Agenda item

Interim Council Strategy 2020-21

Minutes:

Cabinet considered the report regarding the proposed Interim Council Strategy 2020-21.

 

The Leader of the Council and Chairman of Cabinet, Business, Economic Development and Property informed that informed that he wished to clarify something within the proposed strategy.  With regards to the Windsor Museum he would ask the report  to be amended to say that we would not be currently reopening the museum instead of saying the museum would be closed.  This was a working document showing a direction of strategy given the current situation.  We needed to be flexible, nimble and responsive to changing needs. The council also needed to maintain focus on core critical services.

 

The current Corporate Plan was due to expire next year and was a strategy developed for different times.  There was a new medium term financial strategy and thus a new strategy was required to meet these needs and the demands of the pandemic and future financial management.  This interim strategy was required to help with the current position before a new strategy was developed. This was a statement of intention with any implemented actions requiring a review and for reports back to Cabinet as required.

 

A member of the public Alice Le Page had registered to speak on this item.  She questioned why it was planned to close the museum as it seemed an opportunistic amendments to the papers.  There had been no consultation with staff, no members of staff had been shielded and government guidance did not require shielding.  Looking for others to take over the management of the establishment contradicted the statement that this was a temporary position.  There would be no meaningful savings as the collection would need to be stored.  There would need to be a cultural recovery and the government had announced emergency funds being available.  It was premature to close the museum before all avenues had been explored.  She felt that removing a learning resource was short sighted and how was it justified closing a beneficial community educational resource when the town needs it the most.

 

The Leader reiterated that it was proposed to delay the re-opening of the museum and that a further more detailed report would be brought forward before any final decision was made.  All suitable options would be considered and that he had already been contacted by a number of parties.

 

The Deputy Leader of the Council, Resident & Leisure Services, HR, IT, Legal, Performance Management & Windsor informed that the library services had to close due to C-19.  The team had been fantastic in their response and providing services to the public.  A digital service was provided along with collection.  The service will be reviewed due to the impact of C-19 and financial pressures.  With regards to the museum it was much loved, 70 years old had 13,000 objects and had 65,000 visits with 100 events.  It was supported by the Friends of Museum Group.   The tourism information office was in the Royal Windsor Station and valued by tourists, shops and businesses.  Tourism was important to Windsor and this was an opportunity to look at the offer.

 

The Lead Member for Finance and Ascot informed that the financial monitoring report being considered later in the report would provide some context to this item and the financial impact of C-19.  It would be remise that not to look at every service.  The budget talks about transformation and transformation of services to provide valued services and balanced budget. 

 

The Leader said that he had been clear at the start of the pandemic that not all services would re-open as they once were, the world had changed and services would be subject to an options  review.

 

Cllr Knowles reported that things may be different but there still remained a need for tourism in Windsor and tourists needed an offer and guidance.  With regards to the tourism information office there were overheads and thus it could move to the Guildhall as a better location or temporarily have a stall in the covered market.  Being in the Guildhall would be more visible and bring visitors to the area. 

 

Cllr Bowden reported that the library was very important to Windsor; students and the elderly used the internet access on offer. Council services had successfully been delivered in the library before moving back to York House.  The museum may need to stay closed but it remained important to Windsor, it could be run by a CIC.  With regards to the information centre it was currently in a listed building, however moving to the Guildhall could raise difficulty due to opening hours.  Buckingham Palace was due to close for refurbishment and the royal family would move to Windsor. 

 

Cllr Davey asked what the cost of keeping the museum was and how long it was expected to be closed. He felt the needs of pensioners were being ignored.  He asked for the cultural heritage fund to be explored and he suggested that the Windsor Local Heritage Group could have a role to play. 

 

Cllr Davies said that the re-opening of the museum and tourist information office needed a full review with lead member, staff and volunteers being included.  It was expected that the final decision would come back to Cabinet.

 

Cllr W Da Costa said that there were more than 65,000 visitors to the museum and 630 trips to the Guildhall.  The Royal Family would be re-locating to Windsor and thus there was a need of a quality service for tourism.  The museum needed to be kept going and if RBWM could not do this then the Windsor Town Council needed to be established as soon as possible.

 

Cllr Singh raised concern that temporary closure of libraries may become permanent

 

Cllr Rayner informed that the NET cost of running the museum was £130k and she would revisit moving the information centre to the Guildhall.

 

Cllr Price raised the equalities impact assessment and asked if the impact of C-19 on multiple areas of deprivation and those with existing health conditions.  She said that local data and evidence should be considered.  She also mentioned that the 10 characteristics of equality should always be considered.

 

Resolved unanimously: that  Cabinet notes the report and:

 

i) Approves the Interim Council Strategy 2020-21 as amended to say museum will not be currently opened; and

ii) Requests Officers to develop reports for relevant decision making

bodies to progress the objectives therein.

 

Supporting documents: