Southampton's Titanic museum needs money from other Hampshire councils

The Daily Echo can reveal that Hampshire County Council is being tapped up by civic chiefs to provide the missing millions after a sale of prized artwork was dropped.

This newspaper has seen confidential documents that reveal top level talks have been held with the county council to discuss how it can invest money in Southampton’s art collection. It is likely to take the form of ongoing payments over years.

In return, hundreds of artworks from Southampton’s collection would be released for display at galleries, museums and other council buildings.

County council bosses would also be given a key role in “managing and governing” future art purchases and exhibition programmes, although the day-today running of Southampton’s collection would remain with the city gallery curator.

It is understood national charities and international bodies have also been approached for funding.

Talks have been held with a number of rich individuals and the council is also is looking for surplus assets to sell.

It would mean taxpayers in Eastleigh, Winchester, Fareham, Test Valley and the New Forest helping to pay for an attraction expected to bring in thousands of visitors a year to Southampton.

The City Council is prepared to plunge itself into debt to get the £5m its needs upfront while most of its £180m art collection remains languishing unseen in vaults.

The arts sale was ditched on Wednesday as the council voted to axe 120 jobs, shut Millbrook Library and make £8m other cuts to balance its budget.

Eastleigh council leader and Lib Dem county councillor Keith House said the move “smacked of desperation”.

He said: “I don’t think Hampshire should be funding expensive art projects outside its borders.

Our taxpayers’ money shouldn’t be frittered away on such projects.

“I would expect the [county] council to take any proposal through its proper democratic processes and should be inviting the views of Hampshire people.”

Mark Wallace from the Taxpayers’ Alliance, said: “It’s not fair, particularly in the current economic climate, to expect taxpayers from any part of the country to cough up the millions of pounds [Southampton] council are looking for, “While selling works of art may be controversial in some quarters, the council must remember they are there to provide services, not hoard assets. If the council can get a good price they should look at selling them.”

Southampton’s 3,700-piece art collection is considered the one of the most significant outside London, behind Birmingham and Manchester. It includes prized works by Turner, Lowry, and Monet.

Council leaders wanted to sell a painting by Arthur Munnings and a sculpture by Auguste Rodin to raise £5m towards the £15m Sea City Museum – intended to host an exhibition of the centenary of the sinking of the Titanic in April 2012 – and an expanded art gallery at the Civic Centre.

The sale was suspended in November amid fears it could jeopardise a bid for £4.6m from the Heritage Lottery Fund, which is set to make a decision next month.

A separate sponsorship and fundraising drive will target another £5m.

Southampton City Council cabinet member for leisure John Hannides declined to comment on confidential papers.

But he insisted: “The discussions we are having with a range of organisations are intended to help us raise all the money we need.”

He claimed it would avoid the need for borrowing money, other than for “cashflow” purposes, and ensure council taxpayers don’t bear the costs.

In a statement Hampshire County Council’s cabinet member for culture and recreation Councillor Margaret Snaith-Tempia said: “Discussions are at an early stage about how we can work more efficiently and save money for all council taxpayers by sharing staff and expertise and resources while allowing the county’s combined art collection to be seen more widely by the public and schools.”