Town's museums could be taken over by council

The Rotunda Museum in Scarborough was the country's first purpose-built museum

The running of Scarborough's museums and galleries could be handed back to a council after being operated by a charity for two decades.

Scarborough Art Gallery, the Rotunda Museum and Woodend Gallery and Studios and their collections are owned by North Yorkshire Council, but since 2005 their day-to-day management has been handled by Scarborough Museums Creative and Cultural Trust (SMCCT).

However, the trust said that arrangement was no longer viable and had asked the council to explore if it could take over their running.

Sally Gorham, SMCCT chair, said: "With the economic pressures facing the trust, we believe handing the service back to the council offers the best guarantee for the future."

Options to be discussed by councillors later this month included incorporating the running and management of the museums and galleries into the council's wider culture and archives service, according to North Yorkshire Council.

It was estimated the move could provide annual savings of more than £50,000, with support service and management costs reduced, a council spokesperson said.

Museums and galleries in Harrogate and Skipton, including Craven Museum and the Royal Pump Room, are among the award-winning cultural sites already run by the authority.

Ms Gorham said: "All the trustees have been impressed by North Yorkshire Council's commitment to arts and culture."

Bringing the running of sites such as Scarborough Art Gallery in-house could save taxpayers money, the council said

Simon Myers, the council's executive member for culture and arts, said Scarborough's museums and galleries were "cultural assets enjoyed by local communities and visitors".

"It is vital we do everything we can to protect and enhance these assets, as well as their collections and the displays on show," he said.

Myers added that if the move went ahead, it would present an opportunity to "save taxpayers money and protect the future of the town's museums and galleries".

An alternative proposal for the running of the venues could see the council provide additional financial and management support to SMCCT.

North Yorkshire Council officers were continuing to work alongside the charity and its staff during the period of decision-making, the council spokesperson said.

A report to be considered by councillors also identified that, to allow necessary repairs to be completed, the Rotunda Museum could be temporarily closed at some point in the next year.

The future running of the museums is due to be discussed by members of the council's executive on Tuesday 18 March.

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