Agenda and minutes

To receive any apologies for absence.

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors A Kemp and J Ward, L Bavin, P Eke, R Williams and S Thompson.

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

The minutes from the meeting held on 30 September 2019 were agreed as a correct record, subject to the following amendment:

Page 6:  Paragraph 6:

Councillor Tyler referred to a Museum in Torquay, not the Ancient House Museum in Thetford ……….

To consider any matters arising.

There were no matters arising.

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.

C Marsden, Kick the Dust:  Project Co-ordinator gave a presentation on the Kick the Dust Norfolk project and provided work being undertaken by the Learning and Engagement Officer at Stories of Lynn as she was unable to attend today’s meeting.

C Marsden responded to comments and questions from the Committee, in relation to:

South Gate Film Making Project

·        An ipad being available for visitors to view virtual tour.

·        List of groups involved with Kick the Dust Project.

·        Professional assistance received from the College of West Anglia.

·        The film was well narrated and photographed which would benefit visitors to the South Gate.

Future Projects

·        Time capsule film.

·        Objects Collection Programme.

General comments/questions relating to Kick the Dust Project

C Marsden/R Hanley responded to comments and questions from the Committee, in relation to:

·        Overview of the NMS elements which made up similar projects/opportunities prior to the Kick the Dust Project funding.

·        Kick the Dust Project funded for a period of 4 years for the age group 11 to 25 years, with specific focus on young people who faced significant barriers to participation in heritage and arts activities.

·        Details of the project are circulated to schools and it was highlighted that additional advertising would take place.

·        Co-operation of schools and the importance of identifying a model that would be successful.

·        Potential future contact with school governors to encourage pupil participation in the project.

The Chair thanked Christine for attending the meeting and providing an informative and interesting update to the Committee.

AGREED:  1) The update report be noted and C Marsden be invited to provide a further update to the Committee in 6 to 9 months’ time.

2) C Marsden to forward figures on a quarterly basis to W Vincent for circulation to the Committee.

To consider the King’s Lynn Museum Report.

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 September to November 2019.  It was anticipated that the visitor figures would exceed the total for 2019.  It was highlighted that there had been a good number of visitors for December 2019, the Curator explained that a number of schools had visited the Museum during that period.

The Assistant Head of Museums tabled the visitor numbers up to December 2019 and it was highlighted that for Lynn Museum the figures reported had increased by 1,000 as compared to the previous year.

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

·        Replicas/display cases/specialist advice, etc being procured from specialists for Museum purposes.

·        Norfolk Museums Service in house Display Team.

Partnerships

•        Black and white photographs of the Guildhall would be available for public display.

•        Conservation of Lady Fermoy Portrait and would on display February 2020.

Friends of King’s Lynn Museum

Sandra Coleman provided an update, a summary of which is set out below:

·        Annual fundraising lecture on 18 September 2019 was Digging Sedgeford:  A People’s Archaeology by Gary Rossin and was well attended (37).

·        Christmas Event was not well attended (11).  It was suggested that the time of the Members event should be looked at, for example, it may receive more attendees if a spring event was held.

·        Newsletter had been compiled.

·        Facebook page.

·        Current membership = 50.

·        Friends Committee comprised Chair, Secretary, Treasury and 1 Committee Member.

·        Record of history of King’s Lynn Festival.

·        Gift shop income.

The Chair reminded the Committee that the Friends had a budget which helped to match fund purchases for the Museum.

The Curator reported that the Lynn Museum had received a bequest from the Friends which would use to re-display a long case clock.  The request work was currently in progress and when complete would provide an opportunity for the Friends to hold a promotion event.

On behalf of the Committee, the Chair thanked Sandra for attending and providing an update to the Committee.

The Chair thanked the Assistant Head of Museums and Curator for attending and presenting the report.

AGREED:  The Committee noted the report.

The Chair reminded Members that a review of collections was held on an annual basis to ensure that material was property classified and houses and also met legislative requirements.  It was noted that collecting and rationalisation within the NMS was undertaken in accordance with the Collections Development Policy approved by the Joint Museums Committee.

The Curator, Lynn Museum circulated a photograph of one of the fifteen German cartridges.  In response to questions, the Curator explained that one empty cartridge would be retained by the Museum.

The Curator advised that the collections review was proposing to remove items that were not compliant with said legislation and meeting the NMS responsibility for ensuring the safety of all staff, visitors and collections.

AGREED:  The Committee agreed that the objects listed in Appendix 2 were deaccessioned.

The Chair presented the Borough Council’s Annual Report and highlighted the following:

·        2020 West Norfolk Holiday Guide – 25,000 printed copies.

·        2020 Where to Go and What to Do – 220,000 printed copies.

·        Discover King’s Lynn – 2020 edition to be published in early February 2020.

·        Hunstanton Mini Guide and Downham Market Mini Guide – 2020 edition to be updated and printed.

·        www.visitwestnorfolk.com – growth in page views and users

·        Explore West Norfolk mobile phone apps Explore West Norfolk and West Norfolk Coastal Treasures will be merged into one.

Councillor Tyler commented that the Visit West Norfolk had been kept updated thanks to the Tourism Support Officer.

Councillor Bubb commented that 2019 guides were still available and added that in his view they should have been collected prior to 31 December 2019.  Councillor Bubb suggested that future guides be dated 2019/2020, etc.  In response, the Chair explained that Councillor Bubb’s view would be considered.

In response to question on the future location of the Tourist Information Centre (TIC), the Chair explained that the TIC would remain in the Stories of Lynn at the Town Hall until all options had been considered and a decision had been made.

AGREED:  The Borough Council’s Annual Report be noted.

The Committee received True’s Yard Museum report.

The Chair and the Curator commented that the Norfolk Museums Service and the Borough Council worked in partnership with True’s Yard Museum.

To be scheduled at a date to be identified in 2020 following publication of Norfolk County Council Timetable of meetings.

To be advised.