Portsmouth City Borough Council Cabinet Member for Culture, Leisure and Economic Development Meeting

Apologies for absence were received from Councillor Claire Udy.

There were no declarations of interest.

Councillor Dowling said the report contained news of very positive developments and thanked Jane Mee and her team for their hard work. He was particularly pleased that the Landing Craft Tank project had come to fruition as it would have a big impact on the sea front. Councillor Coles thanked Jane Mee for spending time introducing him to the Museums Service.

The Cabinet Member

1.    Noted the achievements of 2020/21.

2.    Noted the museums service's engagement with vulnerable and marginalised members of the community through its involvement in the city's Holiday Activity and Food (HAF) and Kick Start programmes. 

3.    Agreed that the Museums Strategy is completed and an application for National Portfolio Organisation (NPO) status is made to Arts Council England.

4.    Agreed that the Business Plan for The D-Day Story with Landing Craft Tank 7074 is finalised to ensure the viability of the museum and to generate the surplus required to fund the ongoing maintenance of the ship.  

5.    Agreed that research is undertaken to identify the specific barriers to access to the council's museums within the city. 

6.    Agreed work continues to prepare the services application for Accreditation which is due at the start of the next financial year.    

7.    Agreed that museum staff work on the development of an exhibition showcasing the city's remarkable civic silver collection and what it tells us about the life, times and people of Portsmouth.  

Lindy Elliott, Library & Archive Services Manager, introduced the report, noting that the Summer Reading Challenge had got off to a good start.

Councillor Coles said David Percival (Library & Archive Services Manager) had shown him the archives and he himself had made good use of Borrow Box and Pressreader during the pandemic. His children enjoyed participating in the Summer Reading Challenge. Councillor Dowling noted the popularity of Pressreader and said it was good that libraries could provide traditional news in a modern way. Although libraries are at a crossroads, taking time to look forward is good as libraries and museums are core to communities.

The Cabinet Member agreed

1.    That the updates and progress on activity from the Portsmouth Libraries and Archives Annual Update Report 2019/20 shown at paragraph 3 be noted.

2.    That the following works, which are within existing budgets, be delivered by Libraries and Archives in 2021/22:

·         A full service review for libraries, archives and modern records to include services, opening hours, staffing and buildings.

·         Apply for Libraries Connected Accreditation.

·         Exploration of a universal home delivery model for lending services.

·         Implementation of the History Centre Development Strategy 2022-25.

·         Community and staff consultation to inform the service review.

·         People's Network roll out to Windows 10.

·         Deliver digital print solution.

·         Deliver staff development - front line customer care and diversity action planning