Museums funding is safeguarded

Monday's meeting agreed the 120,000 loan needed by the Society of Bexhill Museum's to underwrite its match-funding of the project.

The society has already committed 130,000 to the scheme but needed to raise another 120,000 by the Heritage Lottery Fund's March 26 deadline.

Rother owns Bexhill Museum's Egerton Road building which it is proposed to extend in order to move Bexhill Museum of Costume and Social History from its overcrowded premises in Manor Gardens. The aim is to bring both important collections under one roof together with Bexhill's motor heritage.

Rother has committed 300,000 to the project. Director of services Tony Leonard had advised members that because Rother owns the building, the Society of Bexhill Museums has nothing to offer as security for a loan. But he also warned that if the charity failed to meet the deadline, the whole project including major Lottery funding for a Rother-owned building, could be jeopardised.

Members had before them an additional two-page letter from society chairman Megan Traice setting out both the society's case and its fund-raising plans.

Cllr Deirdre Williams said the loan was underwriting and would only be used if the society failed to meet its target. "The society are confident that they will raise the money but the time-scale is the problem."

The Costume Museum housed the second most important collection of its kind in the south east, but was having to operate under primitive conditions.

Supporting granting the loan, Cllr Stuart Earl said it would be an investment for future generations and an important boost for tourism.

Cllr Graham Gubby said after the vote: "As leader of the Conservative group I am delighted at the way this is going through.

"I am delighted with the recommendation because it was in our manifesto."

The cabinet will now ask the full council to increase capital programme provision for the museum by 120,000. The loan will be interest-free for two years and at base rate plus 1% thereafter, the whole to be paid back in four years.