Agenda item

Joint report of the Deputy Chief Executive and Director of Families and Communities (Staffordshire County Council) and Director of Housing and Community Services (Stoke-on-Trent City Council)

The Committee considered a joint report of the Deputy Chief Executive and Director for Families and Communities (Staffordshire County Council) and Director of Housing and Community Services (Stoke-on-Trent City Council) regarding the adoption of standard introductory text for all Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent Joint Archive Policies.

The Joint Archive Service were awarded Accredited Service status under The National Archives’ (NA) Scheme in 2017. However, during the assessment various actions were highlighted in order to make further improvements including a light touch review of the Services’ Policies to ensure consistent branding, balance and cross referencing. In addition, the Conservation Management Plan developed for the Staffordshire History Centre Project also recommended the alignment of key policies across the Archive, Museum and William Salt Library Services.

Of the nineteen policies across the above-mentioned services, ten were included within the Committee’s Terms of Reference. The remaining nine were either the responsibility of the Chief Officer under Scheme of Delegation arrangements or the William Salt Library Trust. Accordingly, new standard introductory text had been developed for those Policies within the Committee’s purview to explain the composition, vision and values of the Service, as follows:-

“Staffordshire Archives and Heritage comprises Staffordshire and Stoke on Trent Archive Service, the William Salt Library and the County Museum Service. The Staffordshire and Stoke on Trent Archive Service is an Accredited Archive Service administered and funded by Staffordshire County Council and Stoke on Trent City Council under a joint agreement. The William Salt Library is a charitable library delivered by the Archive Service on behalf of the Trustees. The County Museum is a provisionally Accredited Museum funded by Staffordshire County Council and works in partnership with museums across the County and region to provide museum development support.

The Archive Service manages and delivers services via Staffordshire Record Office, Stoke on Trent City Archives and the William Salt Library. A significant proportion of the County Museum Service’s collection is on long term loan and public display at Shugborough Estate. The Archive Service provides services for Staffordshire County Council in relation to its legal documents and archives. 

The vision is:

Connecting people to the collected stories and heritage of Staffordshire, Stoke on Trent and beyond.

The mission is:

To connect people to the memories of Staffordshire and Stoke on Trent, by engaging them with the collections we develop and preserve for current and future generations”.

In the Discussion which ensued, the Committee requested that the reference to ‘Shugborough Estate’ in the above-mentioned text should be preceded by ‘National Trust’s’ in order to clarify the current position regarding the ownership and management of the estate.

In reply to a question from the Member representative of the City Council, the Deputy Chief Executive undertook to include relevant Organisations’ logos on the various Policies, as necessary. She also informed Members that Staffordshire County Council’s Head of Archives and Heritage Service had recently been appointed to NA’s Accreditation Panel.

RESOLVED – (a) That the report be received and noted.

(b) That subject to the inclusion of ‘National Trust’s’ in the second paragraph, preceding ‘Shugborough Estate’, the above-mentioned text be included into all Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent Joint Archives Service’s Policies, as necessary.

(c) That appropriate organisational logos be included on all Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent Joint Archives Service’s Policies, as necessary.