CONCERNS OVER TOURIST ATTRACTION QUASHED
DONCASTER Council will continue to pay for the running of Conisbrough Castlefor at least three more years, it was decided yesterday.
Fears that the council was to axe funding for the 800-year-old touristattraction were quashed at yesterday's meeting of DMBC's ruling cabinet,although the council will demand that the Ivanhoe Trust tightens up the existing management structure of the castle.For the past 20 years the site has been managed by the council-funded Trust. But this summer it was revealed that the council was considering handing over the running of the castle to English Heritage. At the time councillors pledged there would be no job cuts and denied claims that the castle's visitor centre was to be pulled down and local events would be scrapped. Under the new arrangement, backed by the council's Safer Stronger and Sustainable Communities Scrutiny Panel, financial support will be provided by the Council to the Ivanhoe Trust for the next three years for the purpose of operating the site as a visitor attraction and educational resource. However, it was recommended that this be subject to the development of aclear business plan and a new funding agreement that provides clarificationon the role and expectations of the Trust. There will be defined outcomes to be achieved and linked to an annual review of performance. It was also decided to set up a local management agreement to clearly identify the roles and responsibilities and legal obligations of the Ivanhoe Trust, Doncaster Council and English Heritage. There was also a need for the Trust Board to include a senior Council officer in addition to current Council representation. It was suggested that this role could be operated by the Local Area Manager. The news ends months of speculation over the castle's future which have left the attraction in limbo, with no manager currently in post and all future plans on hold. Cabinet members considered two alternative options before making their decision yesterday.The first was to withdraw funding and hand over the running of the site to English Heritage - a move which would have seen the castle's visitor centre torn down. The council also looked at the option of taking over the management of the castle itself, in an arrangement similar to that at Cusworth Hall.
14 December 2006
Fears that the council was to axe funding for the 800-year-old touristattraction were quashed at yesterday's meeting of DMBC's ruling cabinet,although the council will demand that the Ivanhoe Trust tightens up the existing management structure of the castle.For the past 20 years the site has been managed by the council-funded Trust. But this summer it was revealed that the council was considering handing over the running of the castle to English Heritage. At the time councillors pledged there would be no job cuts and denied claims that the castle's visitor centre was to be pulled down and local events would be scrapped. Under the new arrangement, backed by the council's Safer Stronger and Sustainable Communities Scrutiny Panel, financial support will be provided by the Council to the Ivanhoe Trust for the next three years for the purpose of operating the site as a visitor attraction and educational resource. However, it was recommended that this be subject to the development of aclear business plan and a new funding agreement that provides clarificationon the role and expectations of the Trust. There will be defined outcomes to be achieved and linked to an annual review of performance. It was also decided to set up a local management agreement to clearly identify the roles and responsibilities and legal obligations of the Ivanhoe Trust, Doncaster Council and English Heritage. There was also a need for the Trust Board to include a senior Council officer in addition to current Council representation. It was suggested that this role could be operated by the Local Area Manager. The news ends months of speculation over the castle's future which have left the attraction in limbo, with no manager currently in post and all future plans on hold. Cabinet members considered two alternative options before making their decision yesterday.The first was to withdraw funding and hand over the running of the site to English Heritage - a move which would have seen the castle's visitor centre torn down. The council also looked at the option of taking over the management of the castle itself, in an arrangement similar to that at Cusworth Hall.
14 December 2006
posted by Paul of Sherwood at 12/16/2006 05:31:00 pm
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