From Cllr Clark to the Chair of P&R
In 2008 Ryedale District Council gave £250,000 to Ryedale Folk Museum. As a result predictions were made for 5 years time.
1. What was the number of visitors in 2008?
What was the predicted figure for 2013?
What was the number of visitors in 2013?
2. What was the number of FTE employees of Ryedale Folk Museum in 2008?
What was the predicted number of FTE employees of Ryedale Folk Museum for 2013?
What was the number of FTE employees of Ryedale Folk Museum in 2013?
3. What was the number of volunteers in 2008?
What was the predicted number of volunteers for 2013?
What was the number of volunteers in 2013?
Minutes:
1. Councillor Clark submitted the following question:
To Councillor Mrs Cowling, the Chairman of the Policy & Resources Committee:
“In 2008 Ryedale District Council gave £250,000 to Ryedale Folk Museum. As a result predictions were made for 5 years time.
What was the number of visitors in 2008?
What was the predicted figure for 2013?
What was the number of visitors in 2013?”
The Chairman of the Policy & Resources Committee, Councillor Mrs Cowling replied
“What was the number of visitors in 2008 - 40,000
What was the predicted no. of visitors for 2013 - 80,000
What was the number of visitors in 2013 - 26,000”
Councillor Clark asked the following supplementary question:
“Does the Chair of P&R consider in terms of economic development, the policy for this Council, does she believe that was a success??”
Councillor Mrs Cowling replied:
“The investment delivered what it was supposed to deliver, which was the introduction of the Harrison Collection to the Folk Museum.”
2. Councillor Clark submitted the following question:
To Councillor Mrs Cowling, the Chairman of the Policy & Resources Committee:
“In 2008 Ryedale District Council gave £250,000 to Ryedale Folk Museum. As a result predictions were made for 5 years time.
What was the number of FTE employees of Ryedale Folk Museum in 2008?
What was the predicted number of FTE employees of Ryedale Folk Museum for 2013?
What was the number of FTE employees of Ryedale Folk Museum in 2013?”
The Chairman of the Policy & Resources Committee, Councillor Mrs Cowling replied
“What was the number of employees of RFM in 2008 - 9 FTE
What was the predicted no. of FTE employees for 2013 - 13 FTE
What was the number of FTE employees in 2013 - Although it varies over the year, this averages at 8 FTEs”
Councillor Clark asked the following supplementary question:
“On the basis that this investment was done under the heading of economic development, albeit to put in a very valuable museum collection, the reason for putting in the money into that collection was that it would be good for the economy of Ryedale and good particularly for that part of Ryedale. On that basis, does the Chair of P&R think it was a successful investment in terms of economic development?”
Councillor Mrs Cowling replied:
“The Museum, along with everybody else has had to cut its coat according to its cloth in the years since 2008 and a lot of us aren't doing and aren't achieving what we thought we might be doing in 2013.”
3. Councillor Clark submitted the following question:
To Councillor Mrs Cowling, the Chairman of the Policy & Resources Committee:
“In 2008 Ryedale District Council gave £250,000 to Ryedale Folk Museum. As a result predictions were made for 5 years time.
What was the number of volunteers in 2008?
What was the predicted number of volunteers for 2013?
What was the number of volunteers in 2013?”
The Chairman of the Policy & Resources Committee, Councillor Mrs Cowling replied
“What was the number of volunteers in 2008 - 150 volunteer opportunities
What was the predicted no. of volunteers for 2013 - 250 volunteer opportunities
What was the number of volunteers in 2013 - Approx 100 volunteers”
Councillor Clark asked the following supplementary question:
“Does the Chair of P&R think it might not have been a good idea at some point since 2008, if she had brought to Council's attention the fact that these numbers - all of them - were not only not in the direction that we were led to believe and the predictions but were wildly out, rather than waiting until we've got to the situation that we're in now?”
Councillor Mrs Cowling replied:
“I really fail to see why it was my responsibility to bring these numbers to Council when I'm not that familiar with what the Ryedale Folk Museum was doing, any more than it was your responsibility. If you knew then why didn't you tell us?”