Agenda item

JOINT COMMITTEE FOR THE NORTH OF ENGLAND

OPEN-AIR MUSEUM

At a Meeting of the Joint Committee for the North of England Open-Air Museum held in the Collections Study Room, Regional Resource Centre, Beamish Museum on Friday 11 January 2013 at 10.00 a.m.

PRESENT:

Members of the Joint Committee

Councillors Bailey, C Carr, Naylor, Shuttleworth and Thomson (Durham County Council), Goldsworthy, Green and Wallace (Gateshead MBC), Mortimer (North Tyneside MBC), Maxwell (South Tyneside MBC) and R Bell, Fletcher, Kelly and Trueman (Sunderland City Council)

Co-opted Members (Non-Voting)

Friends – Mr A Ashburner

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Farry, Iveson, C Marshall, Todd, Wilkinson and Wright (Durham County Council), Walker (Sunderland City Council) and Mr Dix (Friends)

The Chairman and Joint Committee members congratulated Councillor Green, Gateshead MBC, for receiving an MBE for her services to local government.

1                  Minutes of the Meeting held on 23 November 2012

The minutes of the meeting held on 23 November 2012 were confirmed as a correct record and signed by the Chairman.

2      Museum Update

The Joint Committee received a report from the Museum Director that gave an update on Museum business (for copy see file of Minutes).

Performance - the Museum continued to perform well with almost 34,000 visitors in December, giving a total of just over 485,000.  With a month to go until the financial year end this was a fantastic achievement.  The income generated was similar to last years figures with catering doing well across the whole site, especially the fish and chip shop.  Retail had improved with the success of the market stalls over the Christmas period.

Regional Advisory Panel - meeting held early December with attendees from throughout the region.  Next meeting would be held in January and feedback would be given to the Joint Committee at its March meeting.

Arts Council England – bid submitted in December for the Creative People and Places fund with the outcome expected in Match 2013.  The Museum continues to work well with partners at Bowes Museum and a presentation would be made at the next meeting.

Resolved:-

That the report be noted.

3      Exclusion of the Public

Resolved:-

That under Section 100 A(4) of the Local Government Act 1972, the public be excluded from the meeting for the following items of business on the grounds that they involve the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in paragraph 3 of Schedule 12A to the said Act.

4      Capital Programme – Project Report No. 12

The Joint Committee received a report from the Museum Director that

provided an update on the variations and funding for Capital Projects

(for copy see file of Minutes).

Resolved:-

That the recommendations within the report be approved.

5      Draft Future Plan 2013-2025

The Museum Director presented the Draft Future Plan for 2013-2025 (for copy see file of Minutes).  The Joint Committee discussed the key sections of the plan in detail and were informed that an Executive Summary would be produced shortly.

6                  Any Other Business

The Chairman agreed that the following item of business was of sufficient urgency to warrant consideration:-

Update of Joint HSE/ Police Investigation

The Museum Director informed the Joint Committee that the Police investigation was now complete however the Health and Safety Executive was ongoing.