Agenda and minutes

There were no declarations of members' interests. 

There were no apologies for absence. 

Purpose: This report is to provide a review of the offer for schools at Portsmouth Museums.

RECOMMENDED:
(1) The current offer of led sessions and the School Loans Collection is noted.
(2) Positive feedback from schools attending led sessions is noted.

(3) The proposed changes to the offer for schools are noted, in particular:

(4)That Tudors at Southsea Castle is run for fewer days in 2014 in response to curriculum changes.

(5) That Tudors at the Square Tower is removed from the schools' offer.

(6) That the pricing structure for all led sessions is reviewed to ensure that costs are recovered and that future charges are based on a price per pupil rather than a charge per group.

(7) That the terms on which we employ session deliverers are reviewed and the current hourly rate be replaced by payment per session.

(8) That the School Loans Collection is reviewed, rationalised and re-presented to ensure that it remains high quality, accessible and relevant.

(9)  That from September 2014 charges are introduced for all users of the School Loans Collection - £30 for one thematic box containing multiple objects or three single item boxes per loan period (currently up to three weeks).

(TAKE IN REPORT BY THE HEAD OF CITY DEVELOPMENT

& CULTURAL SERVICES)

The report was introduced by Tracy Teasdale, Learning Officer.  In response to a question she explained that calculations had been completed and moving to a price per pupil charge would allow the costs of the sessions to be covered. 

DECISIONS: that

(1)  The current offer of led sessions and the Schools Loan Collection is noted.

(2)  Positive feedback from schools attending led sessions is noted.

(3)  The proposed changes to the offer for schools are noted in particular:

(4)  That Tudors at Southsea Castle is run for fewer days in 2014 in response to curriculum changes;

(5)  That Tudors at the Square Tower is removed from the schools' offer.

(6)  That the pricing structure for all led sessions is reviewed to ensure that costs are recovered and that future charges are based on a price per pupil rather than a charge per group;

(7)  That the terms on which session deliverers are employed are reviewed and that the current hourly rate be replaced by payment per session.

(8)  That the Schools Loans Collection is reviewed, rationalised and re-presented to ensure that it remains high quality, accessible and relevant.

(9)  That from September 2014 charges are introduced for all users of the Schools Loan Collection - £30 for one thematic box containing multiple objects or three single item boxes per loan period (currently up to three weeks).   

Purpose: This report is to inform the Cabinet Member on the remarkable success of Creepy House - the Summer Reading Challenge, 2013 and to make recommendations that will build on this success in future years.

RECOMMENDED:

(1)  That the Library Service target those schools with the lowest participation levels in the Summer Reading Challenge and undertake interventions with those pupils in the summer term, specifically years 3 and 6.  To achieve this, primary schools will be consulted at the next Primary Headteachers' Conference, to seek agreement for additional resources to be allocated from the pupil premium.  In the interim, the Library Service will engage in discussions with targeted schools.
(2)  That promotion of the Summer Reading Challenge continues to take place, delivered by Library Service staff in every Portsmouth primary school, during the summer term.

(3)  That the Library Service recruits twenty five per cent more young people as volunteers to support library staff in delivering the Challenge in 2014.

(TAKE IN REPORT BY THE HEAD OF CITY DEVELOPMENT

& CULTURAL SERVICES)

The report was introduced by David Percival, Learning & Engagement Manager.

DECISIONS: that

(1)  The Library Service target those schools with the lowest participation levels in the Summer Reading Challenge and undertake interventions with those pupils in the summer term, specifically years 3 and 6.  To achieve this, primary schools will be consulted at the next Primary Head teachers' Conference, to seek agreement for additional resources to be allocated from the pupil premium.  In the interim, the Library Service will engage in discussions with targeted schools.

(2)  That the promotion of the Summer Reading Challenge continues to take place, delivered by Library Service staff in every Portsmouth primary school, during the summer term. 

(3)  That the Library Service recruits twenty five per cent more young people as volunteers to support library staff in delivering the Challenge in 2014

Purpose: This report sets out to inform the Cabinet Member of the progress on the Arthur Conan Doyle Collection's recent Heritage Lottery Funded (HLF) bid, Sharing Sherlock. Funding was awarded in December 2012, for a two year project until December 2014.

RECOMMENDED:

(1)       That the Cabinet Member compliments the project officer on the progress made so far in the delivery of Sharing Sherlock HLF funded project and its involvement with Portsmouth residents across such a wide geographical area of the city and directly with hard to reach audiences and to note that the main aim of this funding to reach further audiences across Portsmouth is clearly being met. 

(2)       To note that there is a need to recruit more volunteers to continue with this work and to highlight the essential work which has been carried out by the additional Heritage Lottery volunteers on this Collection so far.

Purpose: This report is to obtain permission to return a recently accessioned item to its owner or his agent.

RECOMMENDED:

(1)  To formally de-accession a portrait miniature reputedly depicting the Duke of Buckingham, accession number 2013/1010.

(2)  To return the portrait miniature to its owner.

(3) To introduce a two week cooling off period between receiving a donation and formally accessioning it to mitigate against this situation arising again.

Information report requested by Cabinet Member for Culture Leisure and Sport

Purpose: To update Members on the progress of D-Day+Youth; a D-Day Museum project funded by the Arts Council England (Renaissance Strategic Support Fund) delivered in partnership with Pompey in the Community (Respect Programme). The project commenced in April 2013 and will run until May 2014.