Download original attachment
(Word document)
This is an HTML version of an attachment to the Freedom of Information request
'Victoria Square Fountain Leak'.
(Word document)
Our Ref: scs025d1
Date: 25th August 2009
Mr Ben Whitehouse
Whatdotheyknow.com
Dear Mr Whitehouse
Freedom of Information Act 2000 - Request for Information
I am writing in respect of your recent enquiry for information held by the Authority under the provisions of the Freedom of Information Act 2000. Please find enclosed a response to your request:
1. How many times has it been switched on in the last twelve months?
November 2008 - switched off
31st March 2009 - Aston University Graduation event (1 day)
1 - 4 May 2009 - May Bank Holiday Weekend event and photoshoot (4 days)
5 May - `Share-Friends' event (1 day)
23 - 29 June - Rotary International Conference
15 July - Britain in Bloom Regional judging
7 August - Britain in Bloom National judging
The fountain has also been switched on occasionally for general maintenance, to check the pumps are working, and more recently to inform investigations into water loss.
2. Who decides if it can be switched on and what are the criteria?
Initial enquiry comes to Head of Heritage Services who advises the Acting Strategic Director of Environment & Culture whether or not it is an appropriate request.
There are no set criteria. The main considerations are:
the length of the event
the nature of the event eg is for a charity, good cause etc
the impact on the promotion of the city's reputation
Where we have switched the fountain on, we have tried to leave it on for as short a period as possible ie preferably only for one day events. However, it was on for a week during the Rotary International Conference because this was such a significant global event for the city.
3. Initial cost estimate for the investigation and repair works
See separate document attached as Appendix 1. The £70k budget estimate figure is arrived at as follows:
The cost of the initial investigations and repairs as detailed in the attached estimate is c £32,000 including fees and contingencies.
To undertake more invasive investigation of the pipework embedded with the fountain will cost another £35,000 including fees and contingencies.
In addition to the fountain costs, an allowance of £3,000 has been included to undertake a costed condition survey of the whole of Victoria Square.
4. Who is doing the work?
The work is being overseen by the City Council's Urban Design section. The work is being undertaken by the City Council's term contractor Mitie. The sub-contractor carrying out the first phase of the works ie. the initial investigations into the leaks are Fordwater. Any subsequent removal of electrics, stonework etc would be done by other sub-contractors overseen by Mitie.
Fordwater commenced the investigation work on 11 August 2009 and are due to report back on their findings towards the end of the month.
5. How much water is estimated has been lost over the last twelve months?
Since October 2008 the fountain has used 2,581 cubic metres of water (9.56m3 per day). Since it was switched off and only turned back on for special events it has used 226 cubic metres (1.08m3 per day).
6. All progress/status reports and emails sent relating to this work
There are no progress/status reports yet as the work only commenced on 11 August 2009.
If you are not satisfied with the response you may ask for an internal review.
To do this, please contact Birmingham City Council's central FOI Team at this address:
Corporate DP/FOI Team
1st Floor,
1 Lancaster Circus,
Birmingham B4 7AB
If subsequently you are not satisfied with the Council's decision you may apply to the Information Commissioner for a decision. Generally, the ICO cannot make a decision unless you have exhausted the complaints procedure provided by the Council. The Information Commissioner can be contacted at the following address:
The Information Commissioner
Wycliffe House
Water Lane
Wilmslow
Cheshire SK9 5AF
Telephone: 01625 545745
Web Address: www.ico.gov.uk
Yours sincerely
Sonya Cerutti
Business Support - Data Protection/Freedom of Information
Performance and Support Services
Re use of Public Sector Information
The information provided is subject to Birmingham City Council copyright, however, it may be re-used for personal, educational or non-commercial purposes without further reference to the City Council. If the re-use is for other purposes, such as commercial re-use, you should notify the City Council in writing to seek approval or agree terms for re-use. Where Birmingham City Council does not hold the copyright, it has indicated the copyright holder. Permission for re-use should be sought from them directly.
Appendix 1
Victoria Square Fountain - Initial Feasibility Report
Brief & Objective:
Obtain a budget cost estimate to resolve the leaks associated with Victoria Fountain.
Costs
Following our recent meeting with Brian Powell, of Fordwater Pumping Supplies Ltd, I am now in a position to outline my initial cost appraisal, which I detail as follows:-
To carry out previously done tests and verify earlier results etc, plus more extensive testing, (Original work was done with a very limited budget), and submit detailed report of each finding = £6,000
To carry out smaller modifications, overhaul all pumps, new seals etc, and renovate the electrical controls. (All equipment is now 16 years old and has not had much serious maintenance. We understand some of the electrical controls have been inoperable for several years) = £10,000
To carry out work to the defunct lighting to seal the known leaks. Remove the pool uplighters and fill holes and cable ducts etc with sealant. Also to remove defunct lighting controls. Remove the LED strip from around pool perimeter and seal up. The pool lighting has not worked for several years and is a known source of leaks = £8,000
Fordwater attendance, whilst various civils items are removed for examination - several areas require investigation where leaks are known or believed to occur = £2,500
Conduct invasive investigation to three fountain basins, bases & isolated areas = £19,950.0 .The extent of the work consists of the following:-
Removing the stone copings, stone bases & sides for investigation purposes, re-bedding on completion;
Providing heath & safety equipment & facilities (site hut, toilets, herras fencing, site telephone, etc);
40 ton crane hire;
Building materials;
Water sampling tests;
Electrical tests;
The costs above are approximate and have been developed without any invasive investigations. It would be prudent to allow a contingency sum figure of 10 - 15% of the above costs, to cover any unforeseen items.
Conclusions
It may be possible to reduce the level of leaks to an acceptable. The remedial work necessary to achieve the leakage reduction would incur cost items 1, 2 & 3 to achieve this = £24,000.0.
If a complete water loss solution is required & if after the results of cost item 1, the level of leaks are such that there is a need for further investigation, it would be necessary to expend cost items 1, 4 & 5 = £28,450.0.
If it is found that total refurbishment of the fountain is required to restore it to its original state, the works are likely to run into a substantial sum , possible in the region of £500,000.0 plus.
The above cost will be subject to professional fees which will amount to 10% of the building costs, however, if the project eventually exceeds 100k the fees scale will be on a sliding scale - we can discuss this later.
Recommendations
Whilst the above does not achieve the brief, it highlights the complexity of the problem & we therefore recommend that item 1 above is conducted as a first stage investigation. The result of the investigation will allow an informed decision to be made for the various options available.
Environment and Culture
PO Box 2122 Telephone: 0121 303 1294
Alpha Tower Fax: 0121 303 4943
Suffolk Street, Queensway
Birmingham
B1 1TZ