Council faces bill to pay back Walsall museum cash

Walsall Museum is poised to shut under proposals to save the authority £70,000 in the next financial year.

Walsall Council received £50,000 towards the refurbishment of the museum's Changing Face of Walsall gallery five years ago.

The authority could be made to pay back some of the money if there are no plans to re-display collections elsewhere using the equipment purchased.

Its collections such as the Hodson Choice, with a selection of 20th century clothing, face being mothballed.

A report as part of the draft budget states: "Walsall Museum offers access to the historical and material evidence of how Walsall has developed as a town and how the lives of people and communities has shaped that development. It also continues to collect memories and artefacts showing the continued changes to communities and the emergence of new communities.

"This access and collecting of historical materials will cease if the museum closes, meaning that the public will no longer have access to the museum and be able to view its collections.

"This will include several collections of specific interest: the Hodson Shop collection of working clothes, the Old Hall and Crabtree collections and the Bayards Colts. The Heritage Lottery awarded £50,000 towards the refurbishment of the Changing Face of Walsall gallery in 2008.

"They may seek some repayment if there are no plans to re-display the collections elsewhere using the display equipment purchased for this refurbishment." It emerged last week more than 330 jobs will be lost as the council faces cuts of around £19 million from its budget.

The package of savings will see the children's services department budget cut and Walsall Museum close. Bosses revealed 332 jobs face going in the 2014/15 budget.

Finance chief Councillor Chris Towe said jobs would be lost across a range of council departments but insisted efforts were being made to minimise the impact on services.

The council plans to cut £6m from the social care bill as it aims to save £100m over the next five years.

Bosses have said the cuts will be less severe if residents agree to a council tax increase. A consultation has been launched to get people's views.

Among the options are a two per cent rise, generating £1.7m, or a four per cent increase, raising £3.4m.