Agenda item

Report of the Cabinet Member Sport and Culture

The Cabinet Member Sport and Culture introduced the report which asked Cabinet to consider and make a decision regarding which statements to include under section 12f within the proposed Acquisitions and Disposal Policy for Cheltenham Art Gallery and Museum (AG&M), to approve the revised Acquisitions and Disposal Policy and to consider the request for a return of a clock given to the AG&M in 1963. The Cabinet Member Sport and Culture stressed that any decision made on the Acquisitions and Disposals policy would not impact on any subsequent decision.

The Cabinet Member Sport and Culture referred to the Appendix and the copy of the Acquisitions and Disposal Policy which outlined the terms on which the Council made acquisitions and disposals to the policy. He strongly recommended Option 2 to Cabinet as if the Council adopted a policy of sale for profit it would jeopardise the standing of the museum as viewed by the Museums, Libraries and Archives Council and put at risk the funding the Council had in place for improvements to the AG&M. In his view this risk would not be worth any financial gain it may make.

Members supported Option 2 and commended the policy as a whole.

With regard to the specific issue on the request by Mr Stuart Latham for a return of a clock given to the AG&M in 1963, the Leader referred Members to the official valuation which had been circulated at the meeting and used his discretion by inviting Mr Latham to address the meeting.

Mr Latham told Cabinet of his early memories of the clock and his disappointment when he discovered its incompleteness (apparent loss of its wooden case, pendulum and weights) and condition upon viewing it at the AG&M. There also appeared to be no record that it had ever been exhibited. He believed that the Museum had failed his family. He had thus put in a formal request to have the clock returned to him, not for financial reasons, but in order to refurbish it and have it in his home.

Cabinet Members appreciated the importance of the clock to Mr Latham but noted that contrary to Mr Latham’s opinion the inspection had found that the clock was in a good condition. There was no indication from the acquisition records that there were parts missing nor evidence of its condition upon donation. It was suggested that if Cabinet decided the clock should be retained by the AG&M Mr Latham should be involved in discussions regarding its restoration if deemed necessary. The clock was obviously of historical importance and as such the Council would wish members of the public to have the opportunity to appreciate too.

The Cabinet Member Sport, Leisure and Culture thanked Mr Latham for his contribution.

The Collections Manager and Curator at the AG&M referred to the prime record relating to the acquisition of the clock in 1963 and said that no reference had been made to the pendulum, weights or the wooden case. Whilst there were no records of what had been displayed until the mid 1980s, she believed that it would have been displayed at some point as staff were always keen to display all new acquisitions. The AG&M considered the clock to be complete and intended to display it in a new 18th century gallery relating to Gloucestershire makers once the AG&M reopened in early 2013.

The Cabinet Member Sport and Culture asked Cabinet to consider the 3 options as outlined in the report. In his view Mr Latham’s claim that the clock had been seriously neglected by the AG&M was unproven and there was a lack of documentary evidence that parts were missing. The museum wished to display the clock once it reopened and this would fulfil the original intention of the donation. He thus favoured Option 1 but highlighted that the AG&M should display the clock.

The Leader of the Council appreciated that this was a very difficult decision but there was no evidence to suggest that the AG&M had been negligent. The clock would be displayed and he highlighted that a major driver behind the AG&M extension was indeed to display more of its collection.

RESOLVED that:

1.      Under section 12f within the proposed Acquisitions & Disposal Policy for Cheltenham ArtGallery & Museum the museum will not undertake disposal motivated principally by financial reasons.

2.      The revised Acquisitions & Disposal Policy for Cheltenham ArtGallery & Museum in Appendix 5, incorporating the decision made at 1. above be approved, and that the policy will again be reviewed in 2016.

3.      The request for the return of a clock - given to the Art Gallery & Museum in 1963 – be refused.