Agenda and minutes

To receive any apologies for absence.

Apologies for absence were received from Borough Councillor A Kemp and County Councillosr N Daubney and J Ward, L Bavin and S Thompson.

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

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The minutes of the meeting held on 18 October 2021 were agreed as a correct record, subject to Councillor Kemp to be added to the list of apologies.

To consider any matters arising.

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Coaches visiting King’s Lynn

The Chair informed the Committee that she had enquired about coaches bringing visitors to King’s Lynn and although it was impossible to ascertain the total number of coaches visiting the town, the Chair explained that she had spoken to a coach driver who had parked at Austin Fields and travelled from Leeds and advised that he brought visitors to King’s Lynn a couple of times in the summer who spent a half day in King’s Lynn.

During November and December it was noted that coach trips had been arranged to visit Thursford, visitors stayed at the Dukes Head Hotel and spent an afternoon in King’s Lynn.

The Chair advised that in November 2021, visitors from another country had stayed at the Dukes Head Hotel and visited the Museums in King’s Lynn.

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.

To consider the King’s Lynn Museum Report.

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The Chair invited the Assistant Head of Museums to provide an overview on how the Museums staff had worked in difficult circumstances during the Pandemic.  The Assistant Head of Museums provided an overview on how the Museums services was responding to Covid as set out in section 1.12 of the report.

The Assistant Head of Museums/Curator Lynn Museum presented a report which provided information in the King’s Lynn Museum activities for the period October 2021 to January 2022.

The Assistant Head of Museums/Curator, Lynn Museum responded to questions and comments in relation to:

·         Flexible staff working arrangements to deliver Museums events during the Pandemic.

·         Summer Exhibition of Turner Painting – Walton Bridges and opportunity for curriculum activities with schools during the autumn term.  Could the Turner Exhibition be linked with the maps that exist of Lynn and all the bridges the Ouse and the town and be available for sale in the Museum shop.  The Curator undertook to look at opportunities to make connections and gave examples of the website, social media and other events. With regard to the sale of maps, the Curator undertook to explore possible retail development with the newly appointed Retail Manager.

·         Black Abolitionists Exhibition – Reference was made to Thomas Clarkson in Wisbech and the potential to link with local connections.  The Curator explained that Museums throughout the UK were developing awareness on the abolition of slavery.

·         Lull  - a new audio walk for winter exploring how plants, animals and fungi survive the darkest months. Packs also being available to purchase at Corn Exchange/other venues when the Museum was closed.  The Curator to advise how many packs had been purchased and forward information to Committee. The Curator to enquire if it would be possible if Lull packs could be purchased in other venues.

·         Lynn Museum Seahenge Exhibition – loan to British Museum 17 February to 17 July 2022 and opportunity to promote the Lynn Museum/King’s Lynn alongside the exhibition by having local information leaflets available for visitors. The Assistant Head of Museums undertook to explore the suggestion.

·         Friends of Lynn Museum and recruitment of new Members to undertake committee roles – information to be forwarded to the Committee to promote joining the Friends of Lynn Museum (the Chair to discuss with the Curator) and Councillor Bambridge kindly offered to circulate the information amongst the societies she attends. 

·         Re-establishing coffee mornings at the Lynn Museum and linking with the care homes in King’s Lynn.

·         Number of school visits scheduled.

·         Recruitment, role, importance and management of volunteers. 

·         Vaughan Williams 150^th Anniversary Celebration of Man and Music Magazine – Councillor A Tyler explained that copies could be obtained to display in Lynn Museum/Stories of Lynn.

·         NMS Teaching Museum traineeship – new Curatorial West Norfolk Trainee to start in April 2022.                      

On behalf of the Committee, the Chair thanked the officers for the report and for the excellent effort that had been put into flexible working  ...  view the full minutes text for item 5.

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The Learning and Engagement Officer, Stories of Lynn and Project Worker for Kick the Dust presented the updated report for the period 11 September 2021 to 31 January 2022 and responded to questions and comments in relation to:

·         Engagement of young people and provision of skills development.

·         Presentation to College of West Anglia and way to find young people to engage with the project.

·         How the project could link with the Youth Skills Pledge and link to mental health trust to guarantee the future of the project.

·         Overview of work being undertaken to identify funding opportunities to continue with the project in future years.

On behalf of the Committee, the Chair thanked the Learning and Engagement Officer for presenting a most informative and interesting report.

AGREED:  That the report be noted.

To note the date of the next meeting is 13 June 2022, 2.15 pm, Assembly Room, Town Hall, King’s Lynn.

The next meeting of the King’s Lynn and West Norfolk Area Museums Committee will take place on 13 June 2022 at 2.15 pm in the Assembly Roo, Town Hall, King’s Lynn.

R Hanley/O Bone to advise if the Committee would be able to undertake a tour of the Lynn Museum at 1 pm prior to the formal meeting.

The Chair invited Members of the Committee to consider appointing a substitute to attend a meeting in their absence for future meetings.