Maidstone Council is to set up a business team to cut the cost of running its culture and leisure services and to develop new ways for its museums to generate income.
In a meeting last month, members of the council’s cabinet agreed to cut the cost of cultural and leisure services through a number of initiatives, including the establishment of Maidstone Culture and Leisure business team.
It has also launched a consultation into a staffing restructure, which ends on 9 August.
The proposal to bring the council’s culture and leisure facilities under one department for commercial and economic development was first made in February.
Since then, the council has appointed theatre and gym management organisation Parkwood Leisure to run Hazlitt Arts Centre – a move estimated to save £3.2m over the next 15 years.
But a spokeswoman for the council told Museums Journal that it wasn’t looking to outsource the management of its three museums, Maidstone Museum and Bentlif Art Gallery, the Tyrwhitt Drake Museum of Carriages and the Queen's Own Royal West Kent Regimental Museum.
“We’re looking at ways to get the culture and leisure services that we run to generate income, reducing the cost to us and the taxpayer,” she said.
The new business team will adapt the current museum business plan and seek new ways to use venues to generate income. Other proposals include a leisure card to offer discounts and promotions to residents and visitors and the development of an adventure zone, cafe and retail outlet in a local park.
These initiatives are expected to “generate significant income” for the council, according to the minutes of the June meeting.
In a meeting last month, members of the council’s cabinet agreed to cut the cost of cultural and leisure services through a number of initiatives, including the establishment of Maidstone Culture and Leisure business team.
It has also launched a consultation into a staffing restructure, which ends on 9 August.
The proposal to bring the council’s culture and leisure facilities under one department for commercial and economic development was first made in February.
Since then, the council has appointed theatre and gym management organisation Parkwood Leisure to run Hazlitt Arts Centre – a move estimated to save £3.2m over the next 15 years.
But a spokeswoman for the council told Museums Journal that it wasn’t looking to outsource the management of its three museums, Maidstone Museum and Bentlif Art Gallery, the Tyrwhitt Drake Museum of Carriages and the Queen's Own Royal West Kent Regimental Museum.
“We’re looking at ways to get the culture and leisure services that we run to generate income, reducing the cost to us and the taxpayer,” she said.
The new business team will adapt the current museum business plan and seek new ways to use venues to generate income. Other proposals include a leisure card to offer discounts and promotions to residents and visitors and the development of an adventure zone, cafe and retail outlet in a local park.
These initiatives are expected to “generate significant income” for the council, according to the minutes of the June meeting.
