Issue - meetings

To consider a report and presentation of the Director of Culture, Communities and Business Services with an update from the Archives and Records Service.

The Committee received the report and presentation of the Director of Culture, Communities and Business Service (Item 6 in the Minute Book) regarding the Archives and Records Service and Transformation to 2019 (T19).

Members noted how the service had robust plans in place to deliver the required T19 savings, via reducing costs and generating additional income, whilst maintaining the excellent service provision that had recently seen the service awarded Archive Service Accreditation. Members praised the work being conducted by the Archives and Records Service.

In response to Members’ questions, it was confirmed that:

• The service was developing a policy to charge for collections that were being held on behalf of individuals and external organisations.
• ‘Behind the scenes’ tours of HRO, which had previously proved successful in terms of generating  income and engaging members of the public with the important archiving work being undertaken, were now being offered to individuals as a new initiative which was already proving popular.
• Plans were in place to mitigate the reductions in staffing including the retirement of the conservator. The plans included exploring opportunities for an apprenticeship alongside a grant funded role, extending the input of volunteers and investigating the possibility of working in partnership with other organisations to jointly secure resources.

RESOLVED:

That the Culture and Communities Select Committee notes the content of the report and supports the strategy to meet the Transformation to 2019 financial targets for the Archives and Records Service.