What this consultation is about
At its meeting on 24 January 2017, Cabinet agreed the Revenue Budget for 2017 to 2018 and the Five Year Financial Plan for the period 2017 to 2018 to 2021 to 2022, which identified a range of budget reductions through to 2022. Libraries and Heritage services were one of the areas identified for significant savings and in order to achieve part of these savings it is proposed to consult with the public about possible changes to the opening hours at Buxton Museum and Art Gallery (BMAG). Once the consultation process has been concluded a further report will be presented to Cabinet to consider the outcome of the consultation and, potentially, to consider proposals for revised opening hours and a proposed staffing structure, which may realise a saving of up to £30,000 from the BMAG budget.
It is proposed that the opening hours be reduced from 39.5 to 35 hours a week, with later opening and earlier closures, a reduction of approximately 12%. It is proposed to maintain Sunday and bank holiday opening from Easter to the end of September but to reduce the number of hours from six and a half to four with the museum opening 12pm to 4pm. If alternative opening hours proposals arise as part of the consultation process they will also be considered.
The consultation is now closed. A report was presented to Cabinet on 26 October 2007, agenda item 7.