Archived decisions

Decision Maker:

Cabinet

Date of Decision:

29 June 2009

Decision Title:

Hampshire County Council support for the new Mary Rose Museum

Decision Reference:

747

Report From:

The Chief Executive and The Director of Culture, Communities and Rural Affairs

Contact name:

Yinnon Ezra

Andrew Bateman

Tel:

01962 845402

01962 845478

Email:

[email protected]

[email protected]

1) The Decision:

1.1. That a financial contribution of £800,000 towards the cost of creating the new Museum of the Mary Rose be approved. The funding would be subject to acceptance of conditions and an agreed Service Level Agreement (SLA) between Hampshire County Council and the Mary Rose Trust.

1.2. The grant would be conditional on the MRT

a) being paid the grant in stages agreed by the Director of Culture, Communities and Rural Affairs in consultation with the Leader of Hampshire County Council, to meet construction costs on production of invoice or other defined outcomes. This enables the MRT to proceed with certainty that the contribution would be forthcoming and avoid Hampshire County Council in any difficulties around recovering the funds should the project fail. The maximum that would be paid in 2009/10 is £500,000 and would be contingent on the MRT raising £9.2m in cash and pledges. Funding for future years would be reviewed in September 2009

b) working in collaboration with the Hampshire County Council's Department for Culture, Communities and Rural Affairs in the promotion of culture and tourism in Hampshire and regarding Hampshire County Council Museums & Archives Service as a `first partner' in matters relating to collections, conservation and museum education

c) providing a `preferential offer' to Hampshire Schools. These would include workshops at no additional cost for Hampshire LEA primary schools and special schools, dedicated outreach boxes for primary and secondary schools and free INSET opportunities for teachers

d) extending its community outreach programme to include more special needs support groups, including senior citizens and activities in residential homes and day centres throughout Hampshire

e) developing an enhanced programme of lifelong learning opportunities

f) collaborating with the County Council's Museums Service to develop a programme that enabled the regular display of parts of the MRT collection at appropriate venues in the county

g) identifying opportunities for special discount arrangements and out of season open days for low income and disadvantaged groups in Hampshire

h) working with the County Council to maximise the opportunities for volunteers from Hampshire to contribute to operation of the new museum

i) engaging in procurement, construction and operational phases of the new museum that recognise the need to provide local employment opportunities for Hampshire residents over the long term

j) continuing to invite the County Council to nominate a councillor to sit as a Member of the MRT and inviting a senior education specialist from the County Council's Museum Service to become a Trustee Director

k) in collaboration with Portsmouth Historic Dockyard continuing to support the County Council's Tourism Section marketing campaigns, such as the `Defence of the Realm' military heritage site marketing consortium

l) advocating the creation of the dockyard as a World Heritage Site and continuing to develop its commitment as a centre of excellence for maritime archaeology and conservation

m) being fully committed to the principle of a unified brand for Portsmouth Historic Dockyard and increased co-operation on management, infrastructure, services and finances with partner Trusts and the Royal Navy

n) accepting that the grant from Hampshire County Council should be acknowledged on all literature relating to the new museum and in a prominent place on any commemorative plaques or notices and in any publicity issued on the subject by the MRT

o) accepting that this agreement is documented in a Service Level Agreement, the detail of which to be agreed by the Director of Culture, Communities and Rural Affairs, to be reviewed annually

2) Reasons for the decision

2.1. A financial contribution by Hampshire County Council will help the Mary Rose Trust in its need to attract £14m of match-funding required by the Heritage Lottery Fund to match its award of £21m, to enable the £34m new museum to be completed by 2012. The contribution will specifically help the Mary Rose Trust meet its target of raising £10m in cash and pledges by June 2009 to enable a start to be made on the construction phase.

2.2. The proposed new Mary Rose museum has the potential to improve on the Mary Rose Trust's current contribution to Hampshire's cultural life by further enhancing our quality of place, whilst also raising the profile and reputation of Hampshire as an important national tourist destination

2.3. In the current economic climate, the development phase will provide a major construction project in its own right, delivering job opportunities and contractor and sub-contract work in the Portsmouth and wider Hampshire area.

2.4. The new museum will be a major tourist attraction for the county and wider region and will generate additional spend into the Hampshire economy from both domestic and international visitors over the long term. It will also enable the Mary Rose Trust to build on its international reputation for conservation.

2.5. The new museum will enable the Mary Rose Trust to deliver significant additional educational value to the county in partnership with Hampshire County Council. This will provide a wide ranging programme of learning, outreach and special exhibitions to Hampshire schools, community groups and museums through a `preferential offer' which will further enhance the well-being of Hampshire residents

3) Other options considered and rejected:

3.1. Not to award a grant or at a reduced level.

4) Conflicts of Interest:

4.1. Conflicts of interest declared by the decision-maker:

None

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

None

5) Dispensation granted by the Standards Committee:

None

6) Any reasons for the matter being dealt with if urgent :

None

7) Statement from the Decision Maker:

Approved by:

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Date:

29 June 2009

Vice Chairman of the Cabinet

Councillor R Perry