Agenda, decisions and draft minutes

There were no declarations of interest.

Purpose

To approve updated fees and charges for Portsmouth Museums and Visitor Services.

RECOMMENDED that the Cabinet Member approves

1.    The Portsmouth Museums and Visitor Services venue hire charges and Charles Dickens Birthplace admission charges 2022/23.

2.    The Portsmouth Museums and Visitor Services wedding hire charges 2022-25.

3.    That Officers are given the authority to offer pricing in line with these fees and charges for bespoke requests. 

1.    That the Portsmouth Museums and Visitor Services venue hire charges and Charles Dickens Birthplace admission charges 2022/23 are approved.

2.    That the Portsmouth Museums and Visitor Services wedding hire charges 2022-25 are approved.

3.    That Officers are given the authority to offer pricing in line with these fees and charges for bespoke requests.

Jane Mee, Museum & Visitor Services Manager, introduced the report, explaining that fees had been increased by 2% across the board in line with inflation (rounded up or down where practical). The aim is to ensure that venues, Southsea Castle in particular, are fully booked for weddings. A new policy is that a modest administration fee may be charged, for example, where a wedding date changes, and the deposit is returned.

Members thought the fees represented good value.

1.    That the Portsmouth Museums and Visitor Services venue hire charges and Charles Dickens Birthplace admission charges 2022/23 are approved.

2.    That the Portsmouth Museums and Visitor Services wedding hire charges 2022-25 are approved.

3.    That Officers are given the authority to offer pricing in line with these fees and charges for bespoke requests.

Purpose

To present the Portsmouth History Centre Development Strategy 2022 - 2025.

RECOMMENDED that the Cabinet Member notes and agrees

1.    The Strategy (Appendix 1A)

2.    The Operational Plan (Appendix 1B).

1.    That the Strategy (Appendix 1A) is noted and agreed.

2.    That the Operational Plan (Appendix 1B) is noted and agreed.

The Cabinet Member said the Action Plan was a positive development as it would enable people to engage with history.

1.    That the Strategy (Appendix 1A) is noted and agreed.

2.    That the Operational Plan (Appendix 1B) is noted and agreed.

Purpose

1.    To inform the Cabinet Member on the success of Portsmouth BookFest 2021, the 10^th anniversary of the festival and the first time events were delivered online.

2.    To make recommendations for the future delivery of the festival. 

RECOMMENDED that the Cabinet Member agrees

1.    That Portsmouth BookFest continues to offer online events alongside the traditional in person events - event format to be determined by the location and availability of the author/speaker and the likely target audience groups for the event.

2.    That Library Assistant staff time is put into supporting the Service Development Manager to expand the publicity of the festival and its social media presence and also assist with the administration of ticket sales.

3.    That the festival aims to present a diverse programme of events each year reaching new audiences.

1.    That Portsmouth BookFest continues to offer online events alongside the traditional in person events - event format to be determined by the location and availability of the author/speaker and the likely target audience groups for the event.

2.    That Library Assistant staff time is put into supporting the Service Development Manager to expand the publicity of the festival and its social media presence and also assist with the administration of ticket sales.

3.    That the festival aims to present a diverse programme of events each year reaching new audiences.

Clare Forsyth, Service Development Manager, introduced the report.

Members said officers had worked extremely hard in difficult circumstances to run BookFest and deserved congratulations. Holding events online attracted people who might not otherwise have attended. Members agreed making events accessible was important as it increases engagement and enables more people to be involved.

1.    That Portsmouth BookFest continues to offer online events alongside the traditional in person events - event format to be determined by the location and availability of the author/speaker and the likely target audience groups for the event.

2.    That Library Assistant staff time is put into supporting the Service Development Manager to expand the publicity of the festival and its social media presence and also assist with the administration of ticket sales.

3.    That the festival aims to present a diverse programme of events each year reaching new audiences.

Purpose

To update the Cabinet Member on the success of the three-year Arts Council England funded City of Stories project in the Library and Archive Service.

The Cabinet Member noted the report which is for information only and is not subject to call-in.  

Clare Forsyth, Service Development Manager, introduced the report.

Members welcomed the report as an example of positive news and asked officers to keep up the good work. 

The Cabinet Member noted the report which is for information only and is not subject to call-in. 

Purpose

To update the Cabinet Member on the completion of a project to transform the D-Day Story's social media.

The Cabinet Member noted the report which is for information only and is not subject to call-in.

Felicity Wood, Public Participation Manager, introduced the report.

Members thought having personal stories based on the D-Day Museum's collections was very positive and helped younger people in particular to learn about the impact of D-Day.

The Cabinet Member noted the report which is for information only and is not subject to call-in.