Agenda and draft minutes

RESOLVED: Councillor Kemp was appointed Chair for the Municipal Year 2026 to 2027.

RESOLVED: County Councillor Colwell was appointed Vice Chair for the Municipal Year 2026 to 2027.

To receive any apologies for absence.

Apologies for absence were received from Borough Councillor Bubb, County Councillor Fry, Councillor Neale, Norfolk Joint Museums Committee and Lindsey Bavin, Manager of True’s Yard Museum.

To approve the minutes from the King’s Lynn and West Norfolk Area Museums Committee held on 16^th March 2026.

The Minutes of the previous Meeting held on 16^th March 2026 were agreed as a correct record.

To consider any matters arising.

The Committee observed a one-minute silence in honour of the late Michael Chenery of Horsbrugh, former Committee Member.

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.

There were no declarations of interest.

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The Operations Manager, Assistant Head of Museums, Curator of the Lynn Museum, and Learning and Engagement Officer presented the report on the King’s Lynn Museum activities in the period from March to August 2026. A copy of the report is attached in the Minutes.

The Committee’s attention was drawn to the following areas of the report:

1)     Exhibitions and events at Lynn Museum

1.1                    Current Exhibition: Secrets from the Store

1.2                    Previous exhibition: May The Toys Be With You

1.3                    Family Events

1.4                    Family Trails

1.5                    Mini Museum

1.6                    Coffee Mornings

The Chair, Councillor Kemp, referred to the family events and coffee mornings and asked how these events were publicised, including to schools. The Curator of the Lynn Museum advised they had a strong social media presence and marketing team. He added they worked closely with colleagues in the town centre and used targeted Meta adverts to publicise their events.

Councillor de Whalley asked whether the Norfolk Museum Service would consider a temporary exhibition to accompany the reopening of St George’s Guildhall in 2028. It was confirmed that the curatorial teams were working closely with the borough council on supporting the development of the Guildhall in order to maximise the impact of the reopening.

The Committee’s attention was drawn further to the following areas of the report:

1.7                    Talks Programme

1.8                    Workshops

1.9                    Seahenge Guided tour for National Lottery Open Week

1.10                 Seahenge Collaboration with Groundwork Gallery

In response to a question from the Chair regarding home educated and reduced-timetable students, the Learning and Engagement Officer confirmed that the Lynn Museum and Stories of Lynn partnered up to deliver a monthly home education programme, which includes students who operate on a reduced timetable.

Councillor de Whalley queried whether the museum service offers any programmes that engage non-mainstream schools. It was confirmed that the Lynn Museum had worked closely with SEN schools and they were developing a range of learning programmes that can better meet the needs of individuals and small groups that may not be supported through mainstream education.

Further attention was drawn to the following areas of the report:

2)     Newman Legacy Project

3)     Other Museum Developments

3.1 Publicity and Promotion

3.1.1 Social Media

3.1.2 YouTube and Googe Arts and Culture Platforms

3.1.3 Traditional Media

3.2 Norfolk Museums Pass

3.3 NMS Teaching Museum Trainees

3.4 Retail offer at Lynn Museum

3.5 Volunteers

Councillor Kybird referred to the reserve collections. The Assistant Head of Museums confirmed that the collections work funded through the Newman Legacy is focused upon the Lynn Museum collections, some of which are stored at Gressenhall Farm and Workhouse.

Councillor Kemp commented on the limited artefacts on display in the exhibition at Stories of Lynn from the 17^th Century. It was explained that this display was put together by a group of young people, however some items were unavailable to them at the time, and some weren’t chosen by the young people to be a  ...  view the full minutes text for item 7.

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In the absence of the Manager at True’s Yard, the Committee were advised that any questions would be forwarded on and a response would be circulated. Councillor Bland also offered to answer questions.  A copy of the report is attached to the minutes.

In response to a question from Councillor Kemp regarding the recent repair works at True’s Yard, Councillor Bland explained that funding had been provided to remove the concrete surface covering the area and reopen the site to the public. Although the possibility of rebuilding the cottages was explored, it was noted that the cost would be considerable.

RESOLVED: The Committee noted the report.

The visitor figures for the period March to July 2026 were noted. A copy of the visitor figures is attached to the minutes.

Due to the announcement from government that Local Government Reorganisation was being paused and reviewed, there was no update.

To consider any additional items for the next Agenda.

There were no items identified at the Meeting.

The next meeting of the King’s Lynn and West Norfolk Area Museums Committee is scheduled to take place on 4^th January 2027 at 2.00pm in the Council Chamber, Town Hall, King’s Lynn.

The next meeting of the King’s Lynn and West Norfolk Area Museums Committee was scheduled to take place on 4th January 2027 at 2.00pm in the Council Chamber, Town Hall, King’s Lynn.