Issue - decisions

Members considered a report which asked them to agree core funding for the York Museums Trust (YMT for the period 2008-2013 and to release £50k of capital funding to the YMT for a scheme to refurbish Kirkgate at the Castle Museum.

The legal agreement between the Council and the YMT required that the level of 5-year core funding for 2008-2013 must be agreed now.  The report explained the YMT’s current financial position, its business and capital plans, and set out the business case for continued revenue funding from the Council.  The proposal was that the Council should continue to provide funding at the current level, with annual inflationary increases.  The budget plan forecast that the YMT would start to generate surpluses in the last three years of the new funding period.  These would provide a number of benefits, including removing the need for further “dowry” payments from the Council.  In respect of capital funding, the Council was committed to providing £1.813m, to match fund the YMT’s bid to the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF).  In view of the fact that the Council had been unable to allocate the agreed “dowry” funding in the 2005/06 budget, YMT had asked that £50k of the capital be made available immediately, to use as match funding in the refurbishment of Kirkgate.

Details of YMT’s performance indicators for 2005/06 and expected performance by 2010/11 had been circulated to Members before the meeting.  Members commented with approval on the proposal to increase residents’ satisfaction with museums and galleries to 78% and on the inclusion of informal learning opportunities in the proposed targets.

Having considered the advice of the Shadow Executive, it was

RESOLVED: (i)         That core funding for the York Museums Trust for the period 2008/9-2013/14 be continued at the current level, with inflationary increases guaranteed as set out in paragraph 43 of the report.

                        (ii)        That £50k of the £1.813 capital funding be provided immediately, as a contribution to the refurbishment of Kirkgate.

                        (iii)       That authority be delegated to Officers to enter into a deed with the Heritage Lottery Fund, if the Trust is successful in its HLF bid, as set out in paragraph 52 of the report.

REASON:      In order to secure the future of the YMT and the successful refurbishment of the Council’s museums.