Council gives green light to Museum bid

From the minutes of the CCC Executive, 3rd July 2014

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TO CONSIDER the report of the Head of Commissioning

Expressions of Interest (EOI) to manage Herne Bay and Whitstable Museums. PDF 78 KB

Additional documents:

• Expression of Interest form Herne Bay , item 31. PDF 145 KB
• Friends of Herne Bay Museum Constitution , item 31. PDF 74 KB
• Expression of Interest Whitstable Museum , item 31. PDF 166 KB
• Whitstable Chamber of Commerce Constitution , item 31. PDF 86 KB

 Minutes:

(At the commencement of the meeting -

Councillor A Cook declared a personal interest in the item because of his position as a member of the Friends of Herne Bay Museum;

Councillor Law declared a personal interest in the item because of her position as a life member of the Friends of Herne Bay Museum).

 The portfolio holder introduced the report of the Head of Commissioning which provided details of two Expressions of Interest made under the Community Right to Challenge to manage the council’s coastal museums. The first Expression of Interest was from the Friends of Herne Bay Museum and is to manage Herne Bay Museum. The second Expression of Interest was from Whitstable District Chamber of Commerce and is to manage Whitstable Museum.

The statutory guidance permitted three options:

1.    accept the EOI which then triggers a procurement process;

2.    reject the EOI;

3.    if the Council believes it would otherwise reject an EOI, it may seek instead to agree to it being modified.

 The process was being supported by the Arts Council in England which had provided funding support.

RESOLVED -

a)    That the Council accept the Expression of Interest made under the Community Right to Challenge for Herne Bay Museum.

b)    That the Council accept the Expression of Interest made under the Community Right to Challenge for Whitstable Museum.

Reasons for the decisions

1. Both Expressions of Interest substantially meet all the criteria set down in the Government’s Guidance around the Community Right to Challenge as reflected in the Council’s EOI form.
2. Both organisations have the financial resources to operate the museums; there are proper governance arrangements in place; they have a viable plan to manage and improve services; they have consulted with local community groups and residents and many of their ideas reflect this feedback; and they have demonstrated (prior to any formal procurement exercise) they can run the museums on value for money principles.

CCC Executive 3rd July 2014