To request £640,000 of Council funding over three years for Phase 3 of the Friar Street Museum Resource and Learning Centre to match an award of £1,223,000 from the Heritage Lottery Fund.

THAT the match funding of £640,000, spread over the next three financial years, is allocated to this project to allow it to proceed.

On 22nd March, 2005 the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) confirmed the award of a Stage 1 pass to the application for support of Phase 3, the final phase of the development of the Friar Street Museum Resource and Learning Centre.  This award sets aside up to £1,223,000 or 65.62% of the total development costs to Herefordshire Council.  This award is subject to Herefordshire Council confirming their matchfunding position as soon as possible.

No alternative options are suggested as not supporting this option would stop this project and would jeopardise future funding requests from the Heritage Lottery Fund for this scheme, other Council schemes and schemes with Council partnership.