Archived decisions
Hampshire County Council
Recreation and Heritage Policy Review Committee Item 11
21 November 2002
Renaissance in the Regions: Developments in Government policy for museums in the regions.
Report of the Director of Recreation and Heritage
Contact: Stephen Locke, Ext 6300.
1. Summary
1.1 This report updates the Committee on the implementation of proposals recommended by Re:source (The Council for Museums, Archives and Libraries) to strengthen support for non-national museums in the regions.
1.2 The Government has now responded to Re:source. It has allocated new funding to start the implementation of this new policy, but not at the level required.
This report summarizes the strategy which Re:source is adopting and the implications for Hampshire County Council.
2. Introduction
2.1 A report was made to the Recreation and Heritage Policy Review Committee on 23 May 2002 summarizing the contents and implications of the report Renaissance in the Regions: a new vision for England's museums, which was published by Re:source in September 2001. The current report should be read in conjunction with the report of 23 May.
2.2 The position in May 2002 was that a proposal had been made to Re:source that Hampshire County Council should lead a 'regional museum hub' of four leading museum services in the South East Region. The other 3 partners were Oxford University Museums, Brighton and Hove Museums and Chatham Historic Dockyard Trust.
2.3 This proposal to constitute a regional museum hub was formulated in response to the report 'Renaissance in the Regions' and all other English regions have made proposals for hubs in their regions.
2.4 The formulation of regional museum hubs was the first key stage in implementing 'Renaissance in the Regions' and demonstrated that diverse museums throughout England could respond to a call to work together to strengthen museum provision in the regions.
2.5 The next stage was to establish what new funding would be made available by Government to support this initiative, as part of the 2002 'spending round'. This funding has now been announced by the Department of Culture, Media and Sport.
3. Funding for 'Renaissance in the Regions'
3.1 'Renaissance in the Regions' called for an investment of £267 million over 5 years to be invested in regional museums.
3.2 The Government has stated that £70 million will be provided up to 2005/06. This represents £30 million of entirely new funding, added to £40 million already allocated to Re:source for regional museum funding.
3.3 Re:source have discussed the position with the 'shadow hubs' and key stakeholders and agreed the following response to this position:
o a welcome that the principles of 'Renaissance in the Regions' have been adopted.
o the funding provided cannot be distributed across all hubs: this would lead to too much dilution and prevent any hub demonstrating the benefits of the initiative
o a limited number of hubs ('path finder hubs') will be chosen to take the process further.
o planning for the implementation of `Renaissance in the Regions' will involve all the hubs.
o Some funding will be provided to all hubs, so that those not in the first tranche will be able to develop their profile and effectiveness to some extent.
3.4 Re:source will announce the whole hub structure in December 2002 and the 'path finder' hubs' in January 2003.
4. Implications for Hampshire and the South East
4.1 It is known that Re:source welcome the proposed South East Hub configuration and that the expert group which considered all hub applications were impressed by the proposals from the South East.
4.2 The criteria and process for determining the 'path finder hubs' are not yet known.
4.3 The shadow hub for the South East is working together on a regular basis and has recently met to consider the position. They have agreed to make the best possible case for the South East Region to be included in the path finder hubs.
4.4 The key strength in the case for the South East will include
o the number, range and importance of museums in the region
o the population served and the importance of museums for educational, economic and cultural development
o the united and coherent approach demonstrated by the museum community in the South East, including close co-operation with the South East Museums, Libraries and Archives Council (SEMLAC)
o the strength, relevance, imagination and innovation of the priorities for museum-based programmes which the South East hub will propose.
5. Conclusions
5.1 As far as may be judged, certainly among the shadow hubs and Re:source, the response to the Government funding announcement is reasonably consistent and united across all hubs.
5.2 There is a genuine welcome that the principles of 'Renaissance in the Regions' have been accepted and that this major report has not been 'shelved' - an important first tentative step has been taken by government!
5.3 However, there is real disappointment about the level of funding provided. The request in 'Renaissance in the Regions' was thoroughly researched and 'grounded' and does represent the resources needed to implement the proposals.
5.4 In that context, the strategy to proceed in a framework of planning involving all hubs, but with the majority of funding applied to a limited number of hubs in a first tranche, is accepted as the only viable approach.
5.5 The process and results of choosing the pathfinder hubs will be closely watched. Issues such as a geographical balance across England and an inclusive approach which recognizes different regional patterns will be particularly critical. There will be enormous pressure on the pathfinder hubs to demonstrate the benefits they can achieve.
5.6 The shadow South East hub expects its proposed structure to be confirmed by Re:source and is preparing the best possible case to be included in the pathfinder hubs.
5.7 Whether the South East Hub is included in the first tranche or not, it represents a valuable opportunity to innovate and develop museum-based services on a broader basis. Working in partnership, sharing expertise and high quality expertise between the hub partners, stronger links with other museums in the region and a focus on the innovative management and delivery of collections for cultural, educational, community and economic development are the key issues in `Renaissance in the Regions', and there will be opportunities to develop this.
5.8 Hampshire County Council is particularly well-placed to lead this process, calling on its corporate experience of strategic development, innovation and partnership, achieved through a pragmatic and flexible approach and the powerful conjunction of the services brought together in the Recreation and Heritage Department.
Recommendation
That the following RECOMMENDATIONS be commended to the Executive Member for Recreation and Heritage for his consideration:
(a) That the acceptance by the Government of the principles of `Renaissance in the Regions' be welcomed, tempered with disappointment that insufficient funding has been provided to allow for its comprehensive implementation in all regions.
(b) That the County Council continues to support the conclusions in the 'Renaissance in the Regions' report; and as `hub leader' makes a robust case for the inclusion, because of the strategic importance, of the South East of England in the first tranche of regional hubs.
Section 100 D - Local Government Act 1972 - background papers
The following documents disclose facts or matters on which this report, or an important part of it, is based and have been relied upon to a material extent in the preparation of this report.
N.B. the list excludes:
1. Published works
2. Documents that disclose exempt or confidential information as defined in the Act