Councillors in Norfolk have rejected plans to switch Norfolk Museums & Archaeology Service to trust status.
Creating a charitable trust to manage the service’s 10 museums and heritage sites was proposed by consultants from legal firm Winckworth Sherwood, acting on behalf of the Conservative-controlled Norfolk County Council.
But last month, members of the Norfolk Joint Museums and Archaeology Committee voted unanimously against a change of governance.
Councillor James Carswell, who is responsible for cultural services, said: “Members expressed considerable satisfaction with the way the service was run. It was felt, therefore, that a change was not desirable. Nor did the consultants adequately make the case for change.”
He added that members of the committee were “keen for managers to explore the potential of extending current commercial activities and exploring appropriate new avenues of income generation”.
Norfolk Museums and Archaeology Service needs to save £650,000 over four years. According to the consultant’s report, various initiatives, including tax efficiencies, would have helped save at least £160,000 annually.
“Our report recommended the trust approach because there were a number of significant advantages,” said Simon Randall of Winckworth Sherwood.
“It would have given access to funding not available to local authorities, exemption from mandatory business rates relief and provided enormous fiscal advantages that are available to charities.”
Click here for this month's news analysis on trust status
Creating a charitable trust to manage the service’s 10 museums and heritage sites was proposed by consultants from legal firm Winckworth Sherwood, acting on behalf of the Conservative-controlled Norfolk County Council.
But last month, members of the Norfolk Joint Museums and Archaeology Committee voted unanimously against a change of governance.
Councillor James Carswell, who is responsible for cultural services, said: “Members expressed considerable satisfaction with the way the service was run. It was felt, therefore, that a change was not desirable. Nor did the consultants adequately make the case for change.”
He added that members of the committee were “keen for managers to explore the potential of extending current commercial activities and exploring appropriate new avenues of income generation”.
Norfolk Museums and Archaeology Service needs to save £650,000 over four years. According to the consultant’s report, various initiatives, including tax efficiencies, would have helped save at least £160,000 annually.
“Our report recommended the trust approach because there were a number of significant advantages,” said Simon Randall of Winckworth Sherwood.
“It would have given access to funding not available to local authorities, exemption from mandatory business rates relief and provided enormous fiscal advantages that are available to charities.”
Click here for this month's news analysis on trust status