Chord-Helensburgh: Surplus Funds, Comet Plinth
Argyll and Bute Council · 10 June 2025
Back to Helensburgh & Lomond Area Committee — 10 June 2025 and its agenda
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ARGYLL AND BUTE COUNCIL HELENSBURGH & LOMOND AREA COMMITTEE COMMERCIAL SERVICES 10 JUNE 2025 CHORD-HELENSBURGH: SURPLUS FUNDS, COMET PLINTH 1. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY This report provides members with updated and costed proposals for the manufacture of a lit plinth to display a resin encapsulated model of the PS ‘Comet,’ and which will subsequently be housed and put on permanent public display in Helensburgh town centre. In addition, it provides further information in respect of the remaining models of PS ‘Comet.’ In December 2016, following the successful completion of the CHORD – Helensburgh project, the Area Committee took the decision to allocate the ‘surplus’ funds to take forward additional works which were complimentary to the CHORD proposals. This included funding to develop a lit and resin encapsulated model of the PS ‘Comet’ which would be mounted on a suitable plinth for public display, as well as consideration as to how the remaining models of the PS ‘Comet’ might be used going forward. The Area Committee allocated £3,500 towards the ‘Comet Plinth’ and £1,000 towards the ‘Flotilla of Comets’ as they became known. The report provides a breakdown of the updated cost plan of £5,291.53 (excluding VAT) for the ‘Comet Plinth’. RECOMMENDATIONS The Area Committee is asked to: 1. Consider and note the contents of the Report, 2. Approve the allocation of up to £5,291.53 (excluding VAT) towards the cost of creating the ‘Comet Plinth’, and 3. Approve that the balance of the Surplus Funds budget be transferred to the Outdoor museum Budget upon conclusion of the Comet Plinth works
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ARGYLL AND BUTE COUNCIL HELENSBURGH & LOMOND AREA COMMITTEE COMMERCIAL SERVICES 10 JUNE 2025 CHORD-HELENSBURGH: SURPLUS FUNDS, COMET PLINTH 2. INTRODUCTION 2.1 Following the completion of the CHORD – Helensburgh works there was surplus capital funding of £653,119 which was allocated in October 2016 to a programme of complimentary works, primarily pavement and carriageway improvements to be taken forward by Roads and Infrastructure Services. 2.2 In addition, there were works and funding associated with the concept of the Outdoor Museum, and this included specific funding allocations for the ‘Comet Plinth’ and the ‘Flotilla of Comets’ with the Area Committee allocating £3,500 and £1,000, respectively. 2.3 As of 1 December 2024, there remained a total of £24,879.81 in the Surplus Funds budget, including the £4,500 allocated to the Comets. At its meeting on 10 December 2024 the Area Committee allocated up to £21k towards the removal of stainless-steel bins from 2.4 The report provides members with the updated cost plan for the fabrication of the ‘Comet Plinth’ at a cost of £5,291.53 (excluding VAT) and further information in respect of the remaining models of the Comet. 3 RECOMMENDATIONS The Area Committee is asked to: 3.1 Consider and note the contents of the Report, 3.2 Approve the allocation of up to £5,291.53 (excluding VAT) towards the cost of creating the ‘Comet Plinth’, and 3.3 Approve that the balance of the Surplus Funds budget be transferred to the Outdoor museum Budget upon conclusion of the Comet Plinth works 4 DETAIL 4.1 During the CHORD Project the existing lamp posts in Colquhoun Square were replaced, and the models of the PS Comet that adorned them were disposed of. Several
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of these models were subsequently rescued by the arts organisation WAVEparticle, which had been instrumental in the creation the Helensburgh Outdoor Museum. Fig.1 Comet model on the top of the original lamppost in Colquhoun Square 4.2 The model in the best condition was selected to be encapsulated within acrylic resin so that it could subsequently be mounted on a plinth, incorporating lighting and controls, and put on permanent public display. The original intention was that the plinth would be on display in the open air e.g. in Colquhoun Square, however, concerns around the acrylic resins exposure to environmental conditions, which cause the resin to go opaque over time, has led to the conclusion that it would be better to house the plinth within a publicly accessible building in Helensburgh Town Centre e.g. Helensburgh and Lomond Civic Centre. Fig. 2 Comet model encapsulated in acrylic 4.3 We have worked with WAVEparticle to update the cost plan in line with this revised proposal for internal display, and consequently can advise a cost of £5,291.53 (excluding VAT), which is broken down as follows:
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4.4 This would provide a quality display/presentation platform for the encapsulated model of the Comet, and which could be housed in a publicly accessible building in Helensburgh town centre. The lighting controls mean that assorted colour and intensity settings can be achieved resulting in the ability to set different ‘moods/atmospheres’ for the model. WAVEparticle will also develop a plaque or similar to be mounted on the cabinet, providing background information on the PS Comet. It also provides flexibility for the display to be temporarily relocated to other buildings within the Council area, e.g. in support of maritime themed events. 4.5 Discussions with colleagues in Roads and Infrastructure Services have confirmed a revised cost estimate for them to replace the stainless-steel bins in the town centre, and that this can now be achieved for a cost of £17,000, as compared to the £21,000 allocated by the Area Committee in December 2024. Allowing for the cost of replacing the silver bins, plus the cost of completing the Comet Plinth, a total of £22,291.53 to deliver both, leaving a balance in the Surplus Funds Budget of £2,588.28. 4.6 There will then remain seven more models of the Comet a use for which is still to be determined/identified. We would therefore recommend that these are held in storage by the Council and made available when a suitable and sympathetic use is identified for them in the future. The balance of the surplus funds (a minimum of £2,588.28) could be transferred to the Outdoor Museum budget upon completion of the Comet Plinth works. 5 CONCLUSION 5.1 The Surplus Funds works provided an opportunity to extend the benefits of the original Helensburgh CHORD Works, and the completion of the Comet Plinth will bring these works to a conclusion. Acrylic Encapsulated Coment Plinth incl Stand Project Management 1. Wave particle @ 2-days £545.96 £1,091.92 Metal Casing/Stand for Encapsulated Comet 2. Metal Casing 710mm x 370mm x 470mm incl. drawer and security lock to hold lightbox £2,039.85 3. Powder coating - matt black £239.98 4. Fixings £179.99 £2,459.81 Encapsulated Comet 700mm x 350mm x 450mm (existing) 5. Preparation for public display £60.00 6. Sandblasted base £299.98 7. Acrylic polished/buffed £359.97 £719.95 Lighing and Controls 8. Bespoke LED lightbox 700mm x 350mm x 120mm £538.80 Addlux Quote AB15-Q1 9. 2x blade LRI Units 663mm long £0.00 10. DMS RGB Controller (optional) £0.00 11. Timer clock (optional) £0.00 £538.80 Transport 12. delivery to installation site £359.97 £359.97 subtotal £4,810.48 Contingency @ 10% £481.05 £5,291.53 VAT @ 20% £1,058.31 £1,058.31 subtotal £6,349.83 Cost Plan Jan-25
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6 IMPLICATIONS 6.1 Policy – The original CHORD Programme fitted to the Council’s Corporate Plan, Single Outcome Agreement and approved Development Plan policy for town centre regeneration. 6.2 Financial – Allocation of £5,291.53 from the remaining CHORD - Helensburgh surplus funds, and transfer of any residual balance to the Helensburgh Outdoor Museum Budget upon completion. 6.3 Legal – no implications 6.4 HR – no implications 6.5 Fairer Scotland Duty: 6.5.1 Equalities - protected characteristics – no implications 6.5.2 Socio-economic Duty – no implications 6.5.3 Islands – no implications 6.6 Climate Change the lighting system operates using energy efficient LED’s reducing power consumption 6.7 Risk – Cost Plan includes 10% Contingency Allowance 6.8 Customer Service – no implications Douglas Hendry Executive Director with responsibility for Commercial Services Cllr Ross Moreland Policy Lead for Financial and Commercial Services 7 March 2025 For further information contact: John Gordon, PPMS Programme Manager, Tel: 01369 708457 or Mobile: 07901 516 106