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Executive (I)
Wednesday, 11th July, 2012

REPORT TO:65
DECISION NUMBER:PH/78/2012
EARLIEST DATE FOR DECISION:11th July 2012

STANLEY PARK LIONS
Matter for Consideration:
The loan to Stowe House Trust of the Stanley Park Lions in return for identical copies for a fifty year period.
Information:
The Stanley Park Lions were gifted to Blackpool by John Magee of Magee Marshall and Co, Brewers of Bolton. They were bought at the great Stowe Sale of 1921 and were originally intended for the promenade, but eventually found a place as a main focus for the Park's Italian Garden.

The sculptures are copies of the Vacca Lions which once stood outside the Plazzo Medici in Rome but were moved to the Loggia de Lanzi in Florence when the Medici sold their Rome residence to the Dukes of Lorraine.

The sculptor responsible for the copies was John Cheere, a leading mater leadfounder in the City of London. The lions were made around 1770 along with other sculptures (including the Shepherds and Shepherdesses in the Italian Garden) as part of a suite of Italian inspired sculpture for Earl Temple - Grenville who had returned from a grand tour of Italy a few years earlier and set out remodelling Stowe House. The lions were created to sit either side of the grand staircase up to the south terrace of the house and such were a part of the architectural design.

Recent metal thefts in the Town have raised concerns about the ability of the Council to provide the necessary levels of security for such valuable objects (insured for approximately £300,000 each but possibly worth more). This was exacerbated by the theft of lead sculpture from the park last year when three of the four statues in the Italian Garden were stolen. The deal with Stowe will provide for high levels of security and will display the Lions in their original location.

The Council will receive the following in return for the loan:

*Exact copies of the lions in original materials but with a steel armature to prevent cutting
*New Plinths in cast stone to match the originals which are in poor condition.
*Free access to Stowe House for Blackpool residents for the duration of the loan
*Free access to Stowe Landscape Gardens for Blackpool Residents (the gardens are managed by the National Trust but the house in Managed by Stowe Preservation Trust)

There will also be substantial Public Relations benefit in the loan as it looks good that Blackpool is willing and able to return the Lions on loan to their original setting in a philanthropic gesture.

Does the information submitted include any exempt information?NO
Legal Considerations:
The loan will be subject to a legal contract drafted by the Council’s Legal Services section.
Personnel Considerations:
There are no Human Resources or Equalities considerations relating to this decision.
Financial Considerations:
As outlined the legal agreement, Stowe House Trust will provide for the new cast stone plinths work, which is around £20,000. These will be identical copies of the current plinths which are in poor condition. There will therefore be no financial considerations for the Council.
Performance Management Considerations:
There are no Performance Management considerations relating to this decision.
Risk Management Considerations:
The key risk is that once the decision papers are made public, there may be increased risk of theft or damage to the lions as people realise they are lead castings and have a significant value.
Relevant Officer:
Carl Baker, Assistant Chief Executive- Organisation, Property and Information Technology
Relevant Cabinet Member:
Councillor G. Cain
Consultation Undertaken:
English Heritage, Blackpool Civic Trust, Friends of Stanley Park and the Lancashire Garden History Society have all been consulted and are all supportive.
Background Papers:
Is this a key decision?NO
Is the decision required in less than 5 days?NO
Recommendations:
To loan the Stanley Park Lions to the Stowe House Trust for 50 years, subject to a formal legal agreement.
Reasons for Recommendations:
The Council cannot offer the level of resource required to protect the Lions from determined metal thieves. The loss of other lead statues within the park has created pressure for the lions to be better protected and Stowe genuinely offers the necessary level of protection. The Council will in no way relinquish the ownership of the lions and the breach of any condition of the loan would enable to the Council to retrieve its property.
Is the recommendation contrary to a plan or strategy adopted or approved by the Council?NO
Is the recommendation in accordance with the Council’s approved Budget?YES
Other alternative options to be considered:
To not move the lions which, as outlined in the report, may increase the risk of theft.
Policy, Overview, and Scrutiny Committee Chairman (where appropriate)
Date Informed: N/A
Date Approved: N/A
DECLARATION(S) OF INTEREST (if applicable)
None
Decision:
The Cabinet Member agreed the recommendation as outlined above namely: To loan the Stanley Park Lions to the Stowe House Trust for 50 years, subject to a formal legal agreement.
Date:11th July 2012
Reason for Decision:
The Council cannot offer the level of resource required to protect the Lions from determined metal thieves. The loss of other lead statues within the park has created pressure for the lions to be better protected and Stowe genuinely offers the necessary level of protection. The Council will in no way relinquish the ownership of the lions and the breach of any condition of the loan would enable to the Council to retrieve its property.

Date of Publication:		11th July 2012


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