Agenda item

- to receive the report

Further to Minute No. 49 of a meeting of the Cabinet Member, Lifelong Learning, Culture and Leisure held on 26^th September 2006, consideration was given to a report of the Manager, Libraries, Museums and Arts on the results of the self-assessment judgement by The National Archives (TNA).

The Archives & Local Studies Service completed the self-assessment for local authorities last year and has now received two star (Good) rating. 

In 2006 the self-assessment was a pilot exercise, but in 2007 and onwards it is intended that the judgement will be adopted as a performance indicator for CPA.  Results for all local authorities in England and Wales are also planned to be published in future.

The self-assessment covers 5 broad themes:  governance & management;  documentation of collections;  access;  buildings, security & environment;  preservation and conservation.  The process looks comprehensively at the repository and the services it offers to the public.  Scores were received as follows:

The meeting was informed that the one star rating in 3b. was in the main due to non-compliance with the Disability Discrimination Act.  The result of a bid for funding through the BIPs process for the DDA equipment, and for increasing the availability of online information for financial year 2007/08, is presently awaited.

Comparison with other repositories is not possible for this pilot year of 2006 as the full results were not published; however from 2007 results will be published for benchmarking purposes.

Discussions with Heads of Repositories in the Yorkshire & Humber region have revealed that Rotherham is one of only two two-star services in the region, the other being a major, long-established County Record Office.

It will be possible to maintain current performance by making some small changes, and following the implementation of developments already in hand.  These include the installation of new air-conditioning units in the strongroom to replace the existing broken ones, which means that compliance with BS5454:2000 Recommendations for the storage and exhibition of archival documents will be made and should increase the score in section 4a.  Other issues are the provision of furniture and accessibility equipment to meet RMBC’s obligations under the DDA; the increase in availability of online information about the holdings; and the revision of some policies and procedures.

However until the Service moves in the new Cultural Centre building, a plateau of performance in the self-assessment will be reached within 2-3 years, as there are some areas where the score will be held down by the existing unsatisfactory accommodation.

The meeting was informed that in some areas of the service, The National Archives (TNA) are regarding RMBC as being a model of good practice.

Resolved:-  (1)  That the report be received.

(2)         That the Archives & Local Studies Service be congratulated on the good score achieved, it being noted that Rotherham MBC was one of only two Local Authorities within the Yorkshire and Humber region to achieve a two star (good) rating.

(3)  That a suitable press release be issued.