Agenda and minutes

To receive any apologies for absence.

Apologies for absence were received from County Councillors L Bambridge, N Daubney and C Dawson.

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 13 June 2022 were agreed as a correct record.

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.

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There were no declarations of interest.

To consider the King’s Lynn Museum Report.

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The Assistant Head of Museums presented the report on the King’s Lynn Museum activities in the period from 2022 – October 2022.

The Committee was advised that despite the end of legal restrictions, a number of the COVID-secure systems and procedures implemented across Norfolk Museums Service (NMS) sites during the pandemic remained in place, with a focus on keeping staff and visitors safe through minimising any risk of transmission.  Attention was drawn to paragraphs 1.1 and 1.2 of the report.

The Assistant Head of Museums explained that to facilitate increased levels of use of museum spaces by visitors, staff and volunteers, C02 monitors provided through Norfolk County Council had been introduced into a number of rooms and spaces across NMS where there was more limited natural/mechanical ventilation.  The CO2 detectors could be monitored locally by staff using those and enabled a number of spaces to be brought back into use by staff and volunteers and increased capacity for schools and other visitors.

It was highlighted that throughout the period of the pandemic, NMS staff developed a broad range of digital resources to support audiences, including resources.

The Committee was informed that volunteering had recommenced across NMS sites.  Outdoor volunteering commenced earlier in the pandemic including garden volunteers at Strangers’ Hall.

The Curator provided an overview of the exhibitions and events at the Lynn Museum which included:

·         Gardens, Sowing Stories exhibition (ran until 12 June 2022).

·         JMW Turner and the moods of water: rivers, estuaries and the sea (25 June – 15 October 2022).

·         Hoards:  Archaeological Treasures from West Norfolk (25 October 2022 – 11 June 2023).

The Committee’s attention was drawn to:

·         Section 3 – Other Museum developments.

·         Section 4 – Loan to the British Museum (Seahenge Timbers).

·         Section 5 – Partnerships.

·         Section 6 – Learning and events.

·         Section 7 – Kick the Dust Norfolk.

Return of coffee mornings – the coffee mornings had returned to Lynn Museum with the first one taking place on 28 October. 

Heritage Open Day 2 October 2022 over 500 people visited Lynn Museum.  The Museum’s theme was  the Bronze Age.

The Assistant Head of Museums, Curator – Lynn Museum and the Learning and Engagement Officer responded to questions and comments in relation to:

·         Importance of volunteers and roles undertaken, specifically with regard to the Digitising project which had been paused during the Pandemic and the active promotion on recruitment of new volunteers.

·         CO2 monitors and protocols for exceeding recommended levels.

·         Air sanitisers – used in a small number of locations in high priority spaces.

·         Available funding which included support for exhibitions.

·         Developing social media (report written by L Elmore, a copy of which is attached to the minutes).

·         Hoards Exhibition.

·         Loans from other museums.

·         Future funding/budget.

·         Importance of Arts Council England NPO funding.

·         Education opportunities offered by the Museums Service to schools.

·         Use of items held in storage to supplement exhibitions and events.

·         Relationships with the British Museum and other museums  ...  view the full minutes text for item 5.

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The Learning and Engagement Officer presented the report and drew attention to the following sections of the report:

·         1 – Schools.

·         2 – Kick the Dust in King’s Lynn.

·         3 – Family Learning Activities – Tudor Day at South Lynn Community Centre, Summer Holiday activities at Stories of Lynn – A Banquet fit for the Queen, St George’s Guildhall Events – Shake it all out,

·         Kick the Dust and community work.

The Chair thanked the learning and Engagement Officer for the valuable and important work that was being undertaken.

To note the date of the next meeting is 20 March 2023, 2 pm in the Council Chamber, Town Hall, King’s Lynn.

The next meeting will be held on 20 March 2023 at 2 pm in the Council Chamber, Town Hall, King’s Lynn.