FRC move - meeting at FRC Thurs, Kew Friday

New message on National Archive website:

"For members of the public who are able to travel, we are holding open
sessions at the Family Records Centre on 29 June at 12:00 and at Kew on 30
June at 11:30."

squealing...

Been there today. My hurridly scratched-down notes taken during the meeting

Peter Goodey...

Thanks for taking the trouble to post a report; even if it is depressing
reading.

Fenny...

Seconded

follow:

It was hosted by James Strachan, director of public services & marketing, &
several others from National Archives & FRC

The key driver for the NA closing down the FRC in Islington & relocating to
Kew is budgetary. The NA's funding overall has been capped at last year's
figure of Ł40m, whereas they expected Ł42. The Treasury has indicated that
there will be no increase in future years, so effectively they are having
to reduce budgets year on year after inflation.

They are having to cut a range of new projects, and are looking for
economies. However they are tripling the numbers of staff who are working
on digitising records across the NA [presumably managing the contracts,
rather than doing it themselves?]

They pay Ł1.1m rent pa to the GRO for the 1st floor of FRC. The GRO leases

myths...

The visits to TNA's floor in FRC in a year was given as currently
130,000. So the rent comes out at Ł8.46 a visit, before one adds
furniture and staff (and heat, light etc?).

The peak was given as 190,000 (the peak years were described as about
4 years around 2002, with that year as a peak within the peak) - Ł5.79
a visit as share of rent.

it in turn from a private landlord under a contract that lasts until 2012.
Hence they think they can save that amount pa and so have announced they
intend to leave by 31 Dec 2008. [Q: so is this a genuine economy??? I
presume they won't try to renegotiate the GRO charges like one would with a
commercial landlord? The GRO, of course, will have still have to find that
Ł1.1m from somewhere until 2012]

There are 1/3rd fewer visitors to the FRC nowadays than during the 2002
period [it was pointed out that was an artificial peak caused by the 1901
fiasco] and there has been a dropping off of recent visitor numbers as more
census records come online.

They believe they can free up sufficient space in Kew, but do not as yet
know how many people would be prepared to make the journey there.
They would consider making a dedicated and/or seperated FH section there,
and could also link into other specialists like military historians.

They like what the Scottish GRO is doing with its FH annexe on Princes
street. Comparing the two, although legally the NA could charge an entry
fee, current government policy is that all access should be free. [So
ultimately they will be finanicially constrained as to what they can do]

Mike...

Chris

I don't doubt that some - like yourself - will find it easier. That's
inevitable.

However I find it hard to believe that a majority of the FRC's customer
will. Surely that should be the measure. Not number of changes.

From my home in Walthamstow I can get to TNA with either one change on the
North London Line or one change by underground. The FRC is obviously going
to be easier for me as its only half the distance but that's not the issue.

The problem is the reliability factor. A single problem on my twice weekly
trips to TNA can cause serious delays. A single problem on my twice weekly
trips to the FRC and I have various alternative routes as backup.

Whichever way you look at it TNA is one step from the end of a branch line.
FRC is served by a number of transport links in central London.

Regarding regional access, they see the internet as providing this. They
did a [smallish?] survey at a FH event in York, most people had used the
online services, but about 1/3rd had visited the FRC in London.

It seems the GRO hasn't been consulted much [at all?] in this matter. They
will be left to find a new tenant for the building once the NA leaves. GRO
commitment to the FRC building is in question, especially in light of their
register digitisation project, although an online partnership is
conceiveable between the NA & GRO.

There will be more consultation in early Sept., and Baroness Ashton plans
to meet assembled FH groups later in Sept.

The type of consultation planned appears to be along the lines of: "like it
or lump it, this is how it is, now you have an opportunity to help us to
make the best of it"

In addition to the groans about sending folks to the a***-end of London
a number of good questions were asked. This included (in no particular
order or merit)
- widespread access for those without home PCs or broadband
- nightmare walking/bus/train/car access to Kew, no local tube stop
- keeping accesible & quality staff versus the tyranny of security at Kew
- other non-digitised resources, the ease of access of paper files versus
fiche
- wills, access to indices, & good quality large format printing
- impact on other local archives & resources
- sharing a smaller facility w. some other FH-related groups was also
mooted, but not sure if that is a realistic proposition from their
perspective.

I'm sure others can add to this list.
Bob

I suspect they wont be able to say much at this early stage, but it may be
worthwhile listening and raising any concerns early.

Bob (planning to be there)