Decision details

LEICESTER MUSEUM & ART GALLERY CAPITAL PROGRAMME

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Decision Maker: City Mayor (Individual Decision)

Decision status: Recommendations Approved

Is Key decision?: Yes

Is subject to call in?: Yes

Purpose:

Decision to approve funds to progress Phase 4 (café relocation, redisplay of art galleries, roof maintenance works, environmental control system works) of the Leicester Museum & Art Gallery capital programme, to be funded from LCC capital policy provision and external grant funding.

Decision:

To approve:

- The addition of £3,621,000 for improvements at Leicester Museum & Art Gallery to the 2024/25 capital programme through the release of the remaining LMAG policy provision, and to add a further £844,000 of funding from the Business Rates Pool.

- The funding will be used to create new art gallery displays, café, shop and reception.

- It will also enable the development of a National Lottery Heritage Fund funding application to support the development of new social history galleries, environment galleries, improved learning spaces and first floor occupancy works.

Please Note: This decision was Called-In under Rule 12 of Part 4D of the Council’s Constitution. The Call-In was considered by the Culture and Neighbourhoods Scrutiny Commission at its meeting on 8 July 2024 where it was withdrawn by resolution of the Commission in accordance with Rule 12 (g) of Part 4D of the Council’s Constitution. The original decision taken on 28 May 2024 is, therefore, deemed to be revived in its entirety.

Reasons for the decision:

Approval is required to release the funding for the scheme to proceed.

Alternative options:

1. Continue with existing galleries - The current layout is the result of ad hoc gallery developments over the years creating an incoherent layout. Ad hoc extensions to the building since 1849 have created multiple floor levels and a visitor-unfriendly flow route. The cafe is also located in the middle of the building with limited food preparation facilities and unable to operate independently of the museum. This and existing galleries would remain in place if the scheme were not implemented. Visitor numbers to the first floor would remain restricted at peak times.

2. Implement the proposed Phase 4 scheme that will improve the visitor flow experience and accessibility. A new suite of art galleries will be created. The repositioned café will offer more covers and improved income opportunities. The programme will also undertake essential building maintenance works. The production of successful NLHF bid would also enable the development of new environmental galleries to replace the popular decommissioned Wild Space gallery, and create new Story of Leicester galleries as well as improved learning spaces and first floor occupancy capacity.

Publication date: 17/05/2024

Date of decision: 28/05/2024

Effective from: 05/06/2024

This decision has been called in by:

Councillor Nigel Porter who writes We, the undersigned, wish to 'Call-in' the decision to spend £3.6 million on a new café at the New Walk Museum. Despite the council being in a truly diabolical financial state, the Labour leadership still appears determined to waste millions of pounds of taxpayers cash on ill-conceived vanity projects. Most sensible people would agree with us when we say that a new council café is NOT a priority; especially as the council is on the brink of bankruptcy and cannot even afford to support the adventure playgrounds or Send transport. The Labour council must stop wasting public money on unnecessary projects like this proposed new café. There was a perfectly good café at the museum but the council shut it down. Before a penny is spent, this £3.6 million proposal must undergo proper consultation and scrutiny. "
Councillor Patrick Kitterick who writes We, the undersigned, wish to 'Call-in' the decision to spend £3.6 million on a new café at the New Walk Museum. Despite the council being in a truly diabolical financial state, the Labour leadership still appears determined to waste millions of pounds of taxpayers cash on ill-conceived vanity projects. Most sensible people would agree with us when we say that a new council café is NOT a priority; especially as the council is on the brink of bankruptcy and cannot even afford to support the adventure playgrounds or Send transport. The Labour council must stop wasting public money on unnecessary projects like this proposed new café. There was a perfectly good café at the museum but the council shut it down. Before a penny is spent, this £3.6 million proposal must undergo proper consultation and scrutiny. "
Councillor Hemant Rae Bhatia who writes We, the undersigned, wish to 'Call-in' the decision to spend £3.6 million on a new café at the New Walk Museum. Despite the council being in a truly diabolical financial state, the Labour leadership still appears determined to waste millions of pounds of taxpayers cash on ill-conceived vanity projects. Most sensible people would agree with us when we say that a new council café is NOT a priority; especially as the council is on the brink of bankruptcy and cannot even afford to support the adventure playgrounds or Send transport. The Labour council must stop wasting public money on unnecessary projects like this proposed new café. There was a perfectly good café at the museum but the council shut it down. Before a penny is spent, this £3.6 million proposal must undergo proper consultation and scrutiny. "
Councillor Scott Kennedy-Lount who writes We, the undersigned, wish to 'Call-in' the decision to spend £3.6 million on a new café at the New Walk Museum. Despite the council being in a truly diabolical financial state, the Labour leadership still appears determined to waste millions of pounds of taxpayers cash on ill-conceived vanity projects. Most sensible people would agree with us when we say that a new council café is NOT a priority; especially as the council is on the brink of bankruptcy and cannot even afford to support the adventure playgrounds or Send transport. The Labour council must stop wasting public money on unnecessary projects like this proposed new café. There was a perfectly good café at the museum but the council shut it down. Before a penny is spent, this £3.6 million proposal must undergo proper consultation and scrutiny. "
Councillor Shital Adatia who writes We, the undersigned, wish to 'Call-in' the decision to spend £3.6 million on a new café at the New Walk Museum. Despite the council being in a truly diabolical financial state, the Labour leadership still appears determined to waste millions of pounds of taxpayers cash on ill-conceived vanity projects. Most sensible people would agree with us when we say that a new council café is NOT a priority; especially as the council is on the brink of bankruptcy and cannot even afford to support the adventure playgrounds or Send transport. The Labour council must stop wasting public money on unnecessary projects like this proposed new café. There was a perfectly good café at the museum but the council shut it down. Before a penny is spent, this £3.6 million proposal must undergo proper consultation and scrutiny. "
Councillor Abdul Osman who writes We, the undersigned, wish to 'Call-in' the decision to spend £3.6 million on a new café at the New Walk Museum. Despite the council being in a truly diabolical financial state, the Labour leadership still appears determined to waste millions of pounds of taxpayers cash on ill-conceived vanity projects. Most sensible people would agree with us when we say that a new council café is NOT a priority; especially as the council is on the brink of bankruptcy and cannot even afford to support the adventure playgrounds or Send transport. The Labour council must stop wasting public money on unnecessary projects like this proposed new café. There was a perfectly good café at the museum but the council shut it down. Before a penny is spent, this £3.6 million proposal must undergo proper consultation and scrutiny. "

Accompanying Documents: