Southampton authority criticised over art sell-off bid (Southampton Liberal Democrats)

Southampton Liberal Democrats <info@southampton-libdems.org.uk>

Southampton authority criticised over art sell-off bid

February 23, 2010 7:33 PM
By BBC in BBC News website

Southampton Civic Centre A council has been criticised by the Charity Commission over its plan to sell off art work in order to raise £5m to help fund a new Titanic museum.

Southampton City Council had planned to sell work by French sculptor Auguste Rodin and British painter Sir Alfred Munnings but later dropped the idea.

The commission noted the council's conflict of interest as trustees of the work and the decision-making authority.

The council said it would review a letter sent by the commission.

BBC South Political Editor Peter Henley, who obtained a copy of the commission's judgement on the dropped proposal, said: "It said [the council] should have been much more clear and transparent about the conflict of interest."

It said as the paintings were bequests the authority did not have the right to sell them all at will.

The commission also said in future the council had to consult experts before deciding to sell gifts.

Councillor John Hannides said: "We are now reviewing the letter they have sent so we can respond appropriately."

It is planned that the heritage museum will open in 2012 for the 100th anniversary of the ill-fated Titanic voyage and will form part of a new cultural quarter in the city.

The council now hopes to raise funds by selling land and forming partnerships.

When the plans to sell art work were announced, critics of the move held a protest and handed in a petition.

The Southampton art collection is valued at £180m.

Article can be found here: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/hampshire/8531508.stm

Addendum:-

Portswood Liberal Democrat campaigner Adrian Vinson, who campaigned against the sale, says: "The Tories finally had to accept what the Lib Dems told them from the start - there are other ways of funding the proposal that do not sell the city's heritage."