Issue - meetings

Report of Strategic Director Environment and Community

Summary

To consider an initial report by the Banbury Museum Trust Project Board into the feasibility and options for the creation of a charitable organisation to deliver museum and visitor information services from 2013/14. The creation of such a Trust would ensure the continued delivery of services alongside savings to the Council. 

Recommendations

The Executive is recommended:

(1)               To approve the creation of a charitable organisation to deliver museum and visitor information services at Banbury Museum, subject to the agreement of the National Heritage Lottery Fund and Oxfordshire County Council;

(2)               In relation to the charitable vehicle used for the creation of the trust,

a.      To endorse the use of a Charitable Incorporated Organisation as the preferred vehicle, adopting the ‘Foundation’ model constitution, with objects suited to the establishment and maintenance of a museum and the advancement of local arts, culture and heritage; and

b.      To endorse the use of a Company Limited by Guarantee (having charitable status and pursuing identical aims) as an appropriate alternative legal structure for the trust in the event that the preferred vehicle in Recommendation no. 2(a) is not available.

(3)               To approve the working name of the Trust as ‘Banbury Museum Trust’, with the final decision on naming to be taken by the Trust itself.

(4)               To approve the establishment of a Board of Trustees comprising at least 5 members and including a Council member (to be nominated by the Executive for this purpose), with the number of Council members rising to two should the size of the Board increase to 10 or larger.

(5)               In relation to the appointment of such Trustees,

a.      To permit the Project Board to interview suitable candidates for Shadow Chairman, any such appointment to be confirmed by the Executive;

b.      To permit the Shadow Chairman, in consultation with the Project Board, to select, via advertisement or other effective process, suitable candidates for membership of the Shadow Board (in addition to those Council members nominated to the Board pursuant to Recommendation no. 4 above); and

c.      To authorise the relevant Head of Service to invite the Shadow Chairman and (non-Council) members of the Shadow Board to undertake those roles permanently upon establishment of the Trust.

(6)               To approve retention by the Council of the freehold of the Museum building and Bridge Gallery, granting, instead, a lease of it to the Trust for a minimum period of 30 years, and to authorise the appropriate Head of Service, in consultation with the Lead Member for the Environment to negotiate suitable terms for such a lease with the Trust on this basis.

(7)               In relation to other arrangements for the letting of the premises in addition to the lease of the Museum and Bridge Gallery referred to in Recommendation no. 6,

a.      To sub-let to the Trust the Visitor Information Centre/LinkPoint (including Tooley’s Boatyard) (subject to the consent of the Council’s head landlords, Scottish Widows and British Waterways) for a like period of  ...  view the full agenda text for item 54

Recommendations approved

The Strategic Director Environment and Community submitted a report which sought consideration of an initial report by the Banbury Museum Trust Project Board into the feasibility and options for the creation of a charitable organisation to deliver museum and visitor information services from 2013/14. The creation of such a Trust would ensure the continued delivery of services alongside savings to the Council.

Resolved

(1)               That the creation of a charitable organisation to deliver museum and visitor information services at Banbury Museum, subject to the agreement of the National Heritage Lottery Fund and Oxfordshire County Council.

(2)               That in relation to the charitable vehicle used for the creation of the trust,

a.      the use of a Charitable Incorporated Organisation as the preferred vehicle, adopting the ‘Foundation’ model constitution, with objects suited to the establishment and maintenance of a museum and the advancement of local arts, culture and heritage be endorsed; and

b.      the use of a Company Limited by Guarantee (having charitable status and pursuing identical aims) as an appropriate alternative legal structure for the trust in the event that the preferred vehicle in Recommendation no. 2(a) is not available be endorsed.

(3)               That the working name of the Trust as ‘Banbury Museum Trust’, with the final decision on naming to be taken by the Trust itself be approved.

(4)               That the establishment of a Board of Trustees comprising at least 5 members and including a Council member (to be nominated by the Executive for this purpose), with the number of Council members rising to two should the size of the Board increase to 10 or larger be approved.

(5)               In relation to the appointment of such Trustees,

a.      That the Project Board be permitted to interview suitable candidates for Shadow Chairman, any such appointment to be confirmed by the Executive;

b.      That Shadow Chairman be permitted, in consultation with the Project Board, to select, via advertisement or other effective process, suitable candidates for membership of the Shadow Board (in addition to those Council members nominated to the Board pursuant to Recommendation no. 4 above); and

c.      That the relevant Head of Service be authorised to invite the Shadow Chairman and (non-Council) members of the Shadow Board to undertake those roles permanently upon establishment of the Trust.

(6)               That retention by the Council of the freehold of the Museum building and Bridge Gallery be approved, granting, instead, a lease of it to the Trust for a minimum period of 30 years, and to authorise the appropriate Head of Service, in consultation with the Lead Member for the Environment to negotiate suitable terms for such a lease with the Trust on this basis.

(7)               That in relation to other arrangements for the letting of the premises in addition to the lease of the Museum and Bridge Gallery referred to in Recommendation no. 6 the following be agreed:

a.      To sub-let to the Trust the Visitor Information Centre/LinkPoint (including Tooley’s Boatyard) (subject to the consent of the Council’s head landlords, Scottish Widows  ...  view the full minutes text for item 54