Minutes of a Meeting of The
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AGENDA NOTE: In the case of non-members, this agenda is for information only Committee - BRECKLAND AREA MUSEUMS COMMITTEE Date & Time - TUESDAY 14 SEPTEMBER 2004 at 2.00 PM Venue - THE BRITISH TRUST FOR ORNITHOLOGY, NUNS BRIDGES ROAD, THETFORD PERSONS ATTENDING THE MEETING ARE REQUESTED TO TURN OFF MOBILE TELEPHONES Committee Members Breckland Council Norfolk County Council Mr Duigan (Chairman) Mr C W Armes Mr P R W Darby Mr R Clayton (Vice- Mr R G Kybird Chairman) Mr J E Ramm Mr C B A Lloyd Owen Mrs P A Spencer Mrs B M Ravencroft Mr P Jimenez Co-optees Ex-Officio Members Mr R S Key Colonel H MacKinlay Mr S Murphy Mr B Morgan Vacancy Miss R Prior Substitutes Vacancy Mrs S M Matthews Mrs T I Paines Committee Services Elizabeth House, Walpole Loke, Dereham. NR19 1EE. 24 August 2004 Please ask for Julie Britton (01362) 656343 Email: [email protected] Breckland Area Museums Committee 14 September 2004 Page(s) herewith 1. MINUTES To confirm the minutes of the meeting held on 7 May 2004. 1 - 5 2. APOLOGIES To receive apologies for absence. 3. CHAIRMAN’S ANNOUNCEMENTS 4. URGENT BUSINESS To note whether the Chairman proposes to accept any item as urgent business, pursuant to Section 100(B)(4)(b) of the Local Government Act, 1972. 5. DECLARATION OF INTEREST Members are asked at this stage to declare any interests which they may have in any of the following items on the agenda. 6. EXCAVATIONS AND SURVEYS IN BRECKLAND IN 2003 Report of the Principal Landscape Archaeologist. 6 - 9 7. ARCHAEOLOGICAL FINDS IN BRECKLAND IN 2003 Report of the Principal Landscape Archaeologist. 10 - 11 8. THE ANCIENT HOUSE MUSEUM, THETFORD – DEVELOPMENT PROJECT UPDATE Report of the Head of Museums. 12 - 14 9. THE ANCIENT HOUSE MUSEUM, THETFORD – DEVELOPMENT PROJECT UPDATE - ACTIVITIES Report of the Head of Museums. 15 10. ANY OTHER BUSINESS 11. DATE OF NEXT MEETING To agree a date for the next meeting and to consider suggestions for future venues and places of interest. 2A00ba mc20040914 MINUTES OF A MEETING OF THE BRECKLAND AREA MUSEUMS COMMITTEE HELD ON FRIDAY 7 MAY 2004 AT 2.00 P.M. AT THE TOWN HALL SWAFFHAM TOWN COUNCIL SWAFFHAM PRESENT: BRECKLAND COUNCIL NORFOLK COUNTY COUNCIL Duigan Mr P J (Chairman) Mr P Jimenez Darby Mr P R W Kybird Mr R G Spencer Mrs P A ALSO PRESENT: Prior Miss R Museums in Norfolk Group IN ATTENDANCE: Bone Mr O Curator, Ancient House Museum Britton Mrs J Committee Officer Gillis Mr S Breckland Area Museums Officer Bennett Ms J Museums & Heritage Project Officer (Thetford) Action By 09/04 QUORUM The Chairman informed members that, under the terms of the constitution, the meeting was, once again, inquorate as only one County Council member was present. The Committee noted that, whilst the meeting would proceed, in the circumstances no formal decisions could be made. 10/04 MINUTES (AGENDA ITEM 1) The minutes of the meeting held on 9 January 2004 were agreed as a correct record. The Chairman drew members’ attention to the fact that the Minutes of the Area Museums Committee were sent to the Joint Museums Committee for reference. 11/04 CHAIRMAN’S ANNOUNCEMENTS (AGENDA ITEM 2) The Chairman welcomed Mr P Jimenez and Mrs P Spencer as new members of the Committee. He also welcomed Julie Britton as the new Committee Officer and expressed his thanks to Kate Finch for her contribution of minuting past meetings. 1 Breckland Area Museums Committee 14 September 2004 12/04 APOLOGIES (AGENDA ITEM 3) Apologies for absence were received from Mr J Ramm, Mr C W Armes, Mr R Clayton and Mr C B A Lloyd Owen. 13/04 DECLARATION OF INTEREST (AGENDA ITEM 5) 1) Mr P Darby declared a Personal Interest in agenda item 8 (Swaffham Museum). The nature of the interest related to him being a Director of Swaffham Museum. 2) Mr R Kybird declared a Personal and Prejudicial Interest in agenda item 8 (Charles Burrell Museum). The nature of the interest related to him having a financial interest in the building. 14/04 THE ANCIENT HOUSE MUSEUM – THETFORD (AGENDA ITEM 6) After introducing Jane Bennett as the new Project Manager for the Ancient House Museum, Mr Bone the Curator drew members attention to two issues that had occurred since the last meeting: 1) Ancient House – ‘The Duleep Singhs’ Book Launch. On 19 April 2004, the Ancient House hosted the launch of Peter Bance’s new book ‘The Duleep Singhs’. The event had proved very successful with excellent press coverage. The Independent and Observer had taken a keen interest in doing a book review. A copy of the book was circulated to members to view. 2) The Website The website had been updated and training for certain staff members had been completed. The Chairman suggested that it would be a good idea for the Ancient House Museum to produce a leaflet giving advice on how to search the Oliver Bone website. Some suggestions, for inclusion on the new website, were updates on archaeological sites and having links to the Oxford Coin Registry. The Project Manager then presented the report that provided an update of developments at the museum for the period January 2004 to April 2004. Members were advised that the final piece of match funding had been secured for the AHM project and spending had started in January. A digital camera and two new PCs had been purchased in order for the curator and new staff to work on the collections more effectively. Ms Bennett advised members that, from September 2004, the building work to the Ancient House Museum would commence and the search for alternative accommodation to store the collections was still being investigated. Ms Bennett stressed that it was a very difficult task trying to estimate the volume of the collections for storage. Members were 2 Breckland Area Museums Committee 14 September 2004 informed that as well as working with Norfolk Property Services, a company who look after such matters for Norfolk County Council, Breckland Council and Thetford Town Council were also currently assisting the AHM to search for an appropriate temporary site. In answer to a question Ms Bennett informed members that the museum would be closed for around a year, closing at the end of the summer season in Autumn 2004 and re-opening in the Spring of 2006. A member suggested asking the CCTV station to monitor the area more closely during this period to prevent possible arson and vandalism. Mr Bone agreed and said that he would look into this. Oliver Bone The report was otherwise noted. 15/04 CAPITAL DEVELOPMENT AT THE NORFOLK RURAL LIFE MUSEUM (AGENDA ITEM 7) The Area Museums Officer presented his report, which updated members on the successful application for funding to further develop the Norfolk Rural Life Museum. As part of the Norfolk Museums and Heritage Attractions Package, Norfolk Rural Life Museum had secured £1.035 million for development work. Part of the funding would be used to open up the workhouse outdoor working yard and laundry block. Mr Gillis informed members that the museum needed to move away from closed collection storage and now with funding in place would enable the museum to purchase more display cabinets and eventually eliminate this. As the funding had to be spent over a three-year period, Mr Gillis would Stuart Gillis/Julie bring a marketing plan to the next meeting. Britton A member highlighted the lack of transportation for tourists etc to Gressenhall and asked whether anything was being considered to remedy this. Mr Gillis informed members that The North Norfolk Railway were considering extending the track to Hoe although this would still leave the problem of transportation from Hoe to the museum. Suggestions were made to have a mini bus link or even a horse drawn carriage to carry passengers to and fro. On a lighter note, Mr Gillis informed members that a new Suffolk Punch had been purchased to replace Zebedee, who had unfortunately passed away in 2003. Queenie, the mare, was in her element with the arrival of her new friend George. The report was otherwise noted. 3 Breckland Area Museums Committee 14 September 2004 16/04 INDEPENDENT MUSEUMS (AGENDA ITEM 8) The Area Museums Officer presented his report, which informed members of the Objective 2 funding at Breckland independent museums. Oliver Bone praised Stuart Gillis, Jane Bennett and Mark Stanton the European Programme Manager for Breckland Council, for their hard work in securing the funding package, which included support for the three following organisations: 1) Charles Burrell Museum, Thetford 2) Swaffham Museum 3) British Trust for Ornithology, Thetford The funding would be spent between January 2004 and March 2007. 17/04 BRITISH TRUST FOR ORNITHOLOGY (AGENDA ITEM 8) Following a suggestion from a member about having a co-optee included on the Committee from the British Trust for Ornithology, the Chairman thought it would be a good idea as the Committee was currently one Committee Officer member short. It was agreed that the Committee Officer would make enquiries as to whether this would be possible. 18/04 CHARLES BURRELL MUSEUM DEVELOPMENT PROJECT (AGENDA ITEM 8) The Project Manager updated members on the development project. She advised the Committee that a Project Officer, Abi Hunt, had been appointed and suggested inviting her to the next meeting of the Area Museums Committee. In answer to a question regarding opening hours, Ms Bennett informed the Committee that the museum currently had very limited opening hours, opening to the public on Bank Holidays, Sundays and Tuesday mornings only.