REPORT TO: POLICY AND RESOURCES COMMITTEE ON 6th DECEMBER 2011

SUBJECT: HIGHLANDERS MUSEUM

BY: CORPORATE DIRECTOR (ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES)

1. REASON FOR REPORT

1.1 This report recommends Members to contribute to the Highlanders Museum Redevelopment Project to upgrade the Museum to modern standards.

1.2 This report is submitted to Committee in terms of Section G (1) of the Council's Administrative Scheme relating to the consideration of Capital and Revenue budgets and long-term financial plans.

2. RECOMMENDATION

i) It is recommended that the Committee agrees to consider making a financial contribution to the Highlanders Museum Redevelopment Project.

3. BACKGROUND

3.1 The Highlanders Museum located at Fort George east of Inverness and tells the story of the Highland Regiments from the Battle of Culloden to the present day. The Museum is home to 20,000 artefacts, the largest collection of military artefacts outside of London. These artefacts have come from the Highland Regiments as well as Allied Regiments in Canada, Australia and New Zealand. The Museum engages a wide audience. Annually it receives a total of 65,000 visitors from the UK and Worldwide. The Museum also hosts educational trips for local schools of primary and secondary age. The Museum works closely with the local community and recently hosted a military history conference in conjunction with the University of the Highlands and Islands.

3.2 The Museum is currently undertaking a redevelopment project to upgrade to modern standards. A £3.2million overall project for which £2.5million has been raised. The displays will be re-interpreted to provide a clear idea of why the Regiments existed, what they did and their connection and importance to the clans and communities of the Highlands and Islands and . In addition new building services will be installed to ensure this nationally important collection that is housed here will be cared for in the best conservation conditions possible. The Museum will also remedy the current accessibility issues by including new mobility systems including a stair lift and stair climber. The inadequate education provision will be addressed by the creation of a dedicated, state of the art education space.

3.3 In the summer of 2012 the transition from the RAF to the Army at will be underway with the arrival of the 39 Engineer Regiment (Air Support) from , Cambridgeshire. Welcoming and engaging the Army is a valuable activity to aid successful transition the armed forces and their families to Moray. The Council and other public, private and voluntary sector organisations have been invited to enter a Community Covenant with the armed forces community, a voluntary statement of mutual support between a civilian community and its local armed forces community. The aim is to encourage local communities to support the armed forces community in their area and nurture understanding ITEM:

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and awareness amongst the public of issues affecting the armed forces community. The MOD manages a national grant programme that supports projects and initiatives that will develop this relationship. A prerequisite of funding from the programme is the making of a Community Covenant. A report on this opportunity will be made to the Council in the New Year.

4. PROPOSALS

4.1 It is proposed to make a contribution to the Highlanders Museum Redevelopment Project as a token of friendship to the incoming armed forces and their families to acknowledge the rich history and association of Moray with the army and to mark the beginning of this new chapter.

4.2 The contribution would be used to support displays or artefacts within the museum about the role of Moray in the Highlanders Regiment. The contribution would also activate the association of the Museum with Moray Schools and provide links to tourist facilities in Moray. Options for a contribution – outline the options and the costs.

4.3 Options for a contribution are:

Name a room (£10k- 100k) A room or part of a building named after the contributor, recognised by a brass plaque. For instance “This room is sponsored by” or any other message as agreed with the museum

Name a case £500-£2500: 55 new display cases will be installed. In exchange for a donation the name or message of the contributor will be fixed on the display case

A donation £100+ name entered in a book of thanks on display at the museum

Adopt an artefact £250 An artefact of choice will be put on display

Name on the sponsors’ wall: every supporter giving £5,000 or more will have their name on display for posterity on a plaque in the Museum entrance hall.

5. IMPLICATIONS

5.1 The Libraries and Museums Manager has been consulted and raises the following concerns:

That while there should be economic benefits from the upgraded museum for the Highland Area, there is little evidence of benefits for the Moray economy There is little in the business plan and interpretation plan that suggests that the museum wants to link with Moray ITEM:

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The education plan identifies the introduction of a charging policy but the reality is that the museum has not been involved in any education programmes with the Moray Council since 2006 and that the council’s education services are of the view that any uptake by Moray schools in the future would be minimal. In respect of the interpretation plan there is no intention to tell the story by area. The approach is chronological and hence a distinct and distinctive Moray focus would appear to be unlikely. To sponsor a Moray Room or even to name a case would be unlikely to have any significant impact or influence on visitors as part of an overall visitor experience. This type of support would not appear to offer material benefits in developing Moray’s brand as a quality tourist destination area. There would be benefits if the Highlanders Museum directed visitors to Moray and in a reciprocal arrangement Moray’s attractions and providers directed visitors to the museum. This would appear to offer significant added benefits both for Moray and the Highlanders Museum without any financial commitment from the Council. The proposal to consider a financial contribution to a museum outwith Moray, albeit as a recognition of building good relations with the army, may well disappoint those heritage organisations, communities and tourism providers in Moray who urgently require investment to meet the priorities of the Economic Strategy, unless they likewise receive council funding.

5.2 The above points are all legitimate concerns which can be addressed by making any contribution to the project conditional upon entering an agreement between the Council and the museum which addresses these points and setting out exactly what the Council will get for its contribution. The Library and Museums Manager has agreed to help prepare this agreement.

5.3 The Scottish Government in collaboration with Highlands and Islands Enterprise is preparing an Economic Impact Assessment which will help to identify the gap between the value of RAF Kinloss to the local economy and the transition to Army use. Notwithstanding the preparation of this report the annual value to the local economy of the Army will be in tens of millions.

6. SUMMARY OF IMPLICATIONS

(a) Single Outcome Agreement/ Service Improvement Plan

Supporting the Museum would contribute to Outcome 11 – strong, resilient and supportive communities where people take responsibility for their own actions and how they affect others.

(b) Policy and Legal

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None.

(c) Financial implications

There is no budget provision for this expenditure and any amount approved will impact on the financial outturn for the year.

(d) Risk Implications

None.

(e) Staffing Implications

No staffing implications from this particular matter.

(f) Property

None.

(g) Equalities

None.

(h) Consultations

Margaret Wilson, Head of Financial Services and Alistair Farquhar the Head of Educational Services have been consulted and their comments incorporated into the report.

7. CONCLUSION

7.1 The Army is coming to Kinloss in the summer of 2012. Building good relations with the Army is sensible and advantageous to the people of Moray and the armed forces. A contribution to the Highlanders Museum will help to recognise the link between the past and the future of the armed forces in Moray.

Author of Report: Gordon Sutherland, Planning & Economic Development Manager Background Papers: The Highlanders Museum Project Brief Cover letter July 2011and Newsletter June 11th 2011 Ref: GS/BH