By Ian Duncan

Last updated at 12:52, Thursday, 10 January 2013

Councillors have approved a plan to award almost £1,200,000 to Carlisle’s Tullie House Museum and Art Galley in the next financial year.

Tullie House in Carlisle

The funding of £1,198,420 from Carlisle City Council was outlined in a business plan compiled by the museum’s trust which was discussed by members of Carlisle City Council at the Civic Centre.

In his report Keith Gerrard, the council’s director of community engagement, said the city council grant would be for the coming financial year – and it would be reviewed for future years.

The report added that the council decided in December 2010 to approve a new charitable trust to run the museum and gallery.

Mr Gerrard said: “Tullie House Museum and Art Gallery transferred from Carlisle City Council to an independent company on May 5, 2011.

“In December 2011 the executive considered the trust’s first business plan – for 2011 to 2014 – and approved provision of core funding for 2012/13 and the commitment to funding for 2013/14, for recommendation to council.

“The city council’s 12-month core funding grant to Tullie House Museum and Art Gallery Trust in 2013/14 is £1,198,420.

“In line with the partnership agreement between Tullie House Trust and Carlisle City Council, core funding for future years will be agreed by submission of the trust business plan each year.

“To provide a secure and stable basis for medium-term planning, consideration will be made annually on core funding on a three-year rolling cycle.”

Recommendations for the period between 2014 and 2017 will also be presented to the full council.

The current business plan was considered by the community overview and scrutiny panel, the resources overview and scrutiny panel as well as the executive last year.

According to minutes from December’s meeting of the executive, members heard that aspects of the business plan demonstrated that the funding strategy was being developed and the programme of exhibitions would attract more visitors.

It had been recommended that the funding be approved to bring it in line with wider city council budget reduction pressures.

First published at 11:40, Thursday, 10 January 2013
Published by http://www.newsandstar.co.uk