Agenda item

This report invites the Community and Wellbeing Committee to consider the recommendation from the Audit and Scrutiny Committee (‘A&S’), made at A&S’s 5th February 2026 meeting with respect to the called-in decision of the Community and Wellbeing Committee (‘C&W’) made at C&W’s 13th January 2026 meeting in relation to Agenda Item 04, “Options for the Future of the Museum”.

Following consideration, the Committee resolved (6 for, 2 against) to:

(1)      Defer the decision subject to the publication in full of the report of the service review, to include all the recommendations, and the full consideration by the Committee of those recommendations.

The Committee received a report inviting the Committee to consider the recommendation from the Audit and Scrutiny Committee (‘A&S’), made at A&S’s 5th February 2026 meeting with respect to the called-in decision of the Community and Wellbeing Committee (‘C&W’) made at C&W’s 13th January 2026 meeting in relation to Agenda Item 04, “Options for the Future of the Museum”.

Prior to debate, Councillor Alex Coley, as a Councillor in attendance, provided a verbal statement to the Committee in relation to the agenda item.

Prior to debate, Councillor James Lawrence, as a Councillor in attendance, provided a verbal statement to the Committee in relation to the agenda item.

The Committee considered the following matters:

a)            Councillor Bernice Froud proposed that the report’s recommendation be amended from…

“Either;

(1) Accept the recommendation of the Audit and Scrutiny Committee to rescind/withdraw the decision made by the Community and Wellbeing Committee at its 13th January 2026 meeting in respect of Agenda Item 04, ‘Options for the Future of the Museum’, and

(2) Having considered the information provided within the Appendices to this report, agree the most appropriate course of action for the Bourne Hall Museum’s future as follows:

a) Option 1: Do nothing and carry on with business as usual, or;

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), or;

c) Option 3: Close the Museum.

Or;

(3) Note the recommendation of the Audit and Scrutiny Committee made at its meeting held on 5th February 2026 and resolve to implement immediately the decision made by the Community and Wellbeing Committee at its 13th January 2026 meeting in respect of Agenda Item 04, ‘Options for the Future of the Museum’.”

To…

“(1) Note the recommendation of the Audit and Scrutiny Committee made at its meeting held on 5th February 2026 and resolve to implement immediately the decision made by the Community and Wellbeing Committee at its 13th January 2026 meeting in respect of Agenda Item 04, ‘Options for the Future of the Museum’.”

Councillor Froud advised her reasoning for her proposed amendment was that in her view none of the additional information provided to the Committee would result in a different decision being reached. The proposal was seconded by Councillor Kim Spickett.

b)            Following further consideration, views were expressed by the Committee that it did not have enough information in order to come to a decision, owing to the redactions present within the Bourne Hall Service Review document provided at appendix 3 to the report. The Chair and the Interim Assistant Head of Service (Venues and Community Commercial Services) advised that the redactions had been authorised by the Chief Executive in her role as Proper Officer, and that, in the Chief Executive’s view, none of the content that had been redacted was pertinent to the decision being asked of the Committee.

c)            Following debate, Councillor Kate Chinn proposed that the recommendation be amended to…

“Defer the decision subject to the publication in full of the report of the service review, to include all the recommendations, and the full consideration by the Committee of those recommendations.”

The proposal was seconded by Councillor Bernie Muir. The Committee voted (3 for, 2 against, 3 abstaining) in favour of the amendment.

Subsequently, the Committee resolved (6 for, 2 against) to:

(1)      Defer the decision subject to the publication in full of the report of the service review, to include all the recommendations, and the full consideration by the Committee of those recommendations.