The Head of Community Services submitted a report to the City Executive Board on 21 November to update members on the Museum of Oxford Hidden Histories Redevelopment Project and to request approval of the revised project budget.

The report is attached to this agenda: the appendices are available with the City Executive Board agenda.

The City Executive Board decisions will be reported in the minutes of that meeting.

Councillor Sinclair, Board Member for Culture and Communities will move the recommendations.

Recommendation: Subject to the decision on 21 November, the City Executive Board recommends Council to

1.    increase the project’s overall capital budget by £611,754 to £2,842,804 and the Councils capital contribution from £315,000 to £1,340,106 to be financed by prudential borrowing in accordance with paragraphs 22 and 25 of the report; and

2.    note the increase in the Councils revenue budget in respect of the additional cost of operating the new museum of £30k per annum with effect from 2020/21 which will be raised during the forthcoming budget setting process (paragraph 28 of the report).

Council considered a report from the Head of Community Services seeking approval of the revised project budget for the Museum of Oxford Hidden Histories Redevelopment Project.

Councillor Sinclair, Board Member for Culture and Communities, presented the report and moved the recommendations.

Council resolved to:

1.    increase the project’s overall capital budget by £611,754 to £2,842,804 and the Councils capital contribution from £315,000 to £1,340,106 to be financed by prudential borrowing in accordance with paragraphs 22 and 25 of the report; and

2.    note the increase in the Councils revenue budget in respect of the additional cost of operating the new museum of £30k per annum with effect from 2020/21 which will be raised during the forthcoming budget setting process (paragraph 28 of the report).

The Head of Community Services has submitted a report which seeks the establishment of a development trust to support the redevelopment of the Museum of Oxford.

Recommendations: That the City Executive Board resolves to:

1.    Approve the establishment of a Development Trust as a vehicle to raise funds to support the redevelopment of the Museum of Oxford.

2.    Delegate authority to the Head of Community Services to commit up to £5,000 from existing resources in order to register the fund-raising vehicle with the Charity Commission.

3.    Delegate authority to the Head of Community Services to agree detailed arrangements relating to the Development Trust.

4.    Delegate authority to the Head of Community Services to explore the future establishment of a full Charitable Trust to manage the long-term development of the Museum of Oxford.

5.    Instruct the Head of Community Services to report back to City Executive Board at a future date on progress in relation to the establishment of a full Charitable Trust. The report should include the Trust remit, revised charitable aims (objects), and a draft business plan outlining proposals for staffing, financial management and other aspects of the Trust’s future development. 

The Head of Community Services submitted a report which sought to establish of a development trust to support the redevelopment of the Museum of Oxford.

Cllr Price, Board member for Corporate Strategy and Economic Development presented the report. He explained that the museum had secured a Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) grant and had pledged to raise £300,000 from other sources.  The second round of funding from HLF is dependent on the museum having secured funding for 80% of its pledge.  Creating a development trust is one way the museum can raise this money through donations. This trust will have board members on the board.

Officers are also going to explore creating a charity trust to run the museum. A report will go to CEB later in the year outlining the development trust’s fundraising progress and whether a charity trust is a suitable model for the museum.

The City Executive Board resolved to:

1.    Approve the establishment of a Development Trust as a vehicle to raise funds to support the redevelopment of the Museum of Oxford.

2.    Delegate authority to the Head of Community Services to commit up to £5,000 from existing resources in order to register the fund-raising vehicle with the Charity Commission.

3.    Delegate authority to the Head of Community Services to agree detailed arrangements relating to the Development Trust.

4.    Delegate authority to the Head of Community Services to explore the future establishment of a full Charitable Trust to manage the long-term development of the Museum of Oxford.

5.    Instruct the Head of Community Services to report back to City Executive Board at a future date on progress in relation to the establishment of a full Charitable Trust. The report should include the Trust remit, revised charitable aims (objects), and a draft business plan outlining proposals for staffing, financial management and other aspects of the Trust’s future development.