Archived decisions
Hampshire County Council
Recreation and Heritage Policy Review Committee Item 7
11 September 2003
Renaissance in the Regions : the South East Museum Hub
Report of the Director of Recreation and Heritage
Contact: Stephen Locke 01962 826700
1. Summary
1.1 This report describes progress towards creating the South East Museum Hub under the Government policy `Renaissance in the Regions : a new vision for England's museums', and the implications for the Museums and Archives Service
1.2 A report on the proposal to create a regional museum hub was made to the Policy Review Committee on 23 May 2002, which supported the nomination of Hampshire Museums and Archives Service as the lead Partner in the Hub
1.3 On 12 December 2002, it was reported to the Executive Member of Recreation and Heritage that the structure of the South East Museum Hub had been confirmed, but that only 3 of the 9 Regional Hubs could be fully funded in the current spending round
1.4 The Executive Member welcomed the creation of the South East Museum Hub, as an important step in the implementation of `Renaissance in the Regions'
2. Regional Museum Hubs
2.1 Groupings of, typically four, museums have been identified in each of the English regions and constituted as `Regional Hubs'. These Regional Hubs will be given additional support by the Government in such a way as to strengthen the museum structure as a whole in the region
2.2 One of the museum partners in each Hub is recognised as the lead partner and is the focus for Hub management and communications
2.3 The South East Museum Hub consists of Hampshire Museums and Archives Service (lead partner), Oxford University Museums, Royal Pavilion, Libraries and Museums Brighton and Hove and Chatham Historic Dockyard
2.4 Three Hubs have been awarded accelerated funding in Phase 1 of Renaissance in the Regions: these are North East, West Midlands and South West. The remaining Hubs are South East, East Midlands, East, North West, Yorkshire and London
2.5 Two funding streams have been created, one, derived from the Department for Education and Skills (DfES), is specifically targeted at improving the value of museums for schools-based learning, the other, derived from the DCMS, is intended to develop all elements of museum provision, including education
2.6 Of the available funding, 70% has been allocated to the Phase 1 Hubs, and 30% to the Phase 2 Hubs. The amounts are given in appendix 1. The total funding for the South East Hub for the three years 2003-6 is £2.2 million
3. Hub planning in the first spending round (2003-2006)
3.1 The inception of Renaissance in the Regions, and the first phases of its implementation has been a complex process, involving establishing entirely new entities (the Hubs) and a web of relationships with regional and national organizations and the museum community generally. The process is being led and co-ordinated by Resource.
3.2 Resource have established the following overall priorities to direct the work of the
Hubs:
· Creating a comprehensive service to schools
· Reaching a wider community
· Develop a programme for the re-display of the permanent collections which combines high quality scholarship with excellent interpretative and design
techniques
· Enhance the care, management and conservation of the collections
· Improve access to knowledge and information
· Develop the work force
· Reaching and exceeding existing standards
· Ensure that the Hubs operate in the most effective and efficient way to delivery high quality services to users
3.3 In working towards these priorities two fundamental issues have to be held in balance:
i. the resources devoted to building capacity within the Hub itself, and resources
made available for non-hub museums in the region
ii. the scope and independence of the Hub, and the need to integrate its plans with regional and national strategies
3.4 Resource have agreed that Hub activity in Year 1 (2003/04) should be defined by a simple Year 1 Operational Plan. The South East Operational Plan was agreed with Resource at the beginning of August
3.5 Activity in years 2 and 3 (2004-6) of the main funding stream will be determined by a Hub Business Plan, which must be prepared by December 2003
3.6 In parallel with business planning for the core funding, the Hub is also tasked with preparing a specific plan which will govern the allocation of the education (DfES) funding stream. This plan is much more complex than the Year 1 Operational Plan, and requires significant regional research and consultation, especially focussed on the needs of schools. This plan must be completed by the end of 2003.
4. The Year 1 Operational Plan
4.1 A summary of the Year 1 Operation Plan is attached as appendix 1
4.2 The Priority Critical Actions can only be addressed in a very partial way in Year 1 - essentially this is a piloting and planning year to gain experience and consolidate the management of the Hub
4.3 The core funding in years 2 and 3 (£480,000 and £920,000) respectively, will enable more substantial programmes and projects to be initiated
4.4 The funding in years 2 and 3 also allow an element of regional support outside of the Hub to be provided, and it has been agreed to contribute 10% in year 2 (£45,200) and 15% in year 3 (£133,600), of core funding, to the Regional Museum Development Fund, which is managed by the South East Museums, Libraries and Archives Council (SEMLAC). This will maximise the effectiveness of available regional museum development funding and demonstrate close partnership between the South East Hub and SEMLAC
5. Conclusion
5.1 After a lengthy period of rather arduous discussion and planning, the constitution of the Regional Museum Hubs has been agreed on a national basis, and their priorities and funding clarified
5.2 The priorities are clearly welcome and relevant, and if adequately funded will make a real contribution to the value of museum services to community and educational development, and standards of collections management
5.3 The South East Museum Hub looks forward to proper funding in the spending round starting in 2006/7, and if the level of funding provided is equivalent to that for Phase 1 Hubs, relative to the population of the South East, then a really major progress will be made
5.4 In the meantime, substantial planning and organizational effort will be required of the Hub, but for the first time real benefits are clearly in prospect
5.5 Alongside the development of services which new resources can support, the development of the Hub, within the framework of Renaissance in the Regions, establishes a highly significant role for the partners, especially Hampshire, as lead partner. In particular, it places the Hub in an important position in relation to regional and national strategies, and creates obligations and responsibilities alongside this developing status and financial support
Recommendations
1. That the progress with developing the South East Museum Hub, within the Renaissance in the Regions policy, be welcomed.
2. That the role of the Museums and Archives Service as lead partner in the Hub be supported.
3. That it be recognized the priorities of the Hub are very relevant to the corporate aims of Hampshire County Council and the Recreation and Heritage Department in particular, and the Committee be informed of progress with the more detailed business planning for the South East Hub.
4. That this report be submitted to the Executive Member for Recreation and Heritage for his consideration.
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 has been relied upon to a material extent in the preparation of this report.
NB the list excludes:
1. Published works
2. Documents which disclose exempt or confidential information as defined in the Act.
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