Decision details

Arts Council England Museum Estate and Development Fund (MEND) Award - Leeds Industrial Museum

Reference: D55095

Decision Maker: Director of City Development

Decision status: Recommendations Approved

Is Key decision?: Yes

Is subject to call in?: No

Purpose:

Leeds Museums and Galleries have been awarded a grant of £653,000 from Arts Council England as part of the Museum Estate and Development funding. This funding will address backlog maintenance issues for the Drying House and Engine Shed structures and iconic landmark chimney stack at Leeds Industrial Museum. It will focus on immediate and essential works to improve the site’s core infrastructure, improve collections care conditions, improve accessibility, and will reopen public gallery space, which have been closed since the 2015 floods. The funding will also enable the Engine Shed roof to be replaced (and raised) and will utilise the newly constructive flood alleviation wall at site.

Decision:

The Chief Officer, Culture & Economy, has approved the following:

• Acceptance of a grant from the Arts Council England (ACE)

Museum Estate and Development Fund of £653,000 towards a

project to address backlog maintenance issues for the Drying

House and Engine Shed structures and iconic landmark chimney

stack at Leeds Industrial Museum

• Requesting that this decision is exempt from call-in due to the

reasons outlined in paragraphs 18 and 19 of the main report.

Reason Key: Financial Impact>£500K;

Wards Affected: (All Wards);

If the decision has not been published in the List of Forthcoming Key Decisions for at least 28 clear days, the reason why it would be impracticable to delay the decision:: Leeds City Council received confirmation of the money on 17/03/2022 and this was the earliest opportunity following discussions with ACE about the amended timetable that a key decision form could be submitted, allowing less than 28 days to clear. Approval is needed before 25/03/2022. Due to the short timescales presented for the consideration of this funding, it has not been possible to place this decision on the List of Forthcoming Key Decisions with the requisite 28 clear calendar days’ notice. In accordance with the Special Urgency provisions of the constitution the Chair of the Strategy and Resources has been advised of the intended decision and has approved.

If exempt from Call-In, the reason why Call-In would prejudice the interests of the Council or the public:: It is further requested that this report is exempted from the Call In process due to the short timescales provided by this process and the need to progress with this bid in line with the deadlines involved. Should the decisions, referred to within this report, be delayed by the operation of the call-in mechanism, the Council would lose the opportunity to receive this funding.

Other reasons / organisations consulted

Email briefing

Consultees

Executive Member for Economy, Culture and Education

Contact: David Hopes, Head of Museums and Galleries 0113 378 4047 Email: david.hopes@leeds.gov.uk.

Publication date: 24/03/2022

Date of decision: 24/03/2022

Accompanying Documents: