Issue - meetings

1.     Poole Museum is undertaking a £7.7m redevelopment programme delivering capital improvements at the three historic buildings of the Museum Estate: Grade II listed Oakley’s Mill, and the Grade I listed medieval buildings the Wool Hall and Scaplen’s Court, as well as a programme of creative, cultural activity that will build and broaden audiences for the Museum.

2.     Poole Museum has successfully secured £4.4m third-party funds from three major public funds: an NLHF project grant, a Historic England High Street Heritage Action Zone (HSHAZ) grant, and the Public Sector Decarbonisation Scheme (Salix). Additionally, third-party funding has been secured from a range of national and local trusts and foundations (including Garfield Weston and the Fine Family Foundation).

3.     BCP’s contribution to date is £2.15m including: existing borrowing of £1.023m Prudential Borrowing (approved June 2021); the balance of £1.120m approved third-party partnership fundraising underwritten by borrowing of £645,000 (£475,000 already secured); and a £455,000 contribution has been made to date from CIL/S106.

4.     Costs have increased across the scheme as a result of a number of factors, but these include scope increase and national pressures on construction projects as a result of Covid and Brexit.

5.     This has resulted in a funding gap of £1.4m and accordingly, approval is now sought for acceptance of a grant from Historic England, additional Prudential Borrowing, and a further contribution from CIL.

The Portfolio Holder for Culture and Vibrant Places presented a report, a copy of which had been circulated to each Member and a copy of which appears as Appendix 'D' to these Minutes in the Minute Book.

Cabinet was advised that the Poole Museum is undertaking a £7.7m redevelopment programme delivering capital improvements at the three historic buildings of the Museum Estate: Grade II listed Oakley’s Mill, and the Grade I listed medieval buildings the Wool Hall and Scaplen’s Court, as well as a programme of creative, cultural activity that will build and broaden audiences for the Museum.

In relation to this Cabinet was advised that Poole Museum has successfully secured £4.4m third-party funds from three major public funds: an NLHF project grant, a Historic England High Street Heritage Action Zone (HSHAZ) grant, and the Public Sector Decarbonisation Scheme (Salix), and that additionally, third-party funding has been secured from a range of national and local trusts and foundations (including Garfield Weston and the Fine Family Foundation).

Cabinet was informed that BCP’s contribution to date is £2.15m including: existing borrowing of £1.023m Prudential Borrowing (approved June 2021); the balance of £1.120m approved third-party partnership fundraising underwritten by borrowing of £645,000 (£475,000 already secured); and a £455,000 contribution has been made to date from CIL/S106.

Further to this Cabinet was informed that costs have increased across the scheme as a result of a number of factors, but these include scope increase and national pressures on construction projects as a result of Covid and Brexit, and that this has resulted in a funding gap of £1.4m and accordingly, approval is now sought for acceptance of a grant from Historic England, additional Prudential Borrowing, and a further contribution from CIL.

The Portfolio Holder in presenting the report advised of an amendment on page 83, paragraph 29 of the report in relation to the visitor numbers where it says they have increased, the Portfolio Holder advised that this was an expectation and should read ‘will increase’.

Councillor Hadley addressed the Cabinet stressing that he hoped events would still be available to all and highlighting that he would hate to see the museum move to a position whereby events were ticketed and chargeable and not open to everyone.

RECOMMENDED that Council approves an increase in the capital budget of up to £1.41m for the Poole Museum Programme which is to be funded by: -

(a) Grant income of £0.23m from Historic England

(b) CIL funding of £0.5m

(c) Prudential Borrowing of £0.69m

Voting: Unanimous

Portfolio Holder: Culture and Vibrant Places

The Portfolio Holder for Culture and Vibrant Places presented a report, a copy of which had been circulated to each Member and a copy of which appears as Appendix 'D' to these Minutes in the Minute Book.

Cabinet was advised that the Poole Museum is undertaking a £7.7m redevelopment programme delivering capital improvements at the three historic buildings of the Museum Estate: Grade II listed Oakley’s Mill, and the Grade I listed medieval buildings the Wool Hall and Scaplen’s Court, as well as a programme of creative, cultural activity that will build and broaden audiences for the Museum.

In relation to this Cabinet was advised that Poole Museum has successfully secured £4.4m third-party funds from three major public funds: an NLHF project grant, a Historic England High Street Heritage Action Zone (HSHAZ) grant, and the Public Sector Decarbonisation Scheme (Salix), and that additionally, third-party funding has been secured from a range of national and local trusts and foundations (including Garfield Weston and the Fine Family Foundation).

Cabinet was informed that BCP’s contribution to date is £2.15m including: existing borrowing of £1.023m Prudential Borrowing (approved June 2021); the balance of £1.120m approved third-party partnership fundraising underwritten by borrowing of £645,000 (£475,000 already secured); and a £455,000 contribution has been made to date from CIL/S106.

Further to this Cabinet was informed that costs have increased across the scheme as a result of a number of factors, but these include scope increase and national pressures on construction projects as a result of Covid and Brexit, and that this has resulted in a funding gap of £1.4m and accordingly, approval is now sought for acceptance of a grant from Historic England, additional Prudential Borrowing, and a further contribution from CIL.

The Portfolio Holder in presenting the report advised of an amendment on page 83, paragraph 29 of the report in relation to the visitor numbers where it says they have increased, the Portfolio Holder advised that this was an expectation and should read ‘will increase’.

Councillor Hadley addressed the Cabinet stressing that he hoped events would still be available to all and highlighting that he would hate to see the museum move to a position whereby events were ticketed and chargeable and not open to everyone.

RECOMMENDED that Council approves an increase in the capital budget of up to £1.41m for the Poole Museum Programme which is to be funded by: -

(a) Grant income of £0.23m from Historic England

(b) CIL funding of £0.5m

(c) Prudential Borrowing of £0.69m

Voting: Unanimous

Portfolio Holder: Culture and Vibrant Places