Minutes – Property Sub-Committee (Special meeting) – 21 February 2024
The agenda and papers for this meeting are available here: Property Sub-Committee (Special meeting) – 21 February 2024 – agenda and papers
The minutes of this meeting are presented below.
You can also download a PDF copy of the minutes here: Minutes – Property Sub-Committee (Special meeting) – 21 February 2024
PROPERTY SUB-COMMITTEE
Minutes
Date: 21 February 2024
Time: 2.30pm – 4.35pm
Location: The Council Chamber, The Council House, North Street, Chichester. PO19 1LQ
PRESENT: Councillors Miall (Chairman), Butler, C Gershater, McHale, Quail, Scicluna and Squire
ALSO IN ATTENDANCE: Town Clerk, Deputy Town Clerk, Property Maintenance Manager, Accounts Assistant
32. APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE
No apologies were received.
33. DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST BY MEMBERS OF THE COMMITTEE IN MATTERS ON THE AGENDA FOR THIS MEETING
No declarations were made.
34. PICTURE HANGING/CONSERVATION WORKING GROUP RECOMMENDATIONS
The sub-committee conducted a tour of the building and considered the recommendations of the Picture Hanging/Conservation Working Group and resolved as follows:
a) Proposal: Opposite reception remove all certificates except the Licence.
DECIDED: To accept the recommendation and in addition to install noticeboards and leaflet holders on the wall and to remove the free-standing display boards to create space for additional reception seating.
b) Proposal: Beside reception remove ‘Space’ certificate (Principia) and replace with embroidered City Arms (at present beside reception office door in corridor) so that people can see City Arms as they enter the building.
DECIDED: To accept the recommendation
c) Proposal: Remove small map by Courtroom and send to Record Office if it is original. To remove and to send the historic election notices (if original) to the Record Office. If not original, put them closer together and/or rehang.
DECIDED: To accept the recommendation re. the small map. To retain the election notices but rehang as suggested, with the addition of interpretation notices explaining the history of elections in Chichester.
d) Proposal: Replace City Arms in corridor with painting of Bishop George Bell, at present at top of front room steps
DECIDED: Not to accept the recommendation. Copies of City Charters and Grant of Arms to be moved from Assembly Room ante-room to this section of wall and displayed. Bishop Bell portrait to remain in current location.
e) Proposal: Remove painting of Ann Murray from top of front room steps, for placement upstairs in Assembly Room ante-room.
DECIDED: To accept the recommendation, subject to outcome if item (j).
f) Proposal: Rehang large painting of City Cross from above fireplace in former property office in place of Ann Murray
DECIDED: To accept the recommendation, subject to outcome if item (j).
g) Proposal: Remove photograph of Queen and Prince Philip from halfway up stairs and replace with 1974 Charter from anteroom.
DECIDED: Not to accept the recommendation. Official portrait of King Charles III to be installed in this location when it arrives (currently on order).
h) Proposal: Remove 1135 copy Charter and repair and then hang above Grant of City Arms
DECIDED: Not to accept the recommendation. All Charters to be located as per (d)
i) Proposal: In place of 1974 and 1135 Charters hang paintings of George and Ann Murray one each side of Assembly Room ante-room.
DECIDED: To accept the recommendation, subject to outcome if item (j).
j) Proposal: Move Murray artefact cabinet to centre of Assembly Room ante-room – slightly away from radiator. Place notice on it to warn people not to put items on it or to lean on it as cabinet is alarmed.
DECIDED: Not to accept the recommendation. In addition the Accounts Assistant advised that when working with the valuer for the recent appraisal of Council artefacts he had highlighted issues of deterioration due to UV and sunlight damage.
The property sub-committee REQUESTED that the Clerk enquire of the Novium Museum if they would be interested in housing the entire Murray collection, or if not, if they could provide advice on suitable alternative museums who may be interested.
Novium also to the be asked to advise on suitable conditions for displaying the artefacts whilst ensuring their ongoing preservation and conservation.
k) Proposal: Display the Trafalgar Chairs (currently in the Mayor’s ante-room) in the Assembly Room ante-room close to the Murray Cabinet, with a rope cord across to prevent them being sat on by members of the public.
DECIDED: To accept the recommendation, subject to outcome if item (j).
Councillors noted officers concerns that the chairs may be used, particularly when busy events were held in the Assembly Room.
l) Proposal: Place cabinet of So Few and So Many books to south side of Assembly Room anteroom so that people can walk round it to view the books.
DECIDED: Not to accept the recommendation. Items in display cabinet in downstairs foyer to be rearranged and So Few & So Many books to be relocated to bottom shelf. Cabinet to be removed.
m) Proposal: Put Town Clerk’s wig and box in cabinet at top of stairs.
DECIDED: To accept the recommendation.
n) Proposal: Georgian candelabra in cabinet to be put on same shelf and serving decanters and dishes to be moved to accommodate the additional items.
DECIDED: To accept the recommendation.
o) Proposal: Remove large chest from under stairs and put in Mayor’s anteroom
DECIDED: Not to accept the recommendation. Subject to outcome if item (j) chest to be offered back to the Murray family. If they do not wish to receive it, chest to be disposed via auction.
p) Proposal: Remove console desk from Mayor’s anteroom and dispose of.
DECIDED: Item has already been listed for sale at Stride & Sons.
q) Proposal: Remove white plaque in military case in foyer.
DECIDED: Item has already been removed.
r) Proposal: Place leaflet rack back beside stairs.
DECIDED: Not to accept the recommendation (see (a)).
s) Proposal: Put a short explanation to HMS Chichester bell, including the explanation for the names engraved on the rim.
DECIDED: To accept the recommendation. In addition, it was requested that interpretation be added to explain the bust of King Charles II in the Assembly Room ante-room.
t) Proposal: Provide lighting for Smith paintings in south side.
DECIDED: To accept the recommendation in principle, subject to seeking advice from the Historic Buildings officer and upon receipt of costings for work.
u) Proposal: All paintings and other artefacts to have interpretation materials so that people can know and understand their history and importance.
DECIDED: To accept the recommendation.
v) Proposal: Place large table from anteroom; desk from Mayor’s anteroom; glass-topped coffee table from Mayor’s Parlour and set of chairs from attic into saleroom. Proceeds to go to the paintings conservation budget.
DECIDED: Not to accept the recommendation. Mayors’ coffee table to be retained as it is often used. Large table to be placed into suitable auction sale when no longer being used (currently being used in temporary additional meeting space). Officers advised that sale receipts could not be used for painting restoration, as they could only be used to fund future capital purchases.
The sub-committee further DECIDED to dispose of the unsold bookcase, which had not attracted any bids in the recent auction sale.
w) The sub-committee considered an additional proposal to dispose of the William James Muller Painting of Pont Hoogan and the small watercolour of Pevensey Castle in the former property office.
DECIDED: to seek specialist advice on the best way to proceed with a sale of Muller painting and to contact Stride and Sons for a valuation for the Pevensey Castle painting.
x) The sub-committee considered the request from the Novim museum to either return the Roman artefacts at the bottom of the rear staircase or to enter in to a formal loan agreement for their retention in the Council House.
DECIDED: To return the items to the Novium Museum.
The meeting closed at 4.28pm
ACTIONS ARISING FROM THIS MEETING
| Minute ref. | Agreed action | Assigned for action to |
34 (a) | Opposite reception remove all certificates except the Licence. Install noticeboards and leaflet holders on the wall and remove the free-standing display boards to create space for additional reception seating. | Property Maintenance Manager |
34 (b) | Beside reception remove ‘Space’ certificate (Principia) and replace with embroidered City Arms (at present beside reception office door in corridor) | Property Maintenance Manager |
34 (c) | Remove small map by Old Courtroom and offer to Records Office if it is original. | Property Maintenance Manager/ Town Clerk |
34 (c) | Rehang historic election notices in a group to create more space on wall. | Property Maintenance Manager |
34 (d) | Copies of City Charters and Grant of Arms to be moved from Assembly Room ante-room and rehung on section of wall where City Arms were previously located. | Property Maintenance Manager |
34 (e) | Remove painting of Ann Murray from top of front room steps, and place upstairs in Assembly Room ante-room (only if collection is to be retained in the Council House.) | Property Maintenance Manager |
34 (f) | Rehang large painting of City Cross from above fireplace in former property office in place of Ann Murray. | Property Maintenance Manager |
34 (g) | Remove photograph of Queen and Prince Philip from halfway up stairs and replace with photograph of King Charles III when it arrives. | Property Maintenance Manager |
34 (i) | In place of 1974 and 1135 Charters hang paintings of George and Ann Murray one each side of Assembly Room ante-room (only if collection is to be retained in the Council House.) | Property Maintenance Manager |
34 (j) | Enquire of the Novium Museum if they would be interested in housing the entire collection, or if not, if they could provide advice on suitable alternative museums and advice on conditions for displaying the artefacts whilst ensuring their ongoing preservation and conservation. | Town Clerk |
34 (k) | Display the Trafalgar Chairs in the Assembly Room ante-room close to the Murray Cabinet, with a rope cord across to prevent them being sat on by members of the public (only if collection is to be retained in the Council House.) | Property Maintenance Manager |
34 (l) | Items in display cabinet in downstairs foyer to be rearranged and So Few & So Many books to be relocated from Assemble Room Ante-room cabinet to bottom shelf. Cabinet to be removed. | Property Maintenance Manager |
34 (m) | Town Clerk’s wig and box to be placed in cabinet at top of stairs. | Property Maintenance Manager |
34 (n) | Georgian candelabra in cabinet at top of stairs to be put on one shelf and serving decanters and dishes to be moved to accommodate the additional items. | Property Maintenance Manager |
34 (o) | If Murray collection is to be retained in the Council House, then large Murray Chest to be offered back to the Murray family. If they do not wish to receive it, chest to be disposed via auction. | Town Clerk |
34 (s) | Write a short explanation to HMS Chichester bell, including the explanation for the names engraved on the rim and place next to bell. | Cllr Scicluna/Property Maintenance Manager |
34 (s) | Interpretation be added to explain the bust of King Charles II in the Assembly Room ante-room. | Cllr Scicluna/Property Maintenance Manager |
34 (t) | Seek advice from Historic Buildings Officer and seek quotes for providing lighting for Smith paintings on south side of Assembly Room ante-room. | Property Maintenance Manager |
34 (u) | All paintings and other artefacts to have interpretation materials so that people can know and understand their historic importance. | Town Clerk To Prepare List of Required Items. |
34 (v) | Advise Stride and Sons to dispose of the unsold bookcase. | Town Clerk |
34 (w) | Seek specialist advice on the best way to proceed with a sale of Muller painting and to contact Stride and Sons for a valuation for the Pevensey Castle painting. | Town Clerk |
34 (x) | To arrange return of the Roman artefacts to the Novium museum. | Town Clerk |