Eastleigh Borough Council Eastleigh Museum Joint Management Committee Meeting

The Chairmanship of the Joint Management Committee alternates annually between the two authorities. For the year 2021/22 the Chair needed to be appointed from the Borough Council Members of the Committee.

RESOLVED –

That Councillor Irish be appointed Chair of the Joint Management Committee for 2021/22 municipal year.

The Vice-Chairmanship alternates annually between the two authorities. For the year 2021/22 the Vice-Chair needed to be appointed from the County Council Members of the Committee.

RESOLVED –

That Councillor Broomfield be appointed Vice-Chair of the Joint Management Committee for the 2021/22 municipal year.

RESOLVED –

That the Minutes of the meeting held on 15 July 2021 were agreed as a correct record.

Emma Banks, the Community Manager representing the Hampshire Cultural Trust, presented a report on activities at or relating to Eastleigh Museum covering the period from July to October 2021.

Alexandra Walker, Community Engagement Officer for Hampshire Cultural Trust, shared an update on the Industrious Minds Project, which is set to engage with local youth groups, education centres and the community to help explore the impact of industry in towns and how it has grown, amongst other issues. It is due to start in January 2022.

Councillor Campbell requested data on who is visiting Eastleigh Museum and how wide the audience is.

ACTION: The Community Manager confirmed that she would check the data and share in the next report on February 15 2022. Councillor Bicknell requested that an answer be emailed to members ahead of the next meeting.

Councillor Bicknell raised concerns that there was few and far between posts regarding events going on at Eastleigh Museum (and he could find nothing since July), despite the fact that Hampshire Cultural Trust were paid a social media budget.

ACTION: The Community Manager and the Operations Manager confirmed that they would look further into the concerns and provide a full answer from the marketing team at Hampshire Cultural Trust. Councillor Bicknell requested that it be emailed to members ahead of the next meeting.

Councillor Broomfield raised concerns that visitor numbers had dropped considerably over the last decade.

The Community Manager explained that there were multiple reasons that could be part of the cause, which included the fact that the displays had not changed since the early 1980s, and also that curriculum changes meant Eastleigh Museum no longer had large school groups visiting.

Councillor Bicknell raised further concerns that they had been saying the permanent displays had needed changing for the last decade but that nothing had yet been done.

ACTION: The Committee requested that a full marketing plan was brought to the next meeting on February 15 2022 so that it could be discussed. Councillor Bicknell requested that it be emailed to members ahead of the next meeting.

Chief Executive Officer of One Community, Debra Clothier, raised concerns that she was unsure of exactly what One Community’s relationship with Eastleigh Museum was, and that she was concerned that the relationship was costing the charity money.

The Local Area Manager, Guy Riddoch, provided some clarity on where the relationship began and the mutual benefits at that time, but was concerned if One Community were now involved with operational costs and agreed that clarity as needed around this.

Consideration was given to the Finance Report presented by Operational Manager, Jessica Reilly, from Hampshire Cultural Trust, which provided an overview of the Museum’s performance during the Quarter 1- Quarter 2 period against the 2021/22 budget.

Councillor Bicknell raised concerns that despite Eastleigh Museum being closed during Covid-19 there we no staff cost savings. He requested clarity on whether if there were savings was it ring-fenced for the Museum or shared amongst other projects.

The Operational Manager confirmed that due to people being furloughed and Hampshire Cultural Trust Staff working through the pandemic, there were none to be made.

ACTION: Councillor Bicknell requested that Hampshire Cultural Trust provide a Quarter 1 and Quarter 2 actual versus forecast report for the Committee, and that it be emailed to members ahead of the next meeting on February 15 2022.

ACTION: Councillor Bicknell requested that the Committee see a breakdown of Venue Development Project money allocated against what has been done and a running total. He requested that it be emailed to members ahead of the next meeting on February 15 2022.

It was agreed that the next meeting would take place via Microsoft Teams 15 February 2021 at 11:30 am.