Agenda and minutes

To receive any apologies for absence.

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors D Buck, H Humphrey, A Tyler and J Ward.

The Committee is invited to confirm as a correct record the notes of the previous meeting.

The notes from the meeting held on 3 December 2018 were agreed as a correct record, subject to the following amendment:

Page 6: second set of bullet points – 3 be amended to read:

“The Friends of Hardwick Cemetery had been successful in obtaining a grant for a Baines Memorial.”

To consider any matters arising.

The Assistant Head of Museums advised that Christine Marsden, Kick the Dust Project Co-ordinator would attend the next meeting on 17 June 2019 to give an update on the project.

Please indicate if there are any interests which should be declared.  A declaration of interest should indicate the nature of the interest (if not already declared on the Register of Interests) and the agenda item to which it relates.  If a disclosable pecuniary interest is declared, the Member should withdraw from the room whilst the matter is discussed.

These declarations apply to all Members present, whether the Member is part of the meeting, attending to speak as a local Member on an item or simply observing the meeting from the public seating area.

Councillor Chenery declared an interest as a trustee of the Norfolk Records Office Charity.

To consider the King’s Lynn Museum Report.

The Assistant Head of Museums provided an update on the changes to the Heritage Lottery Fund now called the National Lottery Heritage Fund.  A copy of the document is attached to the minutes.

The Assistant Head of Museums and Curator, Lynn Museum presented the report which provided information on the King’s Lynn Museum activities for the period from November 2018 to January 2019.

The visitor numbers were tabled and discussed.  It was highlighted that the figures had increased in 2019, for the same period in 2018.  Officers reported that it was anticipated that the total number of visitors at year end would exceed the previous year.

The Assistant Head of Museums responded to questions and comments relating to:

·         Thomas and Henry Baines exhibition at the Lynn Museum in the summer of 2020 and potential to linking of sites within the town via a trail.

·         Green Pilgrimage interreg project.

·         2019 Journeys, People and Place Pilgrimage.

·         Current exhibition at the Lynn Museum – Animal ABC from Ammonite to Zebra.

·         Iron Age Snettisham Hoard.

·         Annual Easter pilgrimage from the Ouse to Walsngham.  It was noted that the pilgrimage would be filmed and used for the 2019 Journeys, People and Place Pilgrimage exhisition.

·         School holiday programmes and levels of attendance.

·         Seahenge souvenir publication was yet to be completed and once printed would be available to purchase in the museum shop in 2019.

The Chairman, Councillor Mrs Nockolds informed Members that a new light projection show was currently being displayed on the Custom House which had been researched and designed by the pupils who were home education and would be available to view for an additional week.  The Chairman, Councillor Mrs Nockolds thanked the staff at the Lynn Museum and Trues Yard as the group informed her that they very much appreciated the support they received from the staff of both museums.

The Chairman of the Friends of Lynn Museum provided an update, the details of which were set out at section 3 of the report.  The February Newsletter had been circulated to the Committee for information.

In response to questions regarding the legacy of £500, the Chairman of the Friends of Lynn Museum advised that the Friends wished to purchase a specific item which had to date not yet been identified by Lynn Museum.

The Chairman, Councillor Mrs Nockolds thanked the Assistant Head of Museums and the Curator for an interesting report.

Councillor Smith referred to an article in a railway magazine relating to the 1912 Hunstanton to King’s Lynn railway line.  Councillor Smith to email O Bone details.

Councillor Mrs Westrop made reference to The Richard III Society and the annual 3 day international conference being held at the Dukes Head in King’s Lynn on 4 to 6 April 2019 which would focus on King’s Lynn and Hanseatic Ports..  Dr Paul Richards was a speaker.  It was agreed that O Bone would contact R Williams to see if any contact had been made by the organiser.  Councillor Mrs Westrop to  ...  view the full minutes text for item 5.

To note the date of the next meeting is 17 June 2019, 2.15 pm, Council Chamber, Town Hall, King’s Lynn.

The next meeting of the King’s Lynn and West Norfolk Area Museums Committee would be held on Monday 17 June 2019 at 2.15 pm in Lynn Museum, Market Street, King’s Lynn.