The Highland Council is consulting the public on a proposal to close its museums and art gallery and reduce its support for community museums in a bid to save £59m over the next three years.
A council document, entitled Budget Consultation Spring 2010: Further Savings Ideas, reads: “We are seeking your views on whether we should retain only Inverness Museum & Art Gallery, only the Highland Folk Museum, or only our support for the independent sector.”
A spokeswoman for the Highland Council, which is run by a coalition, said: “The savings proposals are for consultation only at this stage. If implemented, the saving on museum expenditure would not be actioned until the next financial year, 2011-12.
“The council spent £1.17m on museums in 2009-10 and the expenditure figure in 2010-11 will be the same, with a small additional increase for staff costs at Highland Council-owned and Highland Council-run museums.
“If council-owned museums were to close, collections would be cared for in secure storage in the Highlands. There are
no proposals for disposals.”
John Finnie, a Scottish National Party councillor, described the consultation as an abdication of responsibility by the council administration.
“Given the fact that museums hold unique artefacts, it is inappropriate that they be anything other than professionally looked after,” he added. “We clearly need to seek a rethink of this ridiculous proposal.”
Liberal Democrat councillor Gregor Rimell said every option was being explored, including the possibility of a move to trust status for the council’s cultural assets.
A council document, entitled Budget Consultation Spring 2010: Further Savings Ideas, reads: “We are seeking your views on whether we should retain only Inverness Museum & Art Gallery, only the Highland Folk Museum, or only our support for the independent sector.”
A spokeswoman for the Highland Council, which is run by a coalition, said: “The savings proposals are for consultation only at this stage. If implemented, the saving on museum expenditure would not be actioned until the next financial year, 2011-12.
“The council spent £1.17m on museums in 2009-10 and the expenditure figure in 2010-11 will be the same, with a small additional increase for staff costs at Highland Council-owned and Highland Council-run museums.
“If council-owned museums were to close, collections would be cared for in secure storage in the Highlands. There are
no proposals for disposals.”
John Finnie, a Scottish National Party councillor, described the consultation as an abdication of responsibility by the council administration.
“Given the fact that museums hold unique artefacts, it is inappropriate that they be anything other than professionally looked after,” he added. “We clearly need to seek a rethink of this ridiculous proposal.”
Liberal Democrat councillor Gregor Rimell said every option was being explored, including the possibility of a move to trust status for the council’s cultural assets.
