Museum prepares for West Hill move

as Council proposes 20 year lease on West Hill site

The Wandsworth Museum company expects to move into its new West Hill home once terms for its use of the building have been agreed.

The council is proposing a 20-year lease of part of the current library premises which will become vacant at the end of December.

To help the new venture become established the council will offer a fixed level of funding to the museum for the first five years. This would match the rent for the property.

The final negotiations will include a lending agreement for the existing museum artefacts.

Council leader Edward Lister said, "The new company has been making great progress and both sides are now ready to sit down and work through the detailed lease arrangements. 

"Once we have resolved all the property issues the way will be clear for the company to press ahead with its plans for the new museum.

"With no direct government funding the old council-run museum was simply not sustainable in the long term. It is the same problem faced by many arts and cultural institutions.  The new company is bringing a completely fresh approach which, I am sure, will change the way we look at local authority-run museums."

The museum company has recently co-opted Professor Jack Lohman of the London Museum to the board and appointed legal and financial advisers. It is now planning to recruit its first director of operations.

The council's proposals will be considered at the corporate resources overview and scrutiny committee on September 19.  Councillors will be asked to give the go ahead to detailed negotiations with a final report on the outcome in November.

September 15, 2007