Decision details

Subject to a successful bid, to consider the report of the Head of Leisure and Culture seeking approval to accept and spend funding from Arts Council England for the development of collaborative work with Solent Museums Alliance to improve the storage and digital records of the collections.

Having complied with Rule 15 of the Council’s Access to Information Procedure Rules, and subject to the Arts Council England (ACE) confirming a grant award of £250,000:

(i)  approval is given to direct those funds to the projects outlined in this report on behalf of the consortium group;

(ii)  To delegate authority to the Senior Manager, Leisure and Culture, to do anything necessary to give effect to the recommendations contained in this report.

(iii)  To add £250,000 to the 2012/13 revenue budget of the Housing and Leisure Portfolio funded from the Arts Council England (ACE) grant.

1. This report is presented as a general exception item in accordance with Rule 15 of the Access to Information Procedure Rules of Part 4 of the Council's Constitution.  Amendments to Regulations 5(2) and 9(2), 2012 require 28 days notice to be given to all Key Decisions comes into effect on 10^th September 2012.  It has not been possible to meet the requirement of 28 days notice.
2. The project offers considerable benefits ;

·  a further step to providing a more cost effective, improved standard and regional approach for the Arts and Heritage collection; and

·  increase the consortium’s competence with the technology involved and secure local equipment to deliver further digitisation - it will also explore the benefits and risks of alternative digital storage options such as cloud technology

3. The project will be completely funded by Arts Council England with some officer support, as an in kind contribution, to manage the project.

None; this is a consortium bid – if unsuccessful alternative funding sources will be investigated.