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PDF 75 KBVenue: Committee Room 'C' - The Duke of Lancaster Room, County Hall, Preston. View directions
Contact: Josh Mynott Tel: 01772 534580 Email: josh.mynott@lancashire.gov.uk
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Apologies Minutes: No apologies were received. |
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Disclosure of Pecuniary and Non-Pecuniary Interests Members are asked to consider any Pecuniary and Non-Pecuniary Interests they may have to disclose to the meeting in relation to matters under consideration on the Agenda. Minutes: County Councillor Crompton declared a non-pecuniary interest in Item 3 as a member of Preston City Council. |
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The Harris Museum and Art Gallery (The Harris) – Shared Services Initiative Additional documents: Minutes: The Committee considered the request made by five Members of the County Council that the decision made by the Cabinet Member for Environment, Planning and Cultural Services on 28 April 2015 on the Harris Museum & Art Gallery Shared Services Initiative, be "Called In".
The Committee welcomed County Councillor David Smith, County Councillor Albert Atkinson and County Councillor Anne Cheetham, presenting their reasons for the decision to be reconsidered.
The Committee also welcomed County Councillor Marcus Johnstone, Cabinet Member for Environment, Planning and Cultural Services; Louise Taylor, Corporate Director, Operations and Delivery; Phil Barrett, Director, Community Services and Julie Bell, Head of Service, Libraries, Museums, Culture and Registrars.
Councillors Smith, Atkinson and Cheetham outlined their reasons for supporting the request for the decision to be reconsidered. They queried whether there was a statutory requirement for LCC to have involvement with the project, and expressed concerns that it appeared the proposal hadn't been detailed within the County Council's Budget, and therefore the method of funding.
It was voiced that the proposed £40,000 contribution to the managerial post per year, for three years, was excessive given that the Authority had been, and would continue to be, in a period of transformation which involved downsizing the organisation.
It was argued that the proposal was more advantageous for Preston City Council than for the County Council, and Members queried what the long term implications would be for the County Council with regard to staffing arrangements at the Harris Museum.
The Councillors presenting in support of the Call-In acknowledged the advantages of partnership working and the opportunities it could provide. However, concern was raised that the project appeared to be based upon aspiration without assurance that the cited figures from the Heritage Funding Agency could be attained, along with further cited sources of funding. It was also elucidated that the proposal could set a precedent resulting in District Council's requesting assistance with their own museums if the decision was not reconsidered.
The Committee then invited County Councillor Marcus Johnstone, Cabinet Member for Environment, Planning and Cultural Services, to speak. He referred to the three elements to the argument in favour of the "Call-In"; unbudgeted proposals, that the Harris Museum was the responsibility of Preston City Council, and a lack of detail around the staffing structure.
Regarding unbudgeted proposals, the Committee was informed that there was external funding available in the regenerate program for refurbishments, and in the Arts Council Resilience Fund. It was explained that these 'earmarked reserves' had been cited in the original report.
Concerning the perspective that the Harris Museum was Preston City Council's responsibility, it was emphasised that the Harris Museum was a very significant building in the North West of England, with 450,000 people visitors in 2014, and was considered to be a flagship landmark in the region, with comparisons made to St. George's Hall in Liverpool and Manchester Town Hall. The Committee was informed that the library service had been in situ at the Harris Museum since its inauguration, originally ... view the full minutes text for item 3. |
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Urgent Business Minutes: No urgent business. |
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Date of Next Meeting The next meeting of the Scrutiny Committee will be held on Friday 19 June 2015 at 10:30am at the County Hall, Preston. Minutes: It was noted that the next meeting of the Scrutiny Committee would be at 10.30 on Friday 19 June at County Hall, Preston.
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