Issue - meetings

To consider and approve The Novium Museum’s forward plan for 2016-17, to note the responses to the questions from the Overview and Scrutiny Committee (OSC) raised at its meeting on 15 March 2016 and to approve the appointment of a member of the OSC to any Task and Finish Group which may be set up to consider the Novium Museum option appraisal. Members are requested to refer to the OSC agenda (15 March 2016) for the background papers to this item.

RESOLVED

(1)        That the 2016-17 update of the Novium Museum’s 2014-19 forward plan be noted.

(2)        That the responses to the questions raised by the Overview and Scrutiny Committee at their meeting on 15 March be noted.

(3)        That, following the options appraisal, a corporate Task and Finish Group be set up with membership agreed as Mrs Keegan (Chairman), Mr T Dignum, Mr R Plowman, Mr M Hall and Mr N Galloway (the Overview and Scrutiny Committee representative).

The Council considered the report circulated with the agenda (copy attached to the official minutes).

Mrs Keegan introduced the report advising that the first recommendation had been amended to ‘note’ instead of ‘approve’ and drawing members’ attention to the answers provided to questions raised by the Overview and Scrutiny Committee. An options appraisal would come forward to Cabinet next month which would look at various alternatives for the future operation of the museum. She highlighted a number of the events being held at the museum e.g. Roman week, weddings in the Guildhall and the Tim Peake exhibition which would start in November. A task and finish group would be set up following the options appraisal to develop proposals.

Mr Dignum confirmed that Mrs Keegan, Mr H Mall and Mr T Dignum were nominations from the majority party on the group with Mr R Plowman from the minority party. The Overview and Scrutiny Committee had nominated Mr N Galloway.

To a question from Mrs Taylor asking how travelling exhibitions were financed, Mrs Hakes replied that significant exhibitions were normally at the museum’s cost however recently the Victoria and Albert exhibition had come in at a reasonable cost which could be recouped and a profit achieved. 

RESOLVED

(1)        That the 2016-17 update of the Novium Museum’s 2014-19 forward plan be noted.

(2)        That the responses to the questions raised by the Overview and Scrutiny Committee at their meeting on 15 March be noted.

(3)        That, following the options appraisal, a corporate Task and Finish Group be set up with membership agreed as Mrs Keegan (Chairman), Mr T Dignum, Mr R Plowman, Mr M Hall and Mr N Galloway (the Overview and Scrutiny Committee representative).