Archived decisions

HAMPSHIRE COUNTY COUNCIL

Record of Executive Decision:

1) Summary:

The following decision was made:

1.1. To authorise the provision of up to £25,000 per annum grant aid, committed for three years, to support a new Business Plan and the sustainable future of Gilbert White's House & The Oates Museum in Selborne (hereafter referred to as `The Wakes').

2) Reasons for the decision:

2.1. The Wakes is a potential `jewel in the crown' of Hampshire destinations with an international market value.

2.2. The Wakes is ideally placed to provide `sense of place' displays for the parish of Selborne as well as interpreting the lives and achievements of three internationally renowned historical figures, Gilbert White (1720-1793), Frank Oates (1840-1875) and Lawrence Oates (1880-1912).

2.3. A Field Studies Centre is part of The Wakes portfolio and is a strategically placed, valued and important component for the delivery of environmental education to young people in Hampshire.

2.4. Providing extra financial support to The Wakes should provide a sustainable future by increasing and fully exploiting the many attractions the venue has to offer. It should also help to unlock other funding sources.

2.5. By `buying in' to a new Business Plan it allows HCC to influence outcomes so that they closer match the objectives of the Corporate Strategy.

3) Other options considered and rejected:

3.1. Option 1: For Recreation and Heritage to totally withdraw support for The Wakes by discontinuing the existing annual grant to the Field studies Centre and the Museums Service's regular assistance with collections management and other advice.

a) Risk Assessment: Option 1 is incompatible with the Museums Service's Renaissance obligations as well as Recreation and Heritage aspirations for empowering independent organisations to assist with the delivery of HCC Corporate Strategy.

3.2. Option 2: For the Museums Service to continue to provide advice to The Wakes on collections management and governance issues but without Recreation and Heritage having a direct financial stake in the creation and implementation of its Business Plan, other than the existing annual grant to the Field Studies Centre.

a) Risk Assessment: Option 2 is a risk since without new sources of significant financial support and a new Business Plan it is predicted that the site does not have a viable future. The Field Studies Centre would be particularly at risk under this scenario.

4) Conflicts of Interest:

4.1. Conflicts of interest declared by the Decision-Maker:

a) None

4.2. Conflicts of interest declared by other Executive members consulted:

a) None

5) Dispensation granted by the Standards Committee:

None

6) Any reasons for the matter being dealt with urgently:

None

7) Statement from the Decision Maker:

.