Decision details

The Holburne Museum was founded in 1892 and is a registered charity. The Holburne Musuem is one of the Council’s partners for the Sydney Gardens Heritage Lottery Project. The museum has been managing the Gardeners Lodge since 2004 on a 24-year lease with the Council. An ambition of the project is to create a Creativity and Wellbeing Hub utilising both the Gardeners Lodge and the Community Pavilion.

In line with the Council’s Community Asset Transfer Policy, The Holburne Museum have submitted an expression of interest. This has been assessed by officers and meets the objectives of the CAT. The application for a Community Asset Transfer includes both buildings referred to above.

The council will seek approval from the Heritage Lottery to ensure that the transfer meets the criteria of the Lottery’s grant funding and agreement awarded to the Council in 2019.

Prior to a final decision being made, the Holburne Museum will be required to submit a Business Plan as part of Stage 3 of the CAT process.

Instruct officers to progress to stage 3 of the Community Asset Transfer which requires the Holburne Museum to submit a Business Plan and associated documentation, prior to a final decision being made. Will Godfrey, Chief Executive Officer has given his approval for the applicant to progress to stage 3.

The decision will be subject to contract and subject to approval by the Heritage Lottery.

The viability of the facility relies on both the Community Pavilion and Gardener’s Lodge being transferred together. A number of options have been explored for the future management of the buildings including managing the building in-house by the council. However, it was felt that the Museum has the experience, financial backing and opportunity to draw in grant aided programmes to develop the Creativity and Wellbeing Hub.

The main reasons for applying for a Community Asset Transfer are as follows:-

• Demonstrating to funders the council’s commitment to support creative learning across the area
• Utilise the skills and knowledge of an existing local charity and build on the partnership arrangements already in place.
• Access to other external funding, grants and sponsorship which the council is not eligible for.

Doing nothing would not achieve the objectives set out above.