Agenda item

(Environment Portfolio Holder) To consider the attached report (C-085-2015/16).

(1)        That the recommendation from the Neighbourhoods and Community Services Select Committee for the Council to establish a Development Trust for Epping Forest and Lowewood Museums, to operate in parallel with the management of the Museum, Heritage and Culture Service be agreed; and

(2)        That the establishment of a Development Trust be progressed on the basis of establishing a Company Limited by Guarantee and Registered Charity.

The Chairman of the Neighbourhoods & Community Services Select Committee presented a report from the Select Committee on the establishment of a Development Trust for the Epping Forest and Lowewood Museums.

The Chairman of the Select Committee stated that, although the Museum Service had previously had significant success in securing funding from external agencies, a lack of charitable status had limited the number of Trusts that the Council could apply to. Therefore, to help support the sustainability of the Museum, Heritage and Culture Service in the future, a feasibility study was undertaken in 2015 to identify Trust options, to operate in parallel to the Council’s management of the Epping Forest District Museum and Lowewood Museum, which was managed on behalf of Broxbourne Borough Council 

The Chairman reminded the Cabinet that it had requested the Select Committee to consider the findings of the study and the potential for the establishment of a Development Trust for the Museum, Heritage and Cultural Services section of the Council. This was discussed at the meeting of the Select Committee on 15 March 2016. The Select Committee had noted that the Council potentially had an opportunity to pump prime the establishment of a Trust, through funding from the Arts Council England Resilience Fund, which had recently opened a second round of funding to support Museums and the Arts. An Expression of Interest had already been submitted to the Arts Council, which included funding for the appointment of a Fundraising Manager and part time administrator. If the Expression of Interest was successful then the Council would be invited to submit a fully developed application, by 5 May 2016.

The Chairman reported that the bid submission would include reference to the current joint working with Broxbourne Borough Council in respect of Lowewood Museum and also highlight the recent collaboration with Chelmsford City Council, which would see the sharing of expertise and skills across all three areas. Within this arrangement, it was planned for the Fundraising Manager to set up a joint Development Trust for Epping Forest and Lowewood Museum Service and to support the establishment of a separate Trust for Chelmsford City Council.

The Chairman advised the Cabinet that the Select Committee was in agreement that if the application to the Resilience Fund was unsuccessful, then the proposal to establish a Development Trust for the Museum, Heritage and Culture Service should still be progressed through an alternative method, to be agreed. It was suggested that the Trust should be established as a Company, Limited by Guarantee and Registered Charity.

The Portfolio Holder for Community Wellbeing added her support for the report from the Select Committee and thanked the Committee for their efforts.

Decision:

(1)        That the recommendation from the Neighbourhoods and Community Services Select Committee for the Council to establish a Development Trust for Epping Forest and Lowewood Museums, to operate in parallel with the management of the Museum, Heritage and Culture Service be agreed; and

(2)        That the establishment of a Development Trust be progressed on the basis of establishing a Company Limited by Guarantee and Registered Charity.

Reasons for Decision:

The Select Committee felt that a Development Trust would be very beneficial in supporting the future sustainability of the Museum, Heritage and Culture service of the Council and would enable significant value to be added to the work of the service.

Other Options Considered and Rejected:

To retain the status quo and to continue to seek external funding from current organisations. However, this would significantly limit the opportunities for development of the museums, due to the highly competitive funding environment.