Issue - meetings

Corinium Museum Collections Development and Human Remains policies

Purpose

To review and approve the Collections and Human Remains Policies of the Corinium Museum, and to agree a delegation to the Cabinet Member for Health, Culture and Visitor Experience.

Recommendation

That Cabinet resolves to:

Approve the Collections and Human Remains Policies of the Corinium Museum;
Delegate authority to the Cabinet member for Health, Culture, and Visitor Experience to determine accession and deaccession requests and agree the Museum’s Forward Plan.

Additional documents:

Decision:

The purpose of the item was to review and approve the Collections and Human Remains Policies of the Corinium Museum, and to agree a delegation to the Cabinet Member for Health, Culture and Visitor Experience

The Cabinet Member for Health, Culture, and Visitor Experience introduced the item.

The recommendations were proposed by the Councillor Hodgkinson, Cabinet Member for Health, Culture, and Visitor Experience, and seconded by Councillor Layton, Cabinet Member for Housing and Planning.

RESOLVED that Cabinet:

1. APPROVE the Collections and Human Remains Policies of the Corinium Museum;

2. DELEGATE authority to the Cabinet member for Health, Culture, and Visitor Experience to determine accession and deaccession requests and agree the Museum’s Forward Plan

Voting Record 7 For, 0 Against, 0 Abstention

Minutes:

The purpose of the item was to review and approve the Collections and Human Remains Policies of the Corinium Museum, and to agree to a delegation to the Cabinet Member for Health, Culture and Visitor Experience.

The Cabinet Member for Health, Culture, and Visitor Experience introduced the item.

The Corinium Museum in Cirencester was discussed. Cabinet Members highlighted its status as an award-winning institution that showcases over 2,000 years of Romano-British history. The museum's high acclaim and its significance in preserving local heritage were also highlighted.

Approval was sought for updated policies for the museum, specifically concerning collections and human remains, as well as the processes for accessioning (adding items to the collection) and deaccessioning (removing items). The updates were necessary for the museum to maintain its accreditation and adhere to best practices in the sector.

One revised policy related to handling new artifacts and disposing of items, while the other addressed the sensitive treatment of human remains, of which the museum held 1,400 sets.

Delegated authority was sought for handling accession and deaccession requests, clarification was given that such requests were rare but would be handled more efficiently in a portfolio holder meeting rather than the broader forum. Following a question from Councillor Layton around report point 6.3, it was also clarified that any decisions for a notional value of £250,000 would be referred to Cabinet for a decision.

The Leader requested that the report author make two amendments:

1. The Council's new logo should be used on the new Collections Development Policy,

2. The Human Remains Policy should incorporate the Council's new logo, and the policy should be referenced as a Cotswold District Council policy to reflect the Council's ownership.

Thanks were given to Emma Stewart and her team at the museum for their excellent work.

The recommendations were proposed by Councillor Hodgkinson, Cabinet Member for Health, Culture, and Visitor Experience, and seconded by Councillor Layton, Cabinet Member for Housing and Planning.

RESOLVED that Cabinet:

1. APPROVE the Collections and Human Remains Policies of the Corinium Museum;

2. DELEGATE authority to the Cabinet member for Health, Culture, and Visitor Experience to determine accession and deaccession requests and agree to the Museum’s Forward Plan

Voting Record 7 For, 0 Against, 0 Abstention

Issue - meetings

Corinium Museum Collections Development and Human Remains policies

Meeting: 09/01/2025 - Cabinet (Item 49)

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