Purpose

As part of the Budget Delivery Plan in
November 2024 , the Council Executive
approved the change of Christchurch Mansion opening hours from six
days to four in order to realise savings of £86,000 to offset
increased costs over time. No other viable proposal could make the
same level of saving/income to reduce the contribution to CIMS
(Colcherster and Ipswich Museum)
operating costs at that time.
 
This decision was taken to keep the service
within its budget and susatinable for
the Council to run, however the Council committed to continue to
explore other options and seek grant funding to bridge the gap to,
if possible, reinstate some if not all
of the hours lost.
 
After the changes to opening times were
implemented in April 2025, ACE (Arts Council England) released its
Renewal Fund, specifically aimed at supporting museums to remain
open during challenging financial times. CIMS, with IBC approval,
submitted an application to this fund
with one of the grant requests made for funding to reinstate some
opening hours alongside support to develop further income streams
to support the museum longer term to
maintain a balanced budget.
 
This grant application was kindly supported
with financial match from Friends of Ipswich Museums to allow the
reinstatement to continue past the shorter duration of the ACE
grant funding window.
 
This grant application was successful.
 
Other options considered
The decision needed is whether to accept this
grant from ACE and reopen the Mansion on Thursdays from October
2025 for the duration of the funding.
 
It was considered to not accept the grant
however this was discounted as not in the best interest of
residents.

Decision

To reinstate the opening of Christchurch
Mansion on Thursdays from week commencing 23rd October
2025.
 
Reason:
Funding had been received from external
sources to enable reinstating opening on Thursdays.