Plans for North Yorkshire Council to take over the management of Scarborough's museums and galleries have prompted concerns about the future financial stability of these cultural assets.
The proposal, which would see the museums come back under direct council control after being outsourced in 2005, was approved at a meeting of the council's executive this week.
The move comes after the trust which currently operates the museums on the council's behalf asked for the council to take the museums back in-house, saying it's financial situation was deteriorating.
Currently, Scarborough Museums Coast and Countryside Charitable Trust (SMCCCT) benefits from a long-term service level agreement (SLA) with the local authority, providing around half a million pounds per annum, which increases with inflation. This agreement is guaranteed until 2038.
But there are concerns that the council taking over the running of the attractions could bring it's own set of financial problems.
Concerns centre on the potential for reduced funding in the future. Scarborough Councillor, Rich Maw, highlighted during the meeting that local authorities have no statutory responsibility to maintain a museum or museum service, he says this discretionary nature of funding leaves the museums vulnerable to changes in the council's financial priorities.
Marie Woods, a heritage professional and former trustee of Scarborough Museums and Galleries, expressed her "reasoned opposition" to the proposal, stating that local authority management can lead to a number of problems.
The potential transfer also raises fears about the impact on the museums' accreditation status with Arts Council England. Marie Woods stated that budget cuts under local authority control could
"directly jeopardize its earned accreditation status through Arts Council England and any future funding opportunities it may have the option to go for".
John Oxley, a professional archaeologist and heritage practitioner, echoed these concerns, arguing that a well-led independent charitable trust is the "best model" for providing museum services as it can "access wider funds" and is not subject to the "financial demands of statutory services within highly constrained local Authority budgets". He noted that the public report "does not provide any reasonable justification for this termination and transfer".
Marie Woods also raised concerns that the museums ability to deliver high quality exhibitions could be impacted by unpredictable council funding.
Councillor Maw further highlighted the risk of "de-localisation of this service" and a reduction in local control and influence over the museums. He sought assurances that the council would "seek and work with local expertise" in managing the collections.
Despite these concerns, Councillor Simon Myers, Executive Member for Culture, the Arts and Housing, assured the meeting that the council is "absolutely committed to working with all stakeholders" and that this is a "genuine commitment". He stated his belief in the provision of such services by local authorities and his commitment to using the museums for the benefit of all residents of Scarborough, aiming to achieve "real social value and change in people's lives".
The executive voted to proceed with the transfer, plans for the transition are now underway.
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