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MINUTES OF THE MUSEUM SUB-COMMITTEE WEDNESDAY 11th JUNE 2008
MINUTES OF THE MEETING OF THE MUSEUM SUB-COMMITTEE HELD ON WEDNESDAY 11th JUNE 2008 AT 7.00 P.M. IN THE COUNCIL CHAMBER, THE TOWN HALL, 9 DEVON SQUARE, NEWTON ABBOT
PRESENT Councillor Mrs C. Bunday (Chairman) Presiding
Councillor A. Vizor (Vice-Chairman)
Councillors D. Corney-Walker
C. Davieson
Miss J. Fry
M. Hocking
D. Howe
K. Purchase
In attendance Felicity Cole – Museum Curator
Samantha Scott – Office Administrator
Councillor H.L.J. Cole
M1. ELECTION OF CHAIRMAN OF THE MUSEUM SUB-COMMITTEE 2008/9
Nominations were received for the election of the Chairman of the Museum Sub-Committee for the year 2008/2009.
Accordingly it was
RESOLVED that Councillor Mrs Carol Bunday be elected Chairman of the Museum Sub-Committee for the year 2008/2009.
M2. APOLOGIES
Apologies for absence were received from Councillors K. Smith, Mrs S. Maddicott, Museum Volunteer Mrs S. McCandlish and St Leonard’s Tower Volunteer, Mrs D. Nicholls.
M3. APPOINTMENT OF VICE-CHAIRMAN OF THE MUSEUM SUB-COMMITTEE 2008/9
Nominations were received for the appointment of the Vice-Chairman of the Museum
Sub-Committee for the year 2008/2009.
Accordingly it was
RESOLVED that Councillor Allan Vizor be appointed Vice-Chairman of the Museum Sub-Committee for the year 2008/2009.
M4. MINUTES
The Minutes of the Meeting of the Museum Sub-Committee held on 13th February 2008
were received and signed as a correct record.
M5. INTERESTS
None declared.
M6. PUBLIC PARTICIPATION
Nil.
M7. SUB-COMMITTEE MEMBERSHIP
RESOLVED
(a) that the Amenities Committee at its meeting to be held on 25th June be recommended to permit Co-opted members of the Museum Sub-Committee to be included in all decision making processes within the Sub-Committee, excluding any financial issues, which would be dealt with exclusively by Council members.
(b) that invitations for membership of the Museum Sub-Committee be forwarded to the following:
Stover Canal Trust
Ball Clay Heritage
Museum Volunteers
M8. MUSEUM CURATOR’S REPORT
The Sub-Committee received copy of Mrs Cole’s report, (previously circulated). The Curator had prepared additional information in the form of a PowerPoint presentation, covering the following topics:
Aims of the Museum
Comments on the Newfoundland Exhibition
The importance of the GWR Link Group and Museum Friends
The wide ranging skills base of the Museum Volunteers
Museum vision
Darwin Anniversary 2009
MLA acquisitions and disposals policy
Time & Place Photography project with Kate Green
Sandford Orleigh Screen
The Curator explained that the Museum had been offered the screen due to the relocation of the previous owner. The screen had been dated as early as 1534, which made it one of the earliest renaissance screens in the County.
Details of the conservation work required in order to restore the screen was referred to, together with the potential cost and time involved. The Curator confirmed that the Heritage Lottery Fund had been contacted regarding an application for funding and was advised to submit an application in September 2008.
John Lethbridge Anniversary for 2009
The Museum Curator confirmed that the theme for the 2009 exhibition would be 250th Anniversary of the passing of John Lethbridge, a Newtonian and the inventor of the diving engine.
The Curator reported that an offer of a loan of various items had been made to the Museum by a French diver, Robert Stenuit. (These items had been recovered from the wrecks that John Lethbridge had dived in). These included:
Approximately 80 coins
6 – 8 silver ingots
Photos
The Museum Curator had been advised that she would have to arrange the collection of these items, which would entail travelling to Brussels, an overnight stay, the cost of insurance and a research fee.
The Historical Diving Society had offered to loan the Museum an old diving suit, helmet and boots.
Marc Jasinski (a model maker) had offered to construct a full-sized model of Lethbridge’s original diving engine, which was to be costed in the region of £6,000.00.
Arising from the discussion it was
RESOLVED
(a) that Members were in full support of the restoration of the Sandford Orleigh Screen restoration; however full costs were to be ascertained and presented to the Amenities Committee for approval at its meeting to be held on 25th June 2008;
(b) that the Curator be supported in her requests in principle, (however it was requested that exact costs were confirmed) and that the requests should be referred to the next meeting of the Amenities Committee (25th June 2008) for approval.
The Chairman thanked the Museum Curator on behalf of the members for her excellent report and in-depth presentation. It was requested that the Curator repeated her presentation at the meeting of the Full Council scheduled on 2nd July 2008.
M9. ST. LEONARD’S TOWER
It was reported that the opening of the St Leonard’s Tower had been successful to date; however, due to the ongoing pedestrianisation works around Wolborough Street access to the tower had been problematic.
Arising from this it was
RESOLVED that contact be made with Devon County Council to ascertain when the access problems were to be resolved.
M10. INCOME AND EXPENDITURE
The Sub-Committee noted the statement circulated with the Agenda showing income and expenditure between 1st April 2008 and 4th June 2008.
M11. LATE CORRESPONDENCE
Nil
M12. DATE OF NEXT MEETING
The date of the next scheduled meeting was Wednesday 11th March 2009; however Members felt that a special meeting should be called prior to this date. The Chairman advised the Sub-Committee that a meeting in October 2008 was to be a scheduled and members would be advised of a specific date in due course.
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Chairman