Councillor Anthony Christopher

Rhondda Cynon Taf County Borough Council

Headquarters
The Pavilions
Cambrian Park
Clydach Vale
Tonypandy
CF40 2XX 28
th
May 2014


Dear Councillor Christopher

Re: Cynon Valley Museum and Gallery, Aberdare

Members of RESCUE, The British Archaeological Trust, deplore your decision to close Cynon Valley Museum
and Gallery, Aberdare, in the face of overwhelming public support for it remaining open. That there is
evidence for significant support against the proposed closure of the museum shows just how much
heritage and access to arts and cultural facilities are valued by communities. That being the case we urge
you to give every support necessary to help local volunteers set up a Trust to keep it open.

We note that groups have 12 weeks to put together a business case to take on the running of the Cynon
Valley Museum and RESCUE would like to know what will happen if no group comes forward, or if no viable
business case is proposed. We would also like to know what length of time have the council allowed for
transfer to the new organisation.

We understand that the museum received money from the Heritage Lottery Fund in 2001 and that HLF
grants for capital build often include a 25 year agreement to maintain the funded materials/buildings, and
to request permission from HLF if ownership ends/is transferred, or any part is sold off or otherwise
dismantled. If no community group can be found to take on the running of the museum and it closes, will
HLF require part or full repayment of the grant?

Cynon Museum is an accredited Museum and as such has agreed to adhere to acquisition and disposal
ethics. RESCUE would like to know whether the Council intends to transfer ownership of the collection to a
new body, if one comes forward, and what it intends if one doesnt. We are also concerned that Cllr Bevan
has suggested that artefacts from the museum can be displayed throughout the county borough; this
implies an option for an alternative model for displaying the collection. However, without paid staff to
manage what would be a complex process, RESCUE has real concerns about the standard of collections
care. It is not a simple thing to arrange loan of objects around an area for multiple temporary displays.
RESCUE would also like to know whether the Council would feel it has any responsibility for the future of
the Museum or its collections in the event of it being taken over by a community group. While (trained)
volunteers are undoubtedly capable of managing collections according to professional standards, it is
unreasonable to expect volunteers to take on the responsibilities for ethical and legal requirements that
15a Bull Plain, Hertford
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Telephone: 01992 553377

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have previously fallen to paid staff, particularly without any oversight or ongoing training of volunteers
entering after the initial hand-over.

RESCUE is also concerned that as the council is also closing the Muni Art Centre, the need to find a
community group at the same time to run that facility will mean competition for available resources in a
small geographical area. We also note that the council voted to end a service level agreement to provide
heritage services with Pontypridd town council.

I would therefore be grateful if you should let me have answers to the following questions on the
matters I have raised, above:

1. What will happen if no group comes forward to propose running the Museum?
2. Is 12 weeks sufficient time to allow for an interested group to raise funding to run
the Museum? Would more time be allowed, should an interested group come for-
ward?
3. How long would it take for a transfer to be effected to a new Museum manage-
ment group or Trust?
4. Would the Council wish to retain any responsibility for the Museums collections in
the longer term?
5. How much money was the museum awarded by the HLF and what were the terms
of its grant? What are the terms of the grant in the event of closure of the Muse-
um?
6. In view of the accredited status of the Museum, what are the Councils intentions
in relation to the preservation, care and presentation of the Museums collections
in the longer term?
7. What will be the impact on Pontypridd Museum of the Councils decision to end
the service level agreement for the provision of heritage services with Pontypridd
Town Council?

I look forward to hearing from you.
Yours sincerely



Jo Caruth
Secretary
Rescue (The British Archaelogical Trust)

tel: 01284 741250
fax: 01284 741257
mobile: 07764 371411
email: joanna.caruth@suffolk.gov.uk
website: http://rescue-archaeology.org.uk/

Rescue - The British Archaeological Trust is a non-political organisation dedicated to supporting
archaeology and archaeologists in Britain and abroad. We do not receive any state support and are entirely
dependent on the contributions of our members to support our work. It is only by weight of numbers that
we can effectively campaign to save our archaeology, and in these times of cuts and push for growth, our
voice is desperately needed. Please consider joining Rescue, for only 15 a year, you can help protect the
past for the future.