Agenda and minutes

RESOLVED:  Councillor A Bubb be appointed Chair for the Municipal Year 2023/2024.

RESOLVED:  Councillor A Kemp be appointed Chair for the Municipal Year 2023/2024.

To receive any apologies for absence.

Apologies for absence were received from County Councillor C Dawson, Oliver Bone, Curator at Lynn Museum and Lindsay Bavin, Manager of True’s Yard Museum.

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

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

The minutes of the meeting held on 20 March 2023 were agreed as a correct record subject to the following amendments highlighted in bold.

Page 7:  Councillor de Whalley …. Amend to read to promote the loss of biodiversity species.

Page 8:  Councillor de Whalley ….. asked whether they were looking to expand their relationship with other museums.

Page 8:  Councillor Kemp raised comments and questions regarding Savages.

To consider any matters arising.

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

Councillor Bubb referred to page 7 referred to the purchase of items from the museum and informed those present he had purchased a number of stoneware Seahenge mugs, but there was no mention of the Museum or where you could see the Seahenge exhibition and suggested that the volume 2 of the mugs might include details of Lynn Museum.  In response, the Assistant Head of Museums undertook to pass the comments to the Retail Manager.

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.

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

Councillor P Bland declared an interest as a Trustee of True’s Yard Museum.

To consider the King’s Lynn Museum Report.

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

The Assistant Head of Museums presented the report on the King’s Lynn Museum activities for the period March to August 2023.

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

•           Covid-19 and Infection Control service update.

•           Exhibitions and events at Lynn Museum.

•           Forthcoming exhibitions:  The Tiger who came to Tea, The Moon:  Meet our Nearest Neighbour, Woof – a Celebration of Dogs.

•           Family events.

•           Family trails.

•           Mini Museum

•           #Thanks to You Tours.

•           Coffee Mornings.

•           Heritage Open Days.

•           Newman Legacy.

•           Other Museum Developments.

•           Partnerships.

•           Learning and Outreach.

•           Kick the Dust Norfolk – Project Update.  A verbal update was given following publication of the Agenda.

The visitor figures for the period March to August 2023 were noted, a copy is attached to the minutes.  The Committee was advised that visitor numbers were looking good and to date Lynn Museum was currently on track to reach the levels recorded prior to Covid of between 18,000 and 20,000 visits per year.

The Chair thanked the Assistant Head of Museums for the report and invited questions and comments from the Committee, a summary of which is set out below.

Councillor de Whalley commented that it was great to hear that Seahenge was of national and international importance and added there were other historical interests that were both national and international importance and gave an example of the Custom House and asked if there was any update which was part of the Riverfront project of the Town Deal Fund .  Councillor de Whalley went on to say that it was good to see involvement with the interpretation of the Guildhall but it did suggest that all of the above three things were creating interest across the country and world and it suggested that consideration should be given to using all 3 together and anything else of interest to drive up visitor numbers to King’s Lynn and to the museum.

In response, the Assistant Head of Museums explained that the NMS worked closely with the Borough Council colleagues and were involved in all of the projects mentioned.  Seahenge had been a significant part of the redevelopment of the Lynn Museum and had attracted and continued to attract significant interest locally, regionally, nationally and internationally and in terms of marketing activity for the Lynn Museum although there were other sites of interest, the NMS led on the Lynn Museum and had been effective in bringing visitors into the town.  The Committee was informed that NMS worked with the Borough Council on marketing campaigns, including Discover King’s Lynn which had been successful over the years.  NMS was embedded within the project team for the Guildhall and sought to identify opportunities to see the mutual benefits between the sites and look to develop a broader offer for visitors.  Members were advised that it was explained that the NMS worked with other  ...  view the full minutes text for item 7.

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

The Learning and Engagement Officer presented the report for the period 1 March to 23 September 2023 and highlighted the following sections of the report:

•           Schools.

•           Kick the Dust in King’s Lynn – Wednesday’s Churchill Park Complex Needs School students, work experience, supporting other activities.

•           Family Learning Activities – At Stories of Lynn, Activities at St George’s Guildhall Events, Thursdays – Youth Working Session:  Play in a Day.

•           Ukraine Independence Day.

•           Events for October half term are in place and young people in three different groups are helping to devise and deliver the day’s activities.

•           Change Minds evaluation.

The Chair thanked the Learning and Engagement Officer for the report and invited questions and comments from the Committee.

Councillor de Whalley proposed a vote of thanks to the Learning and Engagement Officer for her valuable work undertaken during her time at the Stories of Lynn and wished her well for the future.  Councillor Kemp seconded the vote of thanks and the Committee gave a round of applause to Rachael.

RESOLVED:  That the report be noted.

In the absence of the Manager, True’s Yard, the Chair, Councillor Bubb invited the Committee to email any questions direct to the Manager.

RESOLVED:  The Committee noted the report.

In the absence of the Senior Tourism Support Officer, the Chair, Councillor Bubb invited the Committee to email any questions direct to the Senior Tourism Support Officer.

RESOLVED:  That the report be noted.

To note the date of the next meeting is 8 January 2024 at 2 pm in the Council Chamber, Town Hall, King’s Lynn.

The next meeting will be held on 8 January 2024 at 2 pm in the Council Chamber, Town Hall.

The Chair, Councillor Bubb asked if the Democratic Services Officer could contact the Manager of True’s Yard Museum to see if a visit could be undertaken by the Committee prior to its next meeting.