Decision details

The report seeks Cabinet approval for the first annual update of the Heritage Services Business Plan 2013-2018, and for the Fashion Museum Forward Plan required for Arts Council England Accreditation status

(1) To NOTE the provisional out-turn for Heritage Services for 2013/14;

(2) To APPROVE the Fashion Museum Forward Plan;

(3) To APPROVE further investigation into extending the Victoria Art Gallery into the void behind it to enable it to make a positive contribution to the Guildhall market redevelopment project; and

(4) To APPROVE the capital budget for the Beau Street Hoard project in the Council’s Capital Programme for 2014/15 and 2015/16 in the amounts of £203k and £17k respectively, and note the technical adjustment made to the capital budget for this project in 2013/14 to reflect grant-funded spend.

Heritage Services operates as a business unit, with annual profit targets and investment levels agreed corporately on a rolling basis. The business strategy to achieve these targets is detailed in a Business Plan ('The Plan'), reviewed and revised each year. The Plan provides a fully integrated approach to income generation and the investment necessary to achieve it, and is aligned with the Council's corporate aims and objectives.

During the 2002 Best Value Review of Cultural and Leisure services, in which Heritage Services received a 3 Star `Excellent' rating, the inspectors commended this approach. The Audit Commission also commended Heritage Services in 2010 for its achievements in Value For Money and the business systems that enable these to be made as part of their assessment of the Council's "Use of Resources". A review of governance by the Council’s internal Audit Service in 2013/14 rated the current arrangements as “excellent”.

To cease functioning along the successful business lines of the past ten years and return to being a conventional local authority museum service. This will lead to a loss of focus and competitiveness and result in falling revenues and loss of reputation to the Council.  This course is not recommended.