Agenda item

Purpose of report

The purpose of the report is to review the achievements of Portsmouth Museums in 2013/14 and present an action plan for the year ahead. Portsmouth Museums' operational 'plan on a page' is attached at Appendix 1.

RECOMMENDED: that

(1) The achievements of Portsmouth Museums in 2013/14 are noted.

(2) Current live D-Day related projects - D-Day +Youth and D-Day 70 ‘Launching the Invasion’ - are completed in accordance with funding agreements with Arts Council England and the Heritage Lottery Fund respectively.

(3) The development phase of D-Day75, the project which will transform    the D-Day Museum, is delivered and a round 2 application submitted to the HLF in autumn 2015.

(4) Projects and opportunities that complement and add value to agreed plans for the D-Day Museum - especially where they engage young people and / or deliver the wider corporate learning and wellbeing agendas - to proceed subject to external funding.

(5) Lest We Forget - the community engagement project and exhibition that commemorates the start of the First World War - is delivered in accordance with our agreement with the Heritage Lottery Fund.

(6) The service continues to recruit and train volunteers - especially at Cumberland House - to support and enhance services for visitors in accordance with 'Invest in Volunteers' standard.

(7) The service continues to prepare for Accreditation and prepares a policy and plan for Care and Conservation of the Museum Collections and reviews the Learning and Access Policy.

(8)The museums loans box service - renamed Wonder Boxes - is re-launched starting with the natural history boxes in September 2014.

(9)The museum archives, works on paper, and herbarium are relocated as part of the Archives relocation from Old Records to Central and Southsea Libraries.

(10)The museum service is able to take advantage of income generation opportunities and agree fees for ad hoc activities - such as the share of ticket income for a given event - in conjunction with the Head of Service and Section 151 Officer.

(TAKE IN REPORT BY THE HEAD OF CITY DEVELOPMENT

& CULTURAL SERVICES)

The report was introduced by Jane Mee, Museums & Visitor Services Manager.

Councillor Symes advised that a deputation request had been received from Councillor Hunt for this item and invited him to make his deputation. 

Councillor Hunt referred to paragraph 3.1.9 of the report and said that it was a tremendous achievement that the museums service had seen a rise in visits in 2013/14 and wished to pass his congratulations to the Museums service for a good year.  He raised concerns that during the development of the D Day Museum visitor numbers to the museum would drop. 

In response to members' questions officers clarified the following points:

·         The development phase of the D Day 75 project would take place in the next 12-15 months.  The implications for the D Day Museum and the duration of closure would be recognised after this. 

·         It is £30 for schools to borrow up to three single item boxes for three weeks.  Alternatively schools could pay £30 for three weeks to have a thematic box containing multiple items.  Portsmouth City Council schools would continue to have free delivery and collection of the boxes. 

·         The wonder boxes are being updated over the summer and would all have the new branding stickers. 

Councillor Symes thanked officers for their outstanding work in 2013/14. 

Officers advised that they would bring a report back to the Cabinet member next year on the possible loss of income from the D day development and regeneration because of the successful HLF bid and how this will be managed.

DECISION: that

(1) The achievements of Portsmouth Museums in 2013/14 are noted.

(2) Current live D-Day related projects - D-Day +Youth and D-Day 70‘Launching the Invasion’,  are completed in accordance with funding agreements with Arts Council England and the Heritage Lottery Fund respectively.

(3) The development phase of D-Day75, the project which will transform the D-Day Museum, is delivered and a round 2 application submitted to the HLF in autumn 2015.

(4) Projects and opportunities that complement and add value to agreed plans for the D-Day Museum - especially where they engage young people and / or deliver the wider corporate learning and wellbeing agendas should proceed subject to external funding.

(5) Lest We Forget - the community engagement project and exhibition that commemorates the start of the First World War - is delivered in accordance with the Council's agreement with the Heritage Lottery Fund.

(6) The service continues to recruit and train volunteers - especially at Cumberland House - to support and enhance services for visitors in accordance with 'Invest in Volunteers' standard.

(7) The service continues to prepare for Accreditation and prepares a policy and plan for Care and Conservation of the Museum Collections and reviews the Learning and Access Policy.

(8)The museums loans box service - renamed Wonder Boxes - is re-launched starting with the natural history boxes in September 2014.

(9)The museum archives, works on paper, and herbarium are relocated as part of the Archives relocation from Old Records to Central and Southsea Libraries.

(10)The museum service is able to take advantage of income generation opportunities and agree fees for ad hoc activities - such as the share of ticket income for a given event - in conjunction with the Head of Service and Section 151 Officer.