Issue - meetings

Recommendations

i)               To progress termination of SMCCT’s Service Level Agreement and bring the museum and gallery service back into direct Council management within the Culture & Archives Service, as set out in Option One.

ii)              To delegate authority to agree the final terms of and the authority to enter into these agreements with SMCCT to the Corporate Director – Resources in consultation with the Corporate Director – Community and Development and the Assistant Chief Executive Legal and Democratic.

iii)             To approve a transition budget of £56k to support the delivery of a safe and legal transfer of services, funded from Corporate Reserves.

Considered a report of the Corporate Director of Community Development which outlined options for the future management of the collections and gallery/museums buildings currently managed by Scarborough Museum, Creative & Cultural Trust (SMCCT).

Before the Executive Member for Culture, Arts and Housing, Councillor Simon Myers presented the report, it was noted that correspondence in relation to the report had been received since publication of the agenda from the Rotunda Geology Group, the Principal of Scarborough Sixth Form College, and Dr Jane Mee. Councillor Myers advised that the report proposed that the Executive accepted the request by the Trustees of SMCCT for the council to progress termination of SMCCT’s Service Level Agreement and bring the museum and gallery service back into direct council management.  By virtue of his Executive portfolio, Councillor Myers commented that he represented North Yorkshire Council on the SMCCT Board of Trustees but had recused himself from involvement in the Board’s decision to make this formal request to the council.  He commended the dedication and talent of the Board who had done their best to deliver the museum and gallery service in Scarborough, and had thought very carefully about the future delivery of the service.

Two public statements were then presented to the Executive as follows:

Marie Woods, Chief Executive, Land of Iron Mining Museum

I am Marie Woods BA (Hons) MA, a heritage professional with over 15 years’ experience of working within the heritage sector. I have worked in local authority museums and national museums. I am the Director of Heritage Adventures Ltd, and am currently employed as CEO and Mine Manager at Land of Iron, an independent industrial museum in the North East.

I am here today in an independent capacity, but with the full disclosure of having been a Trustee of Scarborough Museum and Galleries.

I wish to express my reasoned opposition to the proposal of handing over the management and governance of Scarborough Museum and Galleries to North Yorkshire Council.

1. Financial and Operational Concerns

According to the charity’s only available financial statements, Scarborough Museum and Galleries had managed its resources responsibly, with clear accountability through the Charity Commission’s annual reports.

The 2022/23 Report and audited accounts for SMCCT, where I am a named Trustee, and the then Secretary, Andrew Clay, states:

 “Financial performance in the year was satisfactory, resulting in a deficit of £49,933 and total reserves at the year-end standing at £384,136.” (Page 6)

 In the 2022/23 SMCCT Report the Auditor states:

 “we have not identified any material uncertainties relating to events or conditions that, individually or collectively, may cast significant doubt on the charitable company's ability to continue as a going concern for a period of at least twelve months from when the financial statements are authorised for issue” (page 8)

In 2022/23 the SLA was £426,660 which is noted under Charitable Activities within the accounts. The SLA for 2023/24 was raised in a Board meeting and a figure of £490,000 was mentioned as the income for the next financial year. The  ...  view the full minutes text for item 649