The petition organiser may address Council upon the petition for up to 5 minutes at the start of this item.

Council is asked to consider a petition meeting the criteria for debate under the Council’s petitions scheme.

The full text of the petition is contained in the accompanying report.

If a member wishes to propose a substantive motion/recommendation on the petition they must let the Director of Law, Governance and Strategy have that motion or recommendation by 5pm on Tuesday, 17 March 2026 (three working days before the Council meeting). These are then published in the Council briefing note. Any amendments to these must be submitted by 11am on the day of the meeting (Monday 23 March 2026).

If no substantive motion is agreed, Council is asked to note the petition.

Council resolved to:

1.    Note the contents of the report

2.    Hear the address by the petition organiser

3.    Debate the proposal contained within the petition and any relevant motion or recommend

4.    Recommended to Cabinet that further opportunities to provide free access to the Museum to local people be explored

Council had received one petition. 

Council heard one address and the Leader of the Council response.  

The full text of the petition, the address, and the response are enclosed within the minutes pack.  

Councillor Brown introduced the report and outlined an amendment to the fourth recommendation set out in the report. Council understand the report now sought agreement to recommend to Cabinet that further opportunities to provide free access to the Museum to local people be explored. 

The Lord Mayor reminded Council that 15 minutes were available for debate. 

Councillor Muddiman noted her personal commitment to securing a sign from the Botley Road bridge for display at the museum. She expressed her hope that residents will be able to visit the exhibition for free and emphasised her belief that free entry to national museums should be ensured, as initially introduced by the Government in 2001. The impacts of the cost-of-living crisis on people’s ability to access cultural activities was noted and the importance of the walk-in principle was emphasised. Councillor Muddiman informed Council that in December 2025, the Hodge review of the Arts Council England recommended that charging should only be enforced for international tourists when visiting museums; it should remain free for all UK residents.  

Councillor Smowton noted his support for keeping entry to the museum free and expressed the view that the cost of ensuring this would be marginal to the Council. Councillor Smowton emphasised the need to ensure a fair balance between free access to cultural assets for residents and supporting a healthy council budget.  

Councillor Malik noted his concern in relation to contradictory figures presented in previous discussions and asked what action is being taken to correct this.  

Councillor Turner noted his ideal preference that the Museum would remain free, however emphasised the need for the Council to make considered financial choices whilst protecting and promoting cultural and historical assets. Council Turner suggested that the appropriate channel for changing the museum free would have been the Budget Council meeting.  

Councillor Hunt supported Councillor Muddiman’s suggestion that the walk-in principle should be supported and suggested that additional effort is made to signpost tourists and the public to the museum and to emphasise Oxford’s cultural quarter. Furthermore, Councillor Hunt suggested that separate free and paid exhibitions be created to support access for all and to retain an income stream for the museum.  

Councillor Miles suggested that some of the paintings held in the Town Hall that do not support or align with the Council’s values be sold in order to fund the preservation of other aspects of the city's history that do align with the council’s values, such as the museum. 

Councillor Taylor disagreed with Councillor Miles’ suggestion, suggesting it did not support a long-term viable solution.  

Councillor Miles explained that reinvestment of these assets could support income and shares could generate a better financial return to support the Council’s service delivery costs.  

Councillor Yeatman noted concern that charging for museum entry could reduce attendance rates which would  ...  view the full minutes text for item 132