To consider the proposal and options for moving Herefordshire Museum services to Trust status.

THAT:            a procurement process is undertaken to solicit tenders from charitable trusts for the purpose of delivering the museum service in Herefordshire.

On 19 September 2013 a Cabinet decision was made for the museum service to undergo a restructure to a reduced level of service and to commence negotiations with existing trusts in order to find a sustainable and safeguarded future for the museum service and the Hereford collection.

An alternative option would be to continue to manage the service by the Herefordshire Council. This option was explored within the Cabinet Report of 19 September 2013 and it was judged that the long-term sustainability of the Herefordshire collection was best provided for within a trust arrangement as it makes external financial funding easier to access and also brings management and associated financial efficiencies.

Should there be no existing trust forthcoming to enter into an arrangement with the museum service the option of considering a small independent trust may be appropriate.  However advice from a specialist museum consultant indicated that the small critical mass of the Hereford service may make this option unviable.