Plans to create new archive facilities for Flintshire and Denbighshire rest on the outcome of a multi-million pound funding bid, it has been said.
A report to Flintshire Council's cabinet - which met on Tuesday (January 16) - asked members to note three aspects of an ongoing project to create a central archive facility for Flintshire and Denbighshire.
These included the submission of a further application for £7.336m, the outcome of which is expected to be known in the next eight weeks, and the "challenges faced by the project" since 2021.
Flintshire Council Leader Ian Roberts told the cabinet: "Archives are one of the statutory services a council has to provide - and for some years now we've been working on a project to ensure we remain compliant with the various legislation over archives.
"The building in Hawarden is wonderful and has a fantastic reading room - but as far as modern archive provision goes, probably doesn't meet the latest requirements.
"I know there is an issue about bringing stuff online so it can be obtained very quickly.
"We have a very important duty to safeguard our heritage.
"And the current project would see the establishment of a new archives for Flintshire and Denbighshire.
"It's now subject to various grant applications for funding."
Claire Homard, chief officer for education and youth services, told the meeting: "Current accommodation in Flintshire and Denbighshire has an insufficiency of storage space.
"We're already expending council money with having to put items in storage - and that doesn't account for further collections moving forward.
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"The key thing to note is that we have submitted a revised bid to the Welsh National Heritage Lottery Fund - the outcome will be known at the end of March and will be fundamental in how this project moves forward.
"We have to cut our cloth in terms of the funding available and have driven the cost down as best as we can to make sure the property does provide an archive that is fit for purpose for both councils and is future-proof."
Cabinet members followed the recommendations in the report.
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