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ITEM EX15
EXECUTIVE
- 26 NOVEMBER 2002
VICTORIA
HISTORY OF OXFORDSHIRE
Report
by Director of Cultural Services
Introduction
- This report deals
with administrative arrangements in connection with the Victoria History
of Oxfordshire, which forms part of the national series of histories
of the English counties, known as the VCH. The VCH enjoys an international
reputation as a standard work of reference for English local history.
Since 1933 it has been owned and managed by the Institute of Historical
Research of the University of London, but research in individual counties
is separately funded. The Oxfordshire History is supported financially
by the County Council, in partnership with the Institute, the University
of Oxford and the Victoria History of Oxfordshire Trust. The report
deals with arrangements for the appointment of County Council representatives
on the Trust, and proposes an informal working group to provide a joint
monitoring and discussion forum for all partners materially supporting
the VCH work in Oxfordshire.
VCH Trust
- The VCH Trust
was set up in 1997 at a time when there was considerable uncertainty
about future funding for the VCH from the County Council, and to provide
matching funding for a proposed bid to the Heritage Lottery Fund. Since
that time the Trust has conducted a campaign to raise money to speed
up the research and publication programme. The fund-raising, thanks
to the tremendous efforts of its Chairman, Tom Hassall, and the Trustees,
has been extremely successful and has exceeded its initial target of
£300,000. Two additional staff have been appointed and work has progressed
very satisfactorily in West Oxfordshire (the Bampton Hundred) leading
to the completion of the Witney volume scheduled for 2003, and subsequent
volumes for Carterton and Kelmscott (2007) and Burford (2010). It is
also planned to start research work in the Henley area in 2003 with
initial publication in 2006/7.
- When the Trust
was set up, an invitation was issued to each of the three main political
groups on the County Council to nominate a trustee. As a result of this
approach Councillor Janet Godden and former Councillor David Buckle
were appointed, and still act, as trustees; there is no current nominee
of the Conservative Group, and Councillor Godden has recently stated
that she wishes to stand down. There is therefore a need to seek fresh
nominations for the Council’s representation on the Trust.
- The original invitation
was dealt with informally, which is considered an unsatisfactory basis
for County Council representation on such a body. The Executive is therefore
asked formally to recognise the Trust for the purpose of the County
Council’s appointments to it, although (on the assumption that the Executive
will not wish to recommend its classification as "strategic") the actual
appointments will fall to be made under the procedure approved by the
Democracy & Organisation Committee.
VCH Working
Group
- Under the former
Cultural Services Committee, the work of the VCH was guided and monitored
by a "VCH Sub-Committee". This fell automatically when the current political
management arrangements were implemented in November 2001, and no action
has hitherto been taken to replace it. However, it is felt that there
should be a mechanism to provide a contact point for the partners engaged
in the project. It is therefore proposed that an informal joint working
group should be established, similar to that recently agreed in respect
of Oxfordshire museums.
- The terms of reference
for the joint working group would be to provide a joint monitoring and
discussion forum for all partners materially supporting the VCH work
in Oxfordshire; to monitor the progress of the VCH and report back to
the respective supporting bodies; to offer constructive advice and comment
on the content and direction of VCH work; and to alert fellow members
of any potential problems in the continuation of material support or
of any other issues requiring joint consideration.
- The proposed composition
of the Working Group is:
- 3 members of
the County Council
- the Director
and General Editor of the VCH
- a representative
of the Oxfordshire VCH Trust
- a representative
of Oxford University Department for Continuing Education
- a representative
of the Modern History Faculty of Oxford University
- the Editor of
the Oxfordshire VCH and
- the Director
of Cultural Services.
- It is envisaged
that the Working Group would ordinarily meet twice a year.
RECOMMENDATIONS
- The Executive
is RECOMMENDED to:
- formally
recognise the Victoria History of Oxfordshire Trust for the purpose
of the appointment to it of trustees representing the County Council;
- agree the
setting up of a VCH Working Group, as an informal joint member/officer
working group, on the basis outlined in the report; and
- appoint three
county councillors to serve on the VCH Working Group.
RICHARD
MUNRO
Director of
Cultural Services
Background papers: Nil
Contact officers: Martyn Brown, County Museums and Heritage Officer:
01993 814114
Simon Townley, Editor, VCH Oxfordshire: 01865 277239
October
2002
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