At its meeting on 13 December 2005 St Edmundsbury Borough Council debated the findings of the Heritage Services Review, carried out from June to November 2005.
After the meeting Cllr Nigel Aitkens, the Cabinet member leading the review, said:
"This decision has come at the end of an extensive and wide-ranging review of all our museum and heritage services. Since the review was published we have been contacted by a number of borough residents concerned about closing the Manor House as a museum, although I have to point out that a far larger proportion has told us, repeatedly, that Council Tax is too high and they want rises kept to a minimum.
"Nevertheless we have said that we will continue to work with people interested in our museums to make sure we have an even more successful service in the future; particularly one that is accessible to wider sections of our community. The council voted, by a majority of more than two to one, to close Manor House as a museum in April next year, but we have promised to do a tremendous amount of work before then to ensure we engage those who have useful suggestions about how we can make the service better in ways that are beneficial for our Council Tax payers.
"I stress again - the Manor House will remain as a wonderful Georgian building which will delight generations to come. It has only been a museum for 12 years and is simply moving on to the next stage of its life. The collections will be cared for and made more accessible to the public, researchers and students alike."
The council resolved that:
1) the findings of the Heritage Services Review, as set out in Paper W393, be noted;
2) subject to (4) below, option two, as set out in Paper W393, be adopted with the intention of working towards option three in the future;
3) the Borough Council continues to engage with its funders, other partners and interested parties to ensure the successful delivery of a combined Museum and Heritage Service and to explore new ways of accessing the collections which are beneficial to Council Tax payers;
4) when he has made arrangements for the relocation and care of the collections, the Corporate Director for Community, in consultation with the Council Leader and the relevant Portfolio Holders, be authorised to close the Manor House as a museum;
5) as set out in Paper W393 the position of the Gershom-Parkington Trust be noted and officers be authorised to meet with the surviving trustees to investigate the future development of the Trust;
6) the staffing structure and redundancy procedures contained in exempt appendix 10 to Report W393 be followed; and
7) the Corporate Director for Community be authorised, in consultation with the relevant Portfolio Holders, to make minor changes to the staff structure of the selected option, subject to the costs remaining within budget estimates.
A full copy of the Heritage Services Review (Paper W393) is available on our website: www.stedmundsbury.gov.uk
ENDS
Contact:
Cllr Nigel Aitkens, St Edmundsbury Cabinet member leading the review,
01284 735258, mob: 07850 776906
ISSUED BY MARIANNE HULLAND, COMMUNICATIONS UNIT, ST EDMUNDSBURY BOROUGH COUNCIL. Tel 01284 757034. marianne.hulland@stedsbc.gov.uk
