Asset Management, Culture & Housing Cabinet Member – Minutes – 19 July 2012

10        (10) SOCIAL HISTORY AND NATURAL HISTORY COLLECTION DISPOSALS – The Director of Places submitted a report seeking permission to dispose of 208 items from the Social and Natural History collections in line with the agreed Museum Service’s Collecting Policy.

North Lincolnshire Museums Service had a social history collection of around 36,000 objects.  Collecting began in 1909 when Scunthorpe Museum was founded.  This collection was merged with the Baysgarth Museum collection in 1996.

The Natural History specimens were collected with the aim of sending them to a taxidermist for mounting for display.  The specimens had recently been examined in more detail; this examination proved that they were not in good enough condition for display.

The Museums Association was asking museums to reassess their collections and how they were used.  This was part of a drive to make collections more relevant and usable, and meant putting more objects on display.  It also meant transferring surplus objects to other museums.

An assessment of the collection had now been completed.  It was felt that the surplus items detailed at Appendix 1 to the report should be disposed of in line with the Museum Service’s Collecting Policy and the Museums Association Code of Ethics.

Resolved – (a) That the proposal to dispose of the items listed in Appendix 1 to the report, in line with the Museum Service’s Collecting Policy and the Museums Association’s Code of Ethics, be approved, and (b) that the Cabinet Member be updated on receipts from the sale of items.

The corresponding reports of the following items (Minutes 11 and 12 refer) contain exempt information as defined in Paragraphs 1, 2 and 3 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act 1972 (as amended).

11        (11) REQUEST TO EXTEND CATERING STAFF CONTRACTS NORMANBY HALL COUNTRY PARK – The Director of Places submitted a report seeking permission to extend the contracts of two temporary catering staff until March 2013, due to an increased number of wedding bookings at Normanby Hall.

Permission had been received in January 2012 to recruit to the Chef’s post at Normanby Hall on a part-time fixed term basis.  In April 2012 a Catering Assistant had also been recruited on a six month fixed term contract.  Both posts were due to come to an end in September 2012.

It was proposed that both contracts be extended until March 2013, in order to staff the increased level of wedding bookings at the Hall.

Marketing for Christmas Functions at the Hall would begin in July 2012.  In the past the number of bookings at the Hall had to be limited to enable the Catering Manager to have one day off each week in December.  Extending the contracts of the two members of staff would increase capacity to take bookings by an additional day.

Resolved – (a) That the two employee contracts, as set out in the report, be extended until March 2013, and (b) that the contribution made by the Catering Manager be recognised.

12                (12) PROPERTY TRANSACTION SCHEDULES – The Director of Places submitted a report for consideration, and where necessary, approval of a schedule containing the terms of all recently negotiated property transactions.

The schedules covered both operational and commercial property.

Resolved – That the schedules appended to the report be approved.

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Where there is no report this is because it is exempt, as it contains information which is considered to be of a confidential nature, as detailed in the Local Government (Access to Information) Act.