Issue - meetings

This report presents an appraisal of three strategic options for the future of Bourne Hall museum, drawing on findings from the Bourne Hall museum service review and the culture peer challenge report. The museum is a valued cultural asset with significant potential, but faces challenges in relevance, accessibility, and sustainability.

The Committee unanimously resolved to:

(1)      Option 2: Invest in improvement of the Museum (should option 2 be agreed a funding request will go to Strategy and Resources Committee March 2026 for consideration). In the event that Strategy and Resources Committee do not approve said funding, instead do nothing and carry on with business as usual.

The Committee received a report presenting an appraisal of three strategic options for the future of Bourne Hall museum, drawing on findings from the Bourne Hall museum service review and the culture peer challenge report.

The Committee considered the following matters:

a)            Cultural Peer Review. In response to comments from Members, the Chair stated that the general messaging and outcomes from the Cultural Peer Challenge (‘CPC’) had been captured effectively within the report and its appendices. He read out the recommendations from the CPC, which were noted by the Committee, and stated that the full CPC would be shared with Members following the meeting.

b)            Communicating with Local Schools. The Committee considered that the Museum could benefit from working and communicating closely with local universities, colleges and schools. It was suggested that the Museum could liaise with local schools with respect to the subjects they will be covering over the coming year, and for a fee could put on educational events for the students in relation to those subjects.

c)            Marketing and Promotion. The Committee considered that the Museum could benefit from increased/improved signposting and marketing. The Museum Curator stated that there had been a recent effort to boost marketing of the museum on social media, and that museum exhibitions and events were promoted in ‘What’s On In Epsom’ and other newsletters. She stated that the museum did not currently have an established marketing plan and explained that conversations with Communications were ongoing regarding the development of one.

d)            Preference for Option 2. The Committee expressed their view that the Museum was a valuable asset to the Borough and expressed a preference for Option 2 of the report (to invest in improvement of the Museum), and conversely expressed an aversion to Option 3 (to close the Museum).

Following consideration, Councillor Bernice Froud proposed that the wording to recommendation (1) b) of the report should be amended as follows (proposed amendment underlined):

(1) b) Option 2: Invest in improvement of the Museum (should option 2 be agreed a funding request will go to Strategy and Resources Committee March 2026 for consideration). In the event that Strategy and Resources Committee do not approve said funding, instead do nothing and carry on with business as usual.

Councillor Bernie Muir seconded the proposal. The Committee voted unanimously in favour of the amendment.

Subsequently, the Committee unanimously resolved to:

(1)      Option 2: Invest in improvement of the Museum (should option 2 be agreed a funding request will go to Strategy and Resources Committee March 2026 for consideration). In the event that Strategy and Resources Committee do not approve said funding, instead do nothing and carry on with business as usual.