ITEM EX11 - ANNEX 1EXECUTIVE - 14 OCTOBER 2003SCRUTINY REVIEW OF THE COUNTY MUSEUMS SERVICEDRAFT Museums Joint Advisory Working Group - 21 October 2003 Constitution and Terms of Reference The Scrutiny Review of the County Museum Service was reported to the County Council’s Executive on 8 July 2003 which accepted the recommendations. Recommendation 4 is as follows: Request that the Museums Joint Advisory Working Group’s current constitution and terms of reference are revisited with a view to recognising the OCMS’s key role in overseeing strategic museums development in the County, to agree a strategy for the Service as a means to improving and developing partnership arrangements including independent and University of Oxford Museums. Although an informal Joint Working Group first met in 1997, the Constitution and Terms of Reference of the Group were not agreed until 1998 for what was then a Sub-Committee of the former Oxfordshire Forum. They were stated as follows: To promote and coordinate museum services and heritage issues on a countywide basis and to advise County and District Councils on a countywide museums and heritage strategy, making recommendations directly to those Councils where appropriate. The sub committee would:
All recommendations from the Museums Joint Advisory Subcommittee would need to be submitted formally to the appropriate Committee of the constituent Councils for them to consider and determine, eg where such recommendations affect the service plan for each museum. All parties have recognised the value of the Museums Joint Working Group (re-fotrmed from the existing sub-committee in 2001); there is no doubt that it has helped to maintain the benefits of cooperation and it has reduced the possible damage of fragmentation and isolation. However this recommendation points to the fact that its strategic role should be strengthened. To some extent this issue can be addressed by reviewing the Agendas of the MJWG – particularly to ensure that whenever possible any strategic matters are brought to the meetings in good time so that the views of the MJWG can be considered and reported to the relevant authority. In addition, though, the full endorsement of the MJWG by all the local authorities in Oxfordshire is needed to ensure that they, too, use the MJWG to consider museum strategic developments at an early stage. During the course of the Scrutiny Review negotiations were taking place concerning the future relationship of the County Museums Service with both the independent museums in Oxfordshire and the University of Oxford Museums: Independent Museums Oxfordshire County Museums Service has provided advice and support to independent museums throughout Oxfordshire for many years. Initially this was simply informal support, but following the introduction of museum Registration in 1989, even the smallest independent museum was required to have access to a professional curatorial adviser in order to be eligible for full Registered status. OCMS currently provides curatorial advisers to 10 independent museums. In addition the service has assisted with conservation advice and audits, security and access advice, and with education projects. Much of the other support to independent museums in Oxfordshire is coordinated through the Oxfordshire Museums Council (OMC). OMC was founded 20 years ago to act as a forum for all museums in Oxfordshire. It has proved to be a highly successful countywide group. Every year it has published a publicity leaflet - Museums and Galleries in Oxfordshire – and it has organised training and other cooperative events. OMC was successful in obtaining a grant from the Heritage Lottery Fund for the Access to Oxfordshire project – a three year programme of audience development at 15 museums around the county. OCMS has played a major role in supporting OMC. One of the principle outcomes of the Renaissance in the Regions report has been the allocation of funds to each of the 9 regions of England to support ‘museum development functions’ – ie advice and support to small and medium sized museums in the regions, promotion of networking and assistance with Registration and grant applications. In the South East Region this led to an award of £370,000 to the South East Museums Libraries and Archives Council (SEMLAC). This money has been used to appoint a regional officer, and the remainder has been divided between the 4 sub regions. In the Thames Valley Sub Region the museums in Buckinghamshire, Berkshire and Oxfordshire have agreed that a new full time post of Museum Development Officer (MDO) should be appointed and based with OCMS – building on the strengths of OMC and the support arrangements to the independent museums. The work of the MDO will be led by a Steering Committee. The location of the MDO in Oxfordshire with the OCMS will help to strengthen the OCMS’ role with independent museums; regular reports to the Museums Joint Working Group will help the Group to fulfil its strategic function. University of Oxford Museums The other principle impact of Renaissance in the Regions has been the creation of 9 museum ‘hubs’, one in each of the nine English regions. In the South East the museum hub is led by Hampshire County Museums Service; the other museums in the hub are: Chatham Historic Dockyard, Brighton and Hove Museums, and Oxford University Museums. Each of these museums in turn is the lead for the museums in each sub region – so the Oxford University Museums are the hub representatives for the Thames Valley (Oxfordshire, Berkshire and Buckinghamshire). In order to inform the Oxford University Museums, and through them the hub, OCMS together with the larger museums in the Thames Valley sub region, have been meeting regularly with the Oxford University Museums. These meetings include representatives from a large independent museum (River and Rowing Museum), a small independent museum (Stanley Spencer Gallery), a district service (Wycombe), Buckinghamshire County Museum, and Reading Museums Service. The South East hub has not been chosen for substantial funding in the first round of grants from Resource; however it is possible that from 2005/6 direct funding from the Government will be made available for museums in this region. In order to prepare for that it is proposed to formalise the Thames Valley Museums Group meetings and to consider the constitution, terms of reference and membership of the group. OCMS has developed a close working relationship with the Oxford University Museums. The County Museums and Heritage Officer has been invited to sit on the Committee for the Museums and Scientific Collections of Oxford University; a representative of the Ashmolean Museum has been invited to join the Best Value Review team for heritage services; and the MJWG is considering the need to invite a University representative to join that Group. Recommendations The Museums Joint Working Group are RECOMMENDED to a. Request appropriate and timely reports on all museum/heritage developments in Oxfordshire b. Request regular reports from the MDO/MDO Steering Group c. Request regular reports from the Thames Valley Museums Group/hub Martyn
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