Archived decisions

Hampshire County Council

Executive Member - Recreation and Heritage Item 1

27 March 2007

Museum Management Agreements

Report of the Director of Recreation and Heritage 

Contact: Peter James, Tel: 01962 826700 e-mail: [email protected]

1. Summary

1.1 The following decisions are sought:

i) That Hampshire County Council enters into a Service Level Agreement with Basingstoke & Deane Borough Council for the joint funding and management of Milestones Museum, for a period of 3 years from 1 April 2007.

ii) That with the adoption of a new SLA the Milestones Museum Executive Board be wound up (with the agreement of the Board itself).

iii) That Hampshire County Council renews its Service Level Agreement with Basingstoke & Deane Borough Council for the joint funding and management of the Willis Museum, Basingstoke, for a period of 1 year from 1 April 2007.

iv) That Hampshire County Council renews its Service Level Agreement with Rushmoor Borough Council for the joint funding and management of the Aldershot Military Museum, for a period of 1 year from 1 April 2007.

 2. Reason

2.1 It is necessary to establish the partnership arrangements for the joint management and funding of the three named museums on a more clearly defined legal basis, by means of negotiated Service Level Agreements. The proposed new Agreements will help the Museums Service to gain its MLA Accreditation at the next review (and thus help to maintain our CPA ratings), and will strengthen the partnerships, and make for more efficient management and monitoring of these museums. The recommendations contained in this report, if adopted, will achieve these objectives.

2.2 These actions will link with Corporate Objectives in facilitating the continued delivery of services in these museums in categories such as Lifelong Learning; Access, Inclusion & Participation; Economic Benefit, and Stewardship.

3. Other Options Considered and Rejected.

3.1 Joint Management Agreements were considered but after discussion with B&DBC and RBC, respectively, it was agreed that SLAs would more accurately reflect, and help to clarify, the respective responsibilities of each party. SLAs would also provide a more effective framework for service planning, target setting and performance measurement.

3.2 Longer-term (2 or 3 year) Agreements for the Willis Museum and Aldershot Museum were sought, but B&DBC and RBC requested that discussions be deferred until 2007-08. This was agreed.

4. Conflicts of interest declared by the decision maker or other Executive Member consulted.

  None.

5. Dispensation by the Standards Committee

Not applicable.

6. Reasons for the matter being dealt with if urgent.

Not applicable.

Approved by: Date:

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Councillor Mrs. M. Snaith