Agenda item

Museums Partnership Silverdale Hoard

(Cabinet Member with Special Responsibility Councillor Sands)

 

Report of the Head of Health & Housing

Minutes:

(Cabinet Member with Special Responsibility Councillor Sands)

 

Cabinet received a report from the Head of Health & Housing to update Members on the position in relation to any potential purchase of the Silverdale Hoard.

 

The options, options analysis, including risk assessment and officer preferred option, were set out in the report as follows:

 

 

Option 1

Lancaster City Council purchases the hoard alone (subject to referral on to Council)

Option 2 Request that

Lancashire County Council purchases the hoard alone.

Option 3

Partnership purchase (subject to referral on to Council)

Advantages

The District Council area in which the hoard was found  

 

 

Demonstrates commitment to cultural heritage and economic growth.

The County Council area in which the hoard was found

 

 

Demonstrates commitment to cultural heritage.

 

More straight forward process for acquisition, display and funding applications.

 

No financial commitment required by the City Council.

 

Spreads the financial burden of the purchase across the two Councils.

 

 

 

 

 

Disadvantages

Considerable investment required in order to display on a permanent basis with reliance on external funding meeting these costs.

Longer term commitments would need further investment over and above the initial Museum Acquisition Funding

 

 

 

Potentially less influence over where the collection is exhibited.

Requires formal agreement and clear understanding by both parties about how shared ownership will work in practice.

Reliance on external funding to meet one-off purchase, re-display and conservation costs.

Risk

There is a realistic risk with this option that associated one-off purchase funds will not be generated. Risk increases with ongoing costs associated with conservation and temporary / permanent displays.

Minimal risk to City Council.

Risk to City Council remains as per option one.

 

The most important issue was that this was an excellent opportunity to retain the Hoard in Lancashire.  County council officers initially informally recommended that Lancaster City Council purchase the Silverdale Hoard for their City Museum collections.  However, given both short and longer term financial commitments and the uncertainty of the success of funding applications and fundraising efforts, the situation had changed. The council would be facing difficult choices given the financial outlook for 2014/15 and beyond and therefore the best option might be for Lancashire County Council to look to purchase the hoard alone.  There is, of course, a risk that the county council would decide not to purchase the hoard when considered against their priorities.  This led to consideration of the options.

 

The officer preferred option was option 2.  The uncertain short and long term costs associated with purchase, conservation and display meant a purchase by the city council alone was unaffordable based on current budgets and forecasts.  Option 2 allowed for County to proceed with the purchase, should they decide to, thus enabling the hoard to be kept and displayed within Lancashire including display at Museums in Lancaster in the future.

The purchase of the hoard by County Council would enable it to remain within Lancashire and ensured the potential for future display within Lancaster’s museums.  The report acknowledged the importance of retaining the hoard in Lancashire and sought to find a solution to achieve this.

 

Councillor Sands proposed, seconded by Councillor Hanson:-

 

“(1)      That the recommendations, as set out in the report, be approved.”

 

Councillors then voted:-

 

Resolved unanimously:

 

(1)               That it be agreed that Lancaster City Council does not purchase the Silverdale Hoard.

 

(2)               That Cabinet formally request Lancashire County Council to purchase the Silverdale Hoard.

 

Officer responsible for effecting the decision:

 

Head of Health & Housing

 

Reasons for making the decision:

 

Management of the Museums is an important element of the Council’s priorities of Economic Growth – and outcomes cited within the Corporate Plan include ‘More tourists coming to the district and tourism income is maximised, the district’s cultural, retail and tourism offer is maximised, Lancaster district’s recognition as a visitor destination is enhanced and the district’s local heritage is protected’.  That said, the Council must consider value for money and affordability, taking account of the Medium Term Financial Strategy.  Option 2 fits with this, as well as helping with museum objectives.

 

Supporting documents: