan, Section and Elevations. Appendix 3: Scheme Design; Section Looking West. Appendix 4: Scheme Design; Plan, including External Paving Alterations. Appendix 5: Group Consultation meeting findings. Appendix 6: Consultation findings. Page 6. Appendix 1 Ferrey Mennim New, European oak exposed frame. Ltd Chartered& Architects Innovation Centre, Innovation Way York YO10 5DG Tel: 01904 561533 Dogtooth oak cornice detail [email protected] New, European oak framed, double glazed (outer toughened, inner laminated) doors added to allow processional route. Double glazed (outer toughened, inner laminated) frameless corner glazing. Existing sound and lighting controls desk removed and floor repaired. Existing underfloor wiring duct terminated at floor box with inset cover to match adjacent flooring. This is to allow the positioning of the movable sound and lighting controls desk. Existing font relocated to avoid central, processional route along nave. PROPOSED - IMAGE 1 (NTS) Form of vestibule relates to west window above while allowing the whole of the polychromatic stone arch surrounding the west door to be visible within the vestibule.