Archived decisions

Decision Maker:

Executive Member for Policy and Resources

Date of Decision:

21 January 2010

Decision Title:

Hampshire County Council support for purchase of the Broadlands Archives by the University of Southampton

Decision Reference:

1126

Report From:

Assistant Director (Arts, Heritage, Countryside and Rural Affairs), Department of Culture, Communities and Rural Affairs

Contact name:

Jan Smith

Tel:

01962 846154

Email:

[email protected]

1) The Decision:

1.1 That a financial contribution of £100,000 towards the University of Southampton's fund for the purchase of the Broadlands Archives be approved. The funding would be subject to acceptance of the following conditions and an agreed memorandum of understanding between Hampshire County Council and the University of Southampton.

The grant would be conditional on the University:

a) continuing to keep the Archive in Hampshire

b) continuing to invite the County Council to nominate an archive specialist to sit as a member of the current Archives and Manuscripts Advisory Committee or such other new governing body as may be set up to oversee the future management/development of the Broadlands Archives

c) regarding HCC's Archives Service as a first partner in matters relating to interpretation and learning in connection with the Hampshire estate papers within the Broadlands Archives

d) working in collaboration with HCC's Department of Culture, Communities and Rural Affairs to develop a programme to enable the regular display of parts of the Broadlands Archives at appropriate venues in the county (e.g. the Gallery at Winchester Discovery Centre, the Willis Museum, Basingstoke)

e) further collaborating on a programme of lifelong learning opportunities for the benefit of Hampshire's educational establishments and communities

f) agreeing that the grant from Hampshire County Council be acknowledged on all literature, plaques or other publicity relating to the newly-purchased Archives

g) repaying the grant to Hampshire County Council should the Archive be disposed of by the University after purchase or relocated outside the county of Hampshire

h) accepting that this agreement is documented in a memorandum of understanding, the detail of which is to be agreed by the Director of Culture, Communities and Rural Affairs and the County Archivist, in consultation with the Leader of Hampshire County Council, to be reviewed annually

2) Reasons for the decision

2.1. The Archives are one of the University Library's foremost collections of manuscripts and one of the UK's more important family and estate archives. They are a resource of immense importance internationally and are also accessible to and used by Hampshire residents

2.2. A donation from Hampshire Council would demonstrate local community support for the fundraising campaign and help the University in its applications to other funders such as the National Heritage Memorial Fund. Furthermore, it would retain an important cultural asset within the county for the benefit of the community

3) Other options considered and rejected:

3.1. Option 1: Making no donation.

3.2. Option 2: Making a reduced donation.

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:

21 January 2010

Executive Member for Policy and Resources

Councillor T. K. Thornber CBE