Agenda item

The Director of Tourism, Culture, and Inward Investment submits a presentation on the redevelopment of the Jewry Wall Museum.

The Chair led on introductions and the procedure for the meeting was outlined.

It was noted that the meeting was held virtually in accordance with the Local Authorities and Police and Crime Panels (Coronavirus)(Flexibility of Local Authority and Police and Crime Panel Meetings)(England and Wales)(Regulations) 2020 (the 2020 Regulations) and in accordance with the Council’s own Remote Procedure Rules.

The Chair announced that the agenda items would be taken out of order, with Agenda Item 10. Jewry Wall Redevelopment Update being taken first. It was noted the City Mayor and Councillor Kitterick had been invited to the meeting.

The Director of Tourism, Culture and Inward Investment submitted a presentation on the redevelopment of Jewry Wall Museum.

The City Mayor noted the development as an exciting project and welcomed the opportunity to talk about some of the work being done to share the story of Roman history, which had shaped Leicester over a period of 400 years. This history was still evident in the street pattern of central Leicester, and particularly at Jewry Wall where the remains of the bath house were uncovered by the pioneering work of Kathleen Kenyon, described as one of the most influential archaeologists of the 20^th Century. What remained of the bath house was the largest piece of non-military roman masonry anywhere in the UK and it was important this was recognised.

The City Mayor said it had been made possible to extend the old museum from the ground floor of the building, having acquired the closed Vaughan College on the upper floor so that now the full building would be used. He added there was now an increased need to bring people into the city and that this project was an important contribution to securing the future of the city centre more generally.

The Deputy City Mayor, Culture, Leisure, Sport and Regulatory Services further noted that many businesses would not reopen due to Covid19, and that the development of the museum would be a catalyst to boost the city’s tourist offer and help to support the city economy. The Deputy City Mayor noted the museum had first opened in 1966. The council had worked closely with consultants Haley Sharp Design, a Leicester company with international expertise, and the plans being shown for the first time were very exciting. It was stated the first stage of building works to the shell of the building had commenced and would be completed December 2021. Phases 2 and 3 would soon follow with the opening of the museum planned for spring / summer 2023.

The Director of Tourism, Culture and Inward Investment informed the meeting it was important that detail of the large, significant scheme be brought to Scrutiny and that it was receiving considerable internal scrutiny also, with a high level project board meeting on a monthly basis to review all aspects of the project, chaired by Richard Sword, Strategic Director.

Joanna Jones, Head of Arts, Museums, Festivals and Events delivered the presentation, and this is attached to the minutes for information. The following points in addition to the presentation were made:

·         Jewry Wall remains were an ancient monument.

·         Many of Leicester’s Roman finds would be on display at the museum including several of the larger mosaics

·         A very large element of the overall budget was to make the necessary refurbishments to the building itself which had received minimal investment and was 50 years old and to improve access.

·         A visual showed the new walkway currently under construction in Phase 1, scheduled to be completed by July 2021. The new walkway would have views over the archaeological remains of the site and go through a new entrance into the upper floor of the museum.

·         Archaeological remains were being protected during work on site.

·         A new stairway and lift would connect the lower and upper floors

·         It was noted that the Trevor Dannatt’s 1960s architecture afforded good views through the building to the remains

·         Part of the project was to reveal the building architecture as well as create a new museum experience.

·         There were viewing windows in the surrounding hoardings so people can see how the project progresses over time.

·         Under Phase 3, display themes were outlined.

·         A visual was presented on the plan for the building. The previous library would now be the ticketing and shop area, leading into an immersive experience with panoramic projection in the old community hall that would serve as the introduction to the museum and bring ancient Roman Leicester to life. Visitors would then move to the lower floor displays.

·         Visitors would also be able to go out to the archaeological remains.

·         Large object displays would be on the lower floor, for example, mosaics.

·         An All Roads Lead to Leicester was a digital projection, demonstrating the size and scale of the Roman settlement.

·         A series of ‘drum’ shapes were designed to be mini-theatres, interactive, and displaying collections illustrating different aspects of life in Roman Leicester.

·         The long rear wall would display a chronological display looking at 90 years of excavation in the city, including Kathleen Kenyon’s work to excavate the site.

·         The business plan developed in 2017 was currently being reviewed and nearing completion.

·         There would be opportunities in the short return wing for education uses and meeting rooms to generate income. It was noted schools were an important audience.

In response to Members questions, the following points were made:

·         It was asked if there would be a cost or be free to enter the museum. It was stated there would be a charge, and work was ongoing on price points. The opportunities for joint ticketing with other attractions in Leicester and beyond was noted

·         It was noted there were sceptics around visitor numbers for the Space Centre before it had opened but that it now saw hundreds of thousands of visitors every year and had been an enormous success. It was noted that detailed forecasting for visitor numbers was underway.

ACTION: The issue of visitor numbers and pricing to be brought back to a future meeting.

·         It was noted there was a balance to be had between the artifacts and the digital offer.

·         Nothing further in terms of important archaeology had been uncovered during the works for the new staircase and lift

·         It was noted that it was important to interpret the building itself, an iconic 1960s building designed by celebrated architect Trevor Dannatt who had just very recently died. 

·         In terms of displays and the experience of the visitors it was noted it would be good to reflect of the diversity of the city in terms of its people, its industry, and the contribution of black people to Leicester’s rich heritage.

·         It was an opportunity to reflect that Romans were not a bunch of Italians was wrong, because those that ended up in Leicester came from a wide geographic spread, some from Africa, Gaul etc. and it was important to reflect that Leicester in Roman times was already a multi-cultural city.

·         It was asked that if stage smoke be used, then water vapour be used rather than anything that caused people to cough.

·         Performance events could be an important part of the site, including costume interpretation.

·         It was not anticipated that there would be any further need for additional finance. The Council was due to go out soon to tender for the remaining Phase 2 of building works and for Phase 3 of the museum design itself. Hayley Sharpe had developed a high degree of cost certainty for the Phase 3 museum design. There had been prudent allowances in terms of risk and contingency, and there would be a high cost certainty overall before the end of 2021.

·         Designers were acutely aware of climate change. More information would be brought back to a future meeting on the designer’s plans to climate proof the development, though it was noted there were some constraints due to it being a listed building.

ACTION: Detailed information would be brought back to a future meeting.

·         The Council was minded to operate Jewry Wall themselves and not via Trust or third party. It was noted the KRIII visitor centre was now operated directly by the council.

·         Everything being done in and around Jewry Wall was being done in consultation with Heritage England as part of the project.

·         Officers were keen to work with Friends of Jewry Wall and to strengthen that group, and it was believed the project would create some momentum and give a focus for people.

·         In terms of technology, Hayley Sharpe were ensuring technology was future-proof and easy to maintain, update and replace.

The Chair thanked officers and commented there was reassurance that the project would match the budget and asked that the presentation be circulated to members.

AGREED:

That:

1.    The Commission support the plans to improve the facilities and museum building and that Members be kept informed of any major changes to the plans and any budget implications for the project.

2.    The agenda item should remain on the Commission’s work programme to receive regular updates on progress made, including the timescales for completion.

3.    That the issue of visitor number targets and admission prices be brought back to a future meeting.

4.    Detailed information on climate emergency proofing and how well it could be delivered in the listed building be brought to future meeting.

Suggested a bigger report on how Jewry Wall, KRIII, the Space Centre etc contribute to creating wealth in the city be added as a work programme item and be reported to the Commission.

The City Mayor agreed that reporting on how Jewry Wall, the KRIII Centre and Space Centre contributed to the wealth of the city was a separate, bigger project, and should be reported back to the Commission alongside reporting on Jewry Wall.

AGREED:

1.    That the item be added to the Commission’s work programme.