'Exciting developments' coming for National Museum of the Royal Navy in Hartlepool

‘Exciting developments’ will be coming forward at the National Museum of the Royal Navy in Hartlepool after it was agreed to extend the lease for the site, council chiefs have said.
The National Museum of the Royal Navy in HartlepoolThe National Museum of the Royal Navy in Hartlepool
The National Museum of the Royal Navy in Hartlepool

Cllr Shane Moore, Hartlepool Borough Council leader, said it was a ‘real coup’ to get the site in the town originally and it was important they continue the partnership in these ‘difficult times’.

It came as Hartlepool Borough Council Finance and Policy Committee approved extending existing agreements with the National Museum of the Royal Navy (NMRN).

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Originally in 2016 councillors agreed to the council contributing a subsidy following the transfer of Hartlepool Maritime Experience to the NMRN.

Chris Little, council director of resources and development, said the latest proposals would see the lease extending from June 2021 to June 2022.

He said: “It makes sense for both parties to extend the lease.

“There’s a lot of exciting developments coming forward in relation to the capital developments linked to the museum so to enable that to happen we do need to extend the lease.”

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The agreement in place with the museum means they have received subsidy payments from the council each year, which have ‘reduced significantly’ over five years since the agreement was made.

The extension will see the subsidy extended for a further 12 months, with a sixth annual reduction applied to the amount of support.

A report from council officers ahead of the meeting warned as a consequence of Covid-19 the operation of the site has been adversely impacted and ‘its viability questioned’.

It added without continued support over this period, offered by the extension of the lease, there is a ‘likelihood that NMRN would seek to exercise their break clause and terminate their tenancy’.

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Councillors unanimously backed the plans, with Cllr Moore stating the importance of continuing the partnership.

He said: “I think it was a really great coup how we managed to get the National Museum of the Royal Navy here previously, and I think we should do what we can to make sure that partnership continues especially during this difficult time.”

Cllr Jim Lindridge added he also thought it was really important the partnership was continued.

He said: “It’s really progressive and in the next few years, even though we’ve had a bit of a restriction with Covid, we’ve got to see the real potential in this and the benefit from it.”

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