BRIDGWATER TOWN COUNCIL

MUSEUM SUB-COMMITTEE

MEMBERS' ROOM, TOWN HALL, BRIDGWATER

HELD ON MONDAY 02 March 2009 AT 2.30PM

PRESENT: Councillors Granter, Smeed and Turner

01 ELECTION OF CHAIRMAN:

RESOLVED: That the Mayor Councillor Granter be elected Chairman.

02 TOWN CLERK - PROGRESS REPORT:

The Sub-Committee had been appointed at the last meeting of the Council with power to act to oversee the transfer to BTC and the move to form a trust for the Museum and a trust for the Old Mill in due course.

The Town Clerk gave a progress report on the negotiations to finalise the draft transfer documents. An amended version was now awaited following a meeting on Friday 27 February 2009. It was hoped that this would result in a much shorter document concentrating on the key issues for the transfer. Once received copies would be circulated to the Sub-Committee members and the documents would be referred to the Council's Solicitors. It was still the objective to complete by 31 March 2009.

RESOLVED: That the position be noted and a further update given to the Council on Thursday 05 March 2009 to give formal authority to accept the buildings and museum operation.

03 HONORARY MUSEUM CO-ORDINATOR - PROGRESS REPORT:

Members had been supplied with a copy report dated 25 February 2009 from Dr Peter Cattermole in his Honorary capacity. This covered the following:

  1. Blake House
  2. Risk management
  3. Museums Collection
  4. Museum Staff
  5. Friends' Activities

RESOLVED: That the report be noted and Dr Cattermole thanked for his work on behalf of the Council and

  1. A contract be let for the removal of the asbestos-cement sheet obstructing the Blake Memorial window estimated at £500.00;
  2. that the estimate of time to deal with the backlog of cataloguing be acknowledged;
  3. that the position with TUPE as represented in the transfer be acknowledged and the action proposed by SDC accepted;
  4. that the work programme by the Friend's be confirmed and volunteers thanked for their support and subject to approval of the draft budget any interim payment necessary in addition to the £4000.00 so far from the Friend's funds be agreed.

04 DRAFT MUSEUM BUDGET 2009/2010:

The Town Clerk and the Co-ordinator submitted a draft budget taking into account the financial arrangements agreed with SDC and commitments in the Town Council budget.

RESOLVED: That the budget (copy attached) be approved and referred to the Town Council and

  1. the out of pocket expenses of the Co-ordinatior be paid subject to production of
receipts to the Town Clerk for authorisation;
  1. the photo-copier be obtained to replace that being removed by SDC;
  2. broad-band connection be obtained;
  3. the approval of any interim payment prior to 31 March 2009 as above agreed in line with budget.

05 THEMES AND EMPHASIS WITHIN THE NEW MUSEUM:

RESOLVED: That in accordance with the request previously circulated all Members be invited to put forward ideas.

06 FIREARMS POLICY:

RESOLVED: That Bridgwater Town Council does not keep dischargeable firearms in the new Museum and to this end authorises Councillor Smeed to ensure that no such firearms are transferred as part of the collection to be inherited from SDC.

07 OLD MILL:

Members were reminded that longer term it was envisaged that a seperate trust would be established for the Old Mill which was also due to transfer. Members also noted the possibility of an alternative energy centre being created on the site with the possibilty of funding from various sources. This would be coupled with the proposal for a walkway through to St Mary Street following the line of the Durleigh Brook.

08 RE-LAUNCH:

Whilst noting the position with the formal transfer Mmenbers agreed to arrangements being set in place for this to be held on Easter Saturday 11 April 2008 as the way to galvanise the entusiasm and support from the volunteers and helpers.

The meeting finished at 4.20pm

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Signed

Chairman