Issue - meetings

Purpose of report

To review the achievements of Portsmouth Museums Service in 2015/16 and to present the service’s operational ‘Plan on a Page’ (PoP) for the current financial year.

RECOMMENDED

(1)  The review of last year's activity and progress and on the delivery of the council’s museums strategy is noted, especially the achievement of the Arts Council England Accreditation standard and the successful outcome of the second round application to the Heritage Lottery Fund for Transforming the D-Day Museum.

(2)  The project to transform the D-Day Museum continues as planned and as the priority for the service, including input from the project’s 4 advisory panels, the development of volunteering opportunities and the recruitment of 3 paid (living-wage) interns.

(3)  A new Butterfly House is acquired for Cumberland House to improve the standards under which the live butterflies are kept.

(4)  The Museums Service supports and facilitates the delivery of the Paulsgrove-based project 'Capturing the Spirit’ in partnership with the Paulsgrove and Wymering Trust.

(5)  External funding is sought for the Conservation of the Edward King collection and associated activities to enhance public access to the collection and to support the loan of 'Night Raid on Portsmouth Docks'   from TATE.

(6)  Cash donations given by the public at Cumberland House and Portsmouth Museum are used to support the Butterfly House and Edward King Conservation projects respectively.

(7)  The 'Game Over' installation at Portsmouth Museum is noted.

(8)  The Health & Safety audit at the Eastney Beam Engine House site is noted.

(TAKE IN REPORT)

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

Councillor Swan as the previous Chair of the Economic Development Culture and Leisure Scrutiny Panel wanted to record her thanks to officers for their work on the Capturing the Spirit  project which was one of the scrutiny panel's recommendations.

Councillor Hunt said that he was very pleased with everything in the report however was concerned to note that visitor numbers at the Charles Dickens Museum had fallen and hoped that there would be a commitment to improving visitor numbers. 

DECISIONS:

(1)   The review of last year's activity and progress and on the delivery of the council’s museums strategy was noted, especially the achievement of the Arts Council England Accreditation standard and the successful outcome of the second round application to the Heritage Lottery Fund for Transforming the D-Day Museum.

(2)   The project to transform the D-Day Museum continues as planned and as the priority for the service, including input from the project’s 4 advisory panels, the development of volunteering opportunities and the recruitment of 3 paid (living-wage) interns.

(3)   A new Butterfly House is acquired for Cumberland House to improve the standards under which the live butterflies are kept.

(4)   The Museums Service supports and facilitates the delivery of the Paulsgrove-based project 'Capturing the Spirit’ in partnership with the Paulsgrove and Wymering Trust.

(5)   External funding is sought for the Conservation of the Edward King collection and associated activities to enhance public access to the collection and to support the loan of 'Night Raid on Portsmouth Docks'   from TATE.

(6)   Cash donations given by the public at Cumberland House and Portsmouth Museum are used to support the Butterfly House and Edward King Conservation projects respectively.

(7)    The 'Game Over' installation at Portsmouth Museum was noted.

(8)    The Health & Safety audit at the Eastney Beam Engine House site was noted.