Chichester District Council
Issue

Issue - meetings

Novium Business Plan

Meeting: 05/02/2019 - Cabinet (Item 654)

654 Novium Business Plan Update pdf icon PDF 62 KB

The Cabinet is requested to consider the agenda report and its appendix in the agenda supplement and to make the following resolution:

 

RESOLUTION BY THE CABINET

 

That the Business Plan in the appendix to the agenda report for the Novium Museum and Tourist Information Services be approved.

 

Additional documents:

Decision:

RESOLVED BY THE CABINET

 

That the Business Plan for the Novium Museum and Tourist Information Services as set out in the appendix to the agenda report be approved.

Minutes:

Mrs Lintill (Cabinet Member for Community Services and Deputy Leader) introduced the item. Mrs Peyman (Divisional Manager for Culture) and Ms Thorndyke (Museum and TIC Manager) were also present.

 

Mrs Lintill explained that after the initial PID had been agreed in February 2016 an options appraisal was carried out following some concerns regarding the level of subsidy required to support the Novium. Additional work was also carried out by Henry Adams. It was agreed by the Cabinet in July 2018 not to pursue the outsourcing of the Novium. Work then began with an external facilitator in July 2018 and it was agreed that savings would be difficult to achieve as the majority of costs are due to staffing and the building. Given the amount of work carried out the staffing levels are already at the minimum level required. A task and finish group (TFG) was then established to review the Business Plan.

 

Mrs Lintill confirmed that when comparing the cost of the Novium with the final year costs of the old museum if business rates are excluded and inflation added it is cheaper to run the Novium.

 

Mrs Lintill clarified that Full Council had approved £30,000 to cover the cost of a feasibility study to consider the options for increasing income.

 

Mrs Lintill wished to acknowledge the work of the Museum Manager and her team over the last year.

 

Mrs Peyman then confirmed that the brief for the feasibility study had been completed with responses due back end by the end of February 2019.

 

With regard to visitor donations Mrs Thorndyke confirmed that donation boxes are located at the key entry and exit points and all the Novium marketing material references donations. A trial of contactless donations has also taken place on the top floor and it is hoped this can be extended in the near future. Ms Thorndyke explained that the Novium is performing well on donations with an average visitor donation of 24 pence which is above the national average of between 5 pence and 15 pence. The total estimated income from donations this year is £11,000 with an anticipated rise to £12,000 next year.

 

Decision

 

The Cabinet voted unanimously to make the resolution below.

 

RESOLVED BY THE CABINET

 

That the Business Plan for the Novium Museum and Tourist Information Services as set out in the appendix to the agenda report be approved.


 

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