Decision details

Decision to approve Spindles Transition budget to:
• Procure couriers to pack and move archive and museum collections from 84 Union Street (new theatre site) to temporary storage sites (deep store for Archive collections and Council asset for Museum collections)
• Close Local Studies and Archives (LSA) Service at the end of Nov and re-open at Oldham Library in Feb/March 2024 offering reduced temporary service.
• Move Oldham Theatre Workshop equipment to be stored at the former Union Street Community Building (asset L00215) and deliver temporary service from Gallery vacant café space

RESOLVED - That:
Spend approved for temporary moves and procurement of couriers.

Local Studies and Archives
LSA Option 1 – Do nothing. This is not viable as this would delay theatre construction project.

LSA Option 2 – Find suitable council asset for temporary storage of local studies and archive collections. Due to volume and security and temperature conditions required for collections, suitable location has not been found.

LSA Option 3 – Preferred Option
Go out to tender to procure move and storage of collections to a deep store. Cost is £91,625. And deliver interim offer from Oldham Library – estimate cost £10k.

Museum Collections
Museum Collections Option 1. Do nothing.
This is not viable as this would delay theatre construction project.

Museum Collections Option 2 – Preferred Option
Go out to tender to procure removal company to move collections to a temporary store – council assets (tbc). Costs to move collections is £67k

Options for temporary store and cost to fit permanent Argos basement store still being explored and to be confirmed.

Oldham Theatre Workshop
OTW Option 1 Do nothing.
This is not viable as this would delay theatre construction project.

OTW Option 2 – Use former Union Street Community Building for storage and deliver service from University Campus Oldham.
Whilst UCO is a fully fitted studio space, this option offers limited hours of access which means OTW would have to reduce offer to core delivery only and comes at a hire charge of min £21, 375 per year. This cannot be met from Heritage, Libraries and Arts budget.

OTW Option 3 – Preferred option
Use former Union Street Community Building for storage and deliver service from vacant Gallery Café space.
Least expensive option (circa £18k) and limits any major disruption to service offer, enabling continued partnership working.

LSA Option 1 – Do nothing. This is not viable as this would delay theatre construction project.

LSA Option 2 – Find suitable council asset for temporary storage of local studies and archive collections. Due to volume and security and temperature conditions required for collections, suitable location has not been found.


Museum Collections
Museum Collections Option 1. Do nothing.
This is not viable as this would delay theatre construction project.

Oldham Theatre Workshop
OTW Option 1 Do nothing.
This is not viable as this would delay theatre construction project.

OTW Option 2 – Use former Union Street Community Building for storage and deliver service from University Campus Oldham.
Whilst UCO is a fully fitted studio space, this option offers limited hours of access which means OTW would have to reduce offer to core delivery only and comes at a hire charge of min £21, 375 per year. This cannot be met from Heritage, Libraries and Arts budget.

n/a