Flodden Steering Committee Meeting
Mintues
01/05/14
Present: Nigel Walsh, Frank Mansfield, James Joicey, George Farr, Alistair Bowden, Becki
Cooper
1. Apologies: Chris Burgess, Keith Merrin, Jane Pannell, Gerald Tait, Chris Bowles, Ian
Brown
2. Minutes of last meeting. Accepted as a true record and signed.
3. Matters arising not otherwise covered in this agenda
One action point still outstanding: AB / JJ to follow up on the extension letter of
commission to Glendale PR and Marketing for their continued work during 2014-2016
4. Project Coordinators report
(i)
General and financial
-Some under-spent and finished HLF budget lines are to be closed and any remaining
money reassigned to other project strands.
-Only 18% of the total Archaeology budget has been spent so far, but this will go up
dramatically soon due to recent metal detector purchases.
-HLF time restraints were discussed. AB explained that we could negotiate longer than
the 4 years planned for the project, if required, particularly to ensure a proper evaluation
period.
-AB’s position as Project Coordinator was discussed should the project overrun. As he
holds responsibility for the completion of the HLF Project, his position remains open until
this is completed. If necessary, this includes working more than the allocated hours
under the project.
-The Flodden 500 book & DVD overspend was discussed. This will be halved by
reallocating a contractor’s expenses to another budget strand; the other 50% will be
recompensed by another project strand or, failing this, by Flodden 1513 Ecomuseum Ltd.
(ii)
Strand A – Archaeology
–The number of volunteers attending digs had been an area of concern. This, however,
has been overcome by CBu by approaching new groups to find volunteers. University
students were invited to volunteer at the dig at Wark Castle recently and participated
enthusiastically. Therefore we are now more in line with the HLF target figure.
(iii)
Strand B – Doc Research
–Documentary Research is progressing very well. The creation of the Names Database
by Paul Brough (PB) of the Hawick Heritage Hub is going slowly, but very thoroughly,
working alongside Linda Bankier (LB). PB now has two new assistants – one to help him
with the organisation of Bygone Borderlands and the other a student to help generally.
(iv)
Strand C – Education
-Education is quieter this term, but still progressing well with many forthcoming events.
Jane Miller (JM) will have a stand at the two Schools Countryside days and the Heavy
Horse Festival in Milfield. The quietness is put down to the time of year and the fact that
we still find ourselves in the same academic year as the 500th anniversary.
-The Big Dig in June 2014 is a children’s archaeology dig which is in JM’s HLF remit. This
will be held at Ford Moss on Ford & Etal Estates and will offer schools half-day
archaeology workshops at the site. She anticipates 4 activities: 1 x archaeology digging,
1 x find handing/processing, 1 x documentary research with LB and 1 x tour of the site.
This project was originally planned as one 9-day activity in 2014. However JM will do 5
days this year as one project and the remaining 4-5 next year as another project. She
talks of making this an annual activity for her new Young Archaeologists Club branch,
which is currently being formed. Ford & Etal Estates have offered a list of possible sites for
the digs in future years. This would be a great legacy from the project.
(v)
Strand E – SBC
-Recent press coverage of a decision by SBC to consider transferring its museums, arts,
and libraries into a Trust was noted.
-The education resource packs put together by JM will be especially useful in SBC
schools, as Flodden appears on the syllabus here.
AB will review the non-cash contributions from SBC to be certain that nothing has been
under-valued.
(vi)
Strand F – Marketing
–The maintenance of a Flodden media profile was discussed. It was agreed that
Glendale PR& Marketing need to be given a frequent supply of content for this.
AB to try and encourage other contractors to do this
-Recent awards were noted and warmly welcomed:
a. Remembering Flodden has won the Battlefield Trust’s President’s award
b. Tales of Northumberland: shortlisted for a Royal Television Society award
c. Sally Beamish, composer of a Flodden piece first performed in Selkirk by the Scottish
Chamber Orchestra has been shortlisted for a Royal Philharmonic Society award
d. Flodden 1513 was runner-up in The Journal Culture Awards 2013 ‘Best Event in
Northumberland’ section.
-The existence of openly accessible statistics for things like the number of visitors to
Northumberland last year was discussed.
NW to bring the Northumberland Tourism Team Report for next Committee Meeting.
(vii)
Strand G – Misc. Peace Centre Timeline
-No real progress so far
AB to keep attending meeting and to make sure this is completed for the end of the
project.
5. New Ecomuseum sites – Reasons for an Unsuccessful Application Draft [doc 1]
-The draft list of possible reasons not to accept an ecomuseum site application was
discussed. Point 4 on accessibility was identified as needing further thought. This
document was shelved until a site application is received.
6. Website analysis
-BC gave a short presentation of the statistical information available on the
www.flodden1513.com Google Analytics account and showed a draft report.
-Concern had been raised at the Delivery Group Meeting at the lower number of visitors
on www.flodden1513.com in 2014. The Committee did not totally share this concern,
feeling that this may be a natural dip after a large year. NW added that visitor numbers
to Northumberland museums generally have been down this quarter.
BC to follow up on technical questions before completing her report: (1) Is Google
tracking on every page? (2) Are the old website URLs offline completely?
The Marketing Meeting on 6th May 2014 will debate how to implement some
improvements which require a technician’s time
BC to supply NW with statistical information on the interaction between
www.visitnorthumberland.com and www.flodden1513.com as well as Flodden events
figures per month from 1 April 2013 – 31 March 2014 on www.flodden1513.com
7. New leaflet distribution summary
-The new generic and site-specific leaflets have been sent to ecomuseum site owners.
The attached summary sheet shows where these have gone for each site.
8. Adam Cook (Durham University) survey [doc 2]
-The premature sending round of Adam Cook’s survey to ecomuseum site owners was
discussed. His draft survey was sent without the approval of AB or JJ.
AB to make sure with Durham University and CBu that the resulting report from this survey
is not sent around to ecomuseum site owners.
9. A.O.B
(i) Ecomuseum signage [doc 3]
-Ownership and maintenance of ecomuseum signs was discussed. It was concluded
that although ecomuseum sites were expected to maintain their signs, breakages and
replacements are to be paid for and supplied by the Flodden 1513 Ecomuseum.
AB to speak with John Lawson to ask if he can clean graffiti from Edinburgh sign if
possible, otherwise a replacement can be made and sent.
(ii) Ecomuseum Site Engagement
-AB discussed creating a geocache trail in relation to site engagement. The level of
engagement of each site would be left up to the site owners. Different themes could be
taken on by all sites or by individual ones. This is to be discussed at the forthcoming
Marketing Meeting.
(iii) Marketing Meeting on 6th May 2014
The increasing importance of the role of Marketing for the Flodden 1513 Ecomuseum
was discussed. The meeting should discuss the 501st and 502nd anniversary activities perhaps asking the public and sites for their thoughts. Hornshole’s 500th anniversary
should also feature.
(iv) Stakeholder Meeting
Defer discussion until Marketing Meeting
10. Time and date of next meeting:
BC to Doodle Poll with dates from 31st July 2014.