News - Museums Sheffield will keep council funding

Museums Sheffield is set to keep its current level of Sheffield Council funding for the next financial year to help the trust cope after losing out on a bid for £4.2 million of Arts Council cash.

Opposition Lib Dem councillors proposed a motion at this afternoon’s full council meeting that the current annual grant of £2.044 million should stay the same for next year - which was accepted by the authority’s ruling Labour group.

Freezing the council grant for the next three years had been a condition of receiving the Arts Council money but after the bid for funding was lost, the council could have made a cut. Money for other trusts, including Sheffield Theatres, is being reduced.

The boost comes as a redundancy notice was issued for 45 of Museum Sheffield’s 107 staff on account of the Arts Council’s rejection.

Museums Sheffield is bidding for a share of further Arts Council funding to be announced in September.

From: http://www.thestar.co.uk/news/breaking_museums_sheffield_will_keep_council_funding_1_4201577

News - Museums Sheffield to lose 45 jobs throughout city

Up to 45 jobs are to go at Sheffield's museums over the coming months, Museums Sheffield has said.

Chief executive Daniel Dodd said the cuts would mean the latest exhibition, which opens on Thursday, would be the last of its kind.

The organisation currently employs 107 staff. Mr Dodd said all savings must be made by 31 March.

It is thought that the redundancies will affect every part of the organisation.

"Everybody is at risk, including me," said Mr Dodd. "We all work together and it is absolutely appropriate that everybody stands side by side in this." 

He said staff, who had already taken pay cuts and had their hours changed, were "deeply, deeply shocked and upset" by the news.

The redundancies would also have a "very serious effect" on the city's cultural offering, he said.

"The next exhibition, The Family in British Art, is of the highest quality - exceptional, fantastic, but it will be the last show of its type that we will ever be able to do because we won't have the people to do it any more."

An appeal has been launched by staff and the public, and the Museums Sheffield website explains why the Arts Council funding was turned down.

From: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-south-yorkshire-16840918

News - Council set to discuss budget and £33m in cuts (Notts CC)

CITY councillors are meeting on Tuesday to discuss budget plans for 2011/12.

The council is proposing to cut £33 million, which would hit libraries, theatres, schools and museums.

Spending on the Theatre Royal and the Royal Concert Hall will be slashed by two thirds – but the Royal Centre would become an independent trust, allowing it to apply for grants.

The council has also revealed that Carlton Road library could close, in addition to the closures of St Ann's and Bulwell libraries announced previously.

Opening hours at Newstead Abbey, Brewhouse Yard Museum and Green's Windmill and Science Centre, in Sneinton, could be reduced.

The council is considering cutting the workforce by about 370 posts next year, saving more than £11 million.

Funding for capital projects such as roads, schools and housing has also been reduced or scrapped.

City council deputy leader Graham Chapman said: "We have been among the most successful councils in protecting jobs and frontline services but because of the scale of these cuts, there will inevitably be some significant impacts. We are approaching the Government about the damage another settlement like this next year would inflict." Proposals will be discussed by the executive board on Tuesday and ratified at full council on March 7.

From: http://www.thisisnottingham.co.uk/news/Council-set-discuss-budget-163-33m-cuts/article-3242880-detail/article.html

Budget Cuts: How are they Affecting Nottinghamshire & South Yorkshire

As the financial situation in the country seems unwilling to abate and money is being cut from most services it's important to keep up to date with how these are affecting our region.  At present there are five main areas within the Nottinghamshire & South Yorkshire area to note:

1) Nottinghamshire County Council Cuts

The Councils Conservation budget has been cut by a whopping 75% in an attempt to save £376,000.  This means only 6 out of the 33 staff in that department will remain and community help will be severely impacted.

In the proposal Nottinghamshire County Council state "...Reduced access to the Historic Environment Record for all external service users.

District, town and parish councils, community groups and individuals willl need to identify other sources for advice on conservation and heritage issues . External conservation and heritage partnerships, projects and events will need to secure any support they need from other sources. ..."

Libraries and Archives have also been impacted to save £3,306,000 over a three year period.  This involves reducing opening times at most libraries and costs for groups using libraries will be increased

For further information on all these cuts go to: http://www3.nottinghamshire.gov.uk/thecouncil/budget-proposals/communities/

2) Museums Sheffield

 In October 2010 the last "Keeper of Archaeology" left leaving no archaeologists employed by the trust.  The position wasn't offered out as a job vacancy due to the position being frozen due to lack of funds.

The trust is also no longer collecting archives from archaeological contractors,at present these contractors will have to hold on to their archives.

For further information go to: http://www.museums-sheffield.org.uk/coresite/html/

3) Doncaster County Council Library Closures

14 libraries are due to be closed in the Doncaster area. There is currently a campaign to save these valuable assets to the community with a planned "read-in" to be held on 29th January at Doncaster library between 1pm and 3pm.  The official "Save Doncaster Libraries" website can be found at http://savedoncasterlibraries.wordpress.com/

4) Cuts at English Heritage

English Heritage are having to deal with a 50% administration cost reduction in all of it's offices Government ministers have announced.  From: http://www.rescue-archaeology.org.uk/map2/reports/view/15

5) Portable Antiquities Scheme Cuts 

15% of the PAS budget was cut in November 2010 for the next four years and  running of this valuable commodity to historians and archaeologists alike will be taken over by the British Museum.

If you know of any more please let me know and I'll update this.

Cheers 

Dave Cook

Cuts Threaten Future of Bestwood Country Park

THE future of Bestwood Country Park could be under threat after shock, cost-cutting plans to axe the jobs of all the rangers who work there.

A friends group fears that the proposals could mean the country park being subjected to fly-tipping, anti-social behaviour, illegal camping, burnt-out cars, off-road motorcycling and arson.

“With power prices rising, the theft of timber from the country park could become a problem too,” warned group secretary Roger Williams.

Concern has also been voiced about the impact on the newly-upgraded winding engine house of the former Bestwood Colliery.

The engine house is an iconic feature of the park but the rangers are thought to play a key role in maintaining it as a top tourist attraction.

The country park’s site manager, Alex Morley, said the senior ranger was supported by five other members of the team and all six had many years’ experience.

“We have worked really hard in partnership with the police and Gedling Borough Council to improve the image of the park,” said Mr Morley. “It has worked — but only because of the vital contribution made by the rangers.”

Notts County Council says the chopping of the rangers’ jobs is necessary as it aims to make savings of £150 million over the next three years.

But Mr Williams claims the county council can maintain a permanent ranger-led team at the country park while still making significant savings.

Now the friends group has launched a petition campaign in opposition to the proposals, which they describe as the “worst possible example of short-termism and expediency”.

The country park is regularly visited by residents of the surrounding area, including Bestwood Village and Hucknall, and from further afield.

The site covers 690 acres and has by far the longest urban-fringe boundary of Nottinghamshire’s parks, with numerous access points.

Mr Williams says the friends group and a volunteers team cannot cope with the security and safety implications without the rangers, whose local knowledge and trained expertise is vital.

He adds: “We believe the county council must recognise its responsibilities to the residents and to the park by maintaining a ranger-presence, even if this is reduced.

“Without that, all the improvements that have been achieved at the country park over the last few years would be wasted and would cost more later to re-establish.

“In these times, when many local people cannot afford expensive breaks, the park offers a healthy, safe and free outing. On a weekend, we see walkers, birdwatchers, horse-riders, joggers and families with children just out for a relaxing stroll and fresh air.

“Running, orienteering and other groups use the park as a venue. But without ranger-service cover, this would not be possible.

“In short, the loss of the wardens would mean a deterioration of this beautiful and historic asset, which forms a green lung for communities across the north side of Nottingham, with 30 nature habitats.”

The winding engine house was officially opened to the public in August after its refurbishment as a £2.4 million visitor and tourist attraction.

Hucknall man Bob Gow, who has been actively involved in the project, said the rangers had done much to make the country park and winding engine house “wonderful” assets. There had been a lot of investment from sources which included the Heritage Lottery Fund, he added.

The county council’s director for cultural services, Patrick Candler, said: “We are looking at new ways of ensuring that our country parks and remain premier visitor-destinations.

“We are already talking to a number of partners about sharing resources to deliver services and are also hoping to attract more volunteers.”

 

From: http://www.hucknalldispatch.co.uk/news/local-news/cuts_threaten_future_of_country_park_1_2892915

Plan to Cut Open Times at Newstead Abbey

NEWSTEAD Abbey, the ancestral home of Lord Byron, faces reduced opening times as part of cost-cutting drive.

Nottingham City Council is set to change the way it runs the historic site in a bid to make savings and balance the budget - and while the gardens will continue to stay open throughout the year, access to the house will be mainly by appointment for pre-booked groups, conferences, weddings, catering and as an event venue.

The proposals would mean that house tours for the general public will only be available on Sundays (between April and October), on Bank Holidays, for Christmas events and for heritage open weekends.

If given the go-ahead, the plans would mean that house tours for the general public will be available on Sundays (April to October) and Bank Holidays and for Christmas, festive events and heritage open weekends. It is proposed that school groups would continue to access Newstead Abbey as before by pre-booking.

Council bosses say that it costs the authority up to £600,000 a year to run Newstead - but these proposals could halve this.

Earlier this month, the Government announced a 16.5 per cent cut in the council’s budget - which equates to a £60 million reduction in grants for the next financial year.

The new operating model will only be implemented after the 90-day consultation period has concluded.

A spokesman from the council said: “The City Council remains open to discussions on how best to continue to manage the house and site in the longer term and is willing to talk to other partners or operators about the site and how best to preserve and conserve this important part of Nottinghamshire heritage.

“In the meantime, it is proposing to change to the new operating model to reduce its costs and ensure access is maintained to this important heritage site.

“The new arrangements would lead to changes in staffing and operations and consultation is currently underway with affected staff and the trade unions.

“Every effort is being made to re-deploy staff where possible and minimise job losses as result of the changes needing to be made.”

From http://www.chad.co.uk/news/local/plan_to_cut_open_times_at_abbey_1_2889857