Purpose

Rotherham Museums, Arts and Heritage service requests permission
to dispose of accessioned objects in the Rotherham Collection,
unidentified objects and historic object entries that do not meet
the current Collections Management Policy.
 
A
decision for some objects was approved on 29 November 2024 but
further objects have been identified for disposal and require
approval.
 
This is in line with the Collections Management Policy which was
approved by Cabinet in January 2023 with delegation to the
Assistant Director of Culture, Sport and Tourism in consultation
with the Cabinet Member for Social Inclusion for any future changes
or new versions of the Collections Policy.
 

Decision

ROTHERHAM METROPOLITAN BOROUGH COUNCIL

 

RECORD OF OFFICER EXECUTIVE DECISION

 

Date of Decision:

17th February, 2025

Title:

Rotherham
Museums, Arts and Heritage Collection and Object
Disposal
 

Decision Maker:
(Including Job
Title)

Polly Hamilton – Assistant Director of
Culture, Sport and Tourism
 

Specific Delegation:
(If any)

Cabinet Report for Collections Management
Policy on 23 January 2023 delegated decision to the
Assistant Director of Culture, Sport and Tourism in consultation
with the Cabinet Member for Social Inclusion for any future changes
or new versions of the Collections Management Policy.
 

Brief Description of
Decision:

The decision is to agree the
ethical disposal of accessioned objects in the Rotherham
Collection, alongside unidentified objects and historic object
entries that do not meet the current Collections Management Policy.
This will be done in accordance with the disposal of museum objects
protocol set out in the Museum Association’s Code of Ethics,
and the Council’s Financial Regulations and Procurement
Procedure Rules.
 

Reasons for the Decision:

The
service currently aims to rationalise the collections by disposing
of duplicate material and items that do not meet the acquisition
standards set in the Collections Management Policy and have no
display, educational or research value. The Collections Management
Policy identifies the collecting priority to be provenanced material made, used or
associated with people, places or activities within Rotherham
Metropolitan Borough. The service will also dispose of items
that are in an unacceptable condition, where it is economically
unjustifiable to conserve them.
 
This work is also part of a store move from Wath Library
Basement to Bailey House, which needs to be completed by end of
February 2025.
 

Details of alternative options
considered and rejected:

Do Nothing would risk the loss of
Museums Accreditation as the implementation of the Collections
Management policy is required to demonstrate effective collection
management. It would also risk the loss of funding from Arts
Council England and other funders and potentially jeopardise the
timescale for delivery of the regeneration project at Wath, which
is dependent on the removal of the collections contained in storage
at Wath library.  
 
Adopt the recommended objects for disposal:
this is the recommended option as it implements the
expectations set out in the Collections Management Policy agreed by
Cabinet on 23 January 2023, and subsequently by Full Council. It
also reflects the current mission and values of the Museums, Arts
& Heritage service and its commitment to ensuring community
voice and influence within its activities.
 
The
recommended disposals will enable the service to retain its Museums
Accreditation and fully participate in the Arts Council England
National Portfolio Organisation Programme. The collection backlog
and lack of disposal were highlighted as areas for development for
the service in the previous Museum Accreditation, so this will
demonstrate that the service has made improvements in this
area.
 

Conflicts of interest declared by any
Executive Member consulted by the decision maker which relates to
the decision:

None

Dispensations Granted:
(If any)

 
None

Reports or parts of reports
considered

None

 
I certify that this is a true
record of the executive decision to agree the
ethical disposal of accessioned objects in the Rotherham
Collection, alongside unidentified objects and historic object
entries that do not meet the current Collections Management
Policy.
Signed by the Decision
Maker          

Dated:         
17.02.25
 
Name:          Polly
Hamilton                           
Job Title:     Assistant Director – Culture
Sport and Tourism