Agenda and minutes

To receive any apologies for absence.

To date, apologies have been received from Rachael Williams, Learning and Engagement Officer.

Apologies for absence were received from County Councillors N Daubney, C Dawson, J Ward, Councillor R Kybird, P Eke and R Williams.

An apology for absence was received from L Bavin the following day.

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

The minutes of the meeting held on 14 November 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.

There were no declarations of interest.

To consider the King’s Lynn Museum Report.

Click here to view the recording of this item on You Tube

The Assistant Head of Museums presented the report on the King’s Lynn Museum activities in the period from November 2022 – February 2023.

The Committee was advised the service continues to manage challenges around Covid and wider infection control. Members were reassured that the site infrastructure was still in place including hand sanitisation and cleaning regimes and continuing to be very careful around monitoring ventilation levels as a means of reducing risk of people passing Covid or other infections particularly during the winter period.

The Assistant Head of Museums explained that they continue to make effective use of CO2 monitors across the service including here in King’s Lynn. This has been helpful in enabling Norfolk Museums Service (NMS) to make sure staff and visitors are kept safe. These measures have enabled NMS to be confident about gradually increasing visitors and has helped with increasing levels of staff and volunteers.

The Committees attention was drawn to item 1.6 regarding volunteering. The Assistant Head of Museums highlighted the importance of volunteering in the operation of NMS and reported that volunteering is nearly back to pre-covid levels. NMS continue to accommodate individual concerns from volunteers and have updated their code of conduct to ensure that volunteers who are more anxious can be supported appropriately.

The Assistant Head of Museums invited the Committee to ask any questions about section 1 of the report.

Councillor Mrs Nockolds asked questions around volunteering and if the NMS had any plans to take part in volunteering at the Civic Society Heritage Sites event in June. It was noted that the King’s Lynn Society would be organising an event in June which would be a recruitment day for more volunteers at the Heritage sites in King’s Lynn.

Councillor Mrs Nockolds mentioned that King Charles has requested more advertising around volunteering and wants it publicised more to encourage more volunteers to come forward and asked NMS to find out how it’s being advertised. The Assistant Head of Museums confirmed that he would make sure the volunteer coordinating group is aware of that.

Councillor A Tyler asked whether any volunteers from the Borough Council or NMS were going to meet with the pilgrims who come annually to the Red Mount in King’s Lynn. Councillor Mrs Nockolds confirmed the Borough Council are publicising that the Southgate and Red Mount will be open this season and asking for volunteers.

The Assistant Head of Museums provided an overview of the exhibitions and events at the Lynn Museum and future exhibition plans which included:

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

·         The Tiger Who Came to Tea exhibition (Winter of 2023 – 2024)

·         The Moon, our Nearest Neighbour

·         Woof! (Next Summer)

The Assistant Head of Museums invited the Committee to ask any questions about section 2 of the report.

In response to a question from Councillor Kemp regarding publicising events, the Curator explained that they have a  ...  view the full minutes text for item 5.

Click here to view the recording of this item on You Tube

In the absence of the Museum Curator, the Chair, Councillor Mrs Nockolds explained they had all received the report. The report was noted.

Click here to view the recording of this item on You Tube

In the absence of the Learning and Engagement Officer, the Chair, Councillor Mrs Nockolds explained how excellent the report was and expressed how thankful they were for the Learning and Engagement Officer‘s work. The report was noted.

Click here to view the recording of this item on You Tube

In the absence of the Borough Council’s Tourism Manager, the Chair, Councillor Mrs Nockolds presented his report which gave an update on tourism marketing and development activities from June 2022 – 1^st March 2023 and explained the importance around this report.

Schedule of Meetings 2023/2024 to be confirmed following the May 2023 Election.

The date of the next meeting is to be confirmed after the Borough and Parish Elections in May.