Issue - meetings

The report introduces the Heritage Services Business Plan for approval.  The Plan sets out the strategy to rebuild visitor numbers and financial performance on a sustainable basis, whilst maintaining the high standards of visitor experience conservation and presentation that underpin commercial success.

Cllr Kevin Guy introduced the report, moved the officer recommendation and made the following statement:

“I am very happy to propose the Heritage Services Business Plan for 2023 to 28. This report is the annual update to a rolling five-year plan, and it comes at a very positive and exciting time for the Heritage Services team.

I say positive as we are seeing a significant improvement in visitor numbers at the Roman Baths, following the shock of the pandemic. It’s very pleasing to see visitor numbers returning to around two thirds of pre-pandemic levels. This is higher than anticipated and spending in the Pump Rooms and Heritage Services’ shops over the past year has also increased. These figures may be driven by recovering international tourism and domestic ‘staycations’.

The report suggests we can expect to see a return to pre-pandemic visitor levels from 2025 – subject to the overall economic situation.

I welcome the ongoing projects to further improve the visitor offer at the Roman Baths and Clore Learning Centre, including an updated audio tour, a revised Audience Development Plan and additional investment in conservation activities.

We also have a lot of detail in the report about exciting projects being led by Heritage Services.

The new Fashion Museum is clearly the highest profile of these projects.

Despite the disappointment of not receiving Levelling Up Funding, this council and this administration are fully committed to the Re-Fashioning Bath Project. The process of delivering the Levelling Up Fund bid demonstrated the inherent economic and societal benefits of the scheme, which will be of importance going forwards.

We have already secured the Fashion Museum’s new home. The Old Post Office will be a fitting home for one of the world’s greatest museum collections and will mean a wider range of people can access and engage with the collection in a more modern, prominent, and flexible location.

Later this evening we’ll hear more from Cllr Roper about ‘meanwhile uses’ for the Old Post Office spaces and I note the Fashion Museum collection is now being protected at a high spec and secure storage facility owned by Dents glovemakers on the outskirts of Warminster. We are working closely with Bath Spa University on plans for the Fashion Collection Archive at Locksbrook.

We have a fantastic team in place to deliver the project, and I was very pleased to meet the new lead last month – Sophie McKinlay has joined us from the V and A Dundee.

Sophie joins a Heritage Services team with a solid track record of raising capital funding and delivering major capital projects, as demonstrated by the successful recent Archway project. Resources – from the West of England Combined Authority – are in place to develop a full vision, business case and funding strategy over the coming financial year. So, we can have the utmost confidence that the Fashion Museum will reopen in 4 or 5 years and will form the centrepiece of a new fashion destination in the Milson Quarter.  ...  view the full minutes text for item 81

The Chair invited Robert Campbell, Head of Heritage Services, to introduce the item. The Council Leader, Councillor Kevin Guy was also in attendance and answered questions.

Panel members made the following points and asked the following questions:

Councillor Johnson stated that the Victoria Art Gallery (VAG) has been one of the hardest hit sites in terms of visitor numbers post covid. There has been a stark decline in projected visitor numbers since previous business plans. The action areas on this do not help us to understand who the future audiences could be. We should be looking at an action plan for this asset. The officer explained that the numbers of visitors to the VAG have declined due to visitor behaviour, they have not returned post covid. He assured the Panel that staff and the Council are committed to the VAG and investment is planned. There will be a focus on attracting families.

Councillor O Brien commented that there were two very successful exhibitions in the VAG – these were relatable and attractive. Some other exhibitions have been niche and abstract so maybe it is a case of looking at the type of exhibition in terms of visitor numbers and appealing to younger demographic. The money that has been invested and future investments call for more of a broad appeal to benefit residents and visitors. The officer explained that there is not a development plan in this report as a new curator has just been appointed so this is a chance to make some changes with a focus on local rate payers. He acknowledged the comment about the niche exhibitions but noted that this is subjective.

Councillor O Brien stated that she shares the reservation of the member of the public who made a statement (Bob Goodman) regarding losing use of the Assembly Rooms and purchase of the old Post Office building. She stated that the levelling up funding bid was not successful and in the meantime, there is a loss of income, storage costs and a building that will need significant revamp. She asked if the reopening date achievable. The officer explained that there will be a bid to Heritage Lottery Funding, the full funding plan is not set out in the report. He explained that the authority has a very successful Heritage Services area and that he is confident in delivering this project for which there is funding in place for the next 18 months.

Councillor Hirst noted the three assets – Roman Baths, Victoria Art Gallery and Fashion Museum – but asked that other monuments around the area also be considered and maintained. He stated that the Wansdyke monument has gradually degraded. The officer stated that he agreed and that a wider cultural strategy is being considered but this report was focused on the visitor facing assets. He stated that he would refer the concerns on the Wansdyke monument to the Corporate Property Team. Councillor Kevin Guy stated that there are a number of assets in the property  ...  view the full minutes text for item 76