Decision details

Date of Decision:

17^th February, 2025

Title:

Rotherham Museums, Arts and Heritage Collection and Object Disposal

Decision Maker:

(Including Job Title)

Polly Hamilton – Assistant Director of Culture, Sport and Tourism

Specific Delegation:

(If any)

Cabinet Report for Collections Management Policy on 23 January 2023 delegated decision to the Assistant Director of Culture, Sport and Tourism in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Social Inclusion for any future changes or new versions of the Collections Management Policy.

Brief Description of Decision:

The decision is to agree the ethical disposal of accessioned objects in the Rotherham Collection, alongside unidentified objects and historic object entries that do not meet the current Collections Management Policy. This will be done in accordance with the disposal of museum objects protocol set out in the Museum Association’s Code of Ethics, and the Council’s Financial Regulations and Procurement Procedure Rules.

Reasons for the Decision:

The service currently aims to rationalise the collections by disposing of duplicate material and items that do not meet the acquisition standards set in the Collections Management Policy and have no display, educational or research value. The Collections Management Policy identifies the collecting priority to be provenanced material made, used or associated with people, places or activities within Rotherham Metropolitan Borough. The service will also dispose of items that are in an unacceptable condition, where it is economically unjustifiable to conserve them.

This work is also part of a store move from Wath Library Basement to Bailey House, which needs to be completed by end of February 2025.

Details of alternative options considered and rejected:

Do Nothing would risk the loss of Museums Accreditation as the implementation of the Collections Management policy is required to demonstrate effective collection management. It would also risk the loss of funding from Arts Council England and other funders and potentially jeopardise the timescale for delivery of the regeneration project at Wath, which is dependent on the removal of the collections contained in storage at Wath library.  

Adopt the recommended objects for disposal: this is the recommended option as it implements the expectations set out in the Collections Management Policy agreed by Cabinet on 23 January 2023, and subsequently by Full Council. It also reflects the current mission and values of the Museums, Arts & Heritage service and its commitment to ensuring community voice and influence within its activities.

The recommended disposals will enable the service to retain its Museums Accreditation and fully participate in the Arts Council England National Portfolio Organisation Programme. The collection backlog and lack of disposal were highlighted as areas for development for the service in the previous Museum Accreditation, so this will demonstrate that the service has made improvements in this area.

Conflicts of interest declared by any Executive Member consulted by the decision maker which relates to the decision:

None

Dispensations Granted:

(If any)

None

Reports or parts of reports considered

None