Issue - meetings

To consider the report of the Museum Manager.

Place Scrutiny Committee considered the report at its meeting on 9 November 2017 and its comments will be reported.

The Museum Manager presented the report presenting RAMM’s Business Plan 2018-22 for Members’ consideration.  This has been prepared as a result of RAMM’s successful application to Arts Council England (ACE) to be recognised as a National Portfolio Organisation (NPO).  The decision at the end of June 2017 was, as for all other cultural organisations making similar applications, an ‘in principle’ one, with an associated conditional financial offer for each of the four years.  The next stage for all successful applicants was to prepare a Business Plan and a number of other required documents. Members were advised that securing external funding through other grant making bodies would be of growing importance in RAMM’s future and this report also proposed a recommendation to support this area of work.

Members were advised of the potential amount of funding that RAMM could receive over the next four years from the Arts Council England should this application be successful.

Members supported the Business Plan and the proposed way forward.

Place Scrutiny Committee considered the report at its meeting on 9 November 2017 and its comments were reported.

RESOLVED that:-

(1)        RAMM’s Business Plan 2018-2022 be endorsed;

(2)        the final submission of the Business Plan to the Arts Council England to support RAMM’s case for investment be agreed;

(3)        the Portfolio Holder for Economy and Culture be authorised to agree adjustments to the Business Plan that do not affect its overall priorities or direction of travel;

(4)        the Director Communications and Marketing and Museum Manager be authorised, in consultation with the Portfolio Holder, Economy and Culture, to submit applications for grant funding less than £100,000 in value, where there is no requirement for match funding; and

(5)        the Museum Manager be authorised, in consultation with the Portfolio Holder, Economy and Culture, to submit applications for grant funding less than £50,000 in value, where there is no requirement for match funding.

To consider the report of the Museums Manager.

The Museums Manager presented the Royal Albert Memorial Museum’s (RAMM’s) Business Plan 2018-22, for endorsement by Members, which had been prepared as part of their successful application to Arts Council England (ACE) in their bid to recognised as a National Portfolio Organisation (NPO).  This was part of a national funding programme which runs from April 2018 until March 2022 and details of the timetable were presented.  It was acknowledged that securing external funding through other grant making bodies was of growing importance to the future operation of the Museum.

Place Scrutiny Committee endorsed the RAMM’s Business Plan and requested Executive approval of the following:-

 (1)       final submission to the Arts Council England to support RAMM’s case for investment;

(2)        authorise the Portfolio Holder, Economy & Culture agree any adjustments to the Business Plan that do not affect its overall priorities or direction of travel;

(3)        authorise the Director, and Museums Manager in consultation with the Portfolio Holder, Economy & Culture to submit applications for grant funding less than £100,000 in value, where there was no requirement for match funding; and

(4)       authorise the Museums Manager in consultation with the Portfolio Holder, Economy & Culture to submit applications for grant funding less than £50,000 in value, where there was no requirement for match funding.

(Grant applications above £100,000 would continue to come to Place Scrutiny Committee or one specially convened for approval).