PLANS which could see Lancashire county council take over the running of Lancaster's museums are to be discussed next week.

Councillors will consider whether to go ahead with talks which would see the maritime and city museums run by the same organisation responsible for the Castle and Judge's Lodgings.

The development could mean the creation of joint ticketing and marketing for the different museums in the city.

There are also hopes that, because the museums would be linked with education and library services, the museums would have a better chance of continuing to win funding at national level.

Lancaster City Council will retain the ownership of the museums, including the cottage museum, and would pay an annual management fee roughly equivalent to its current museum budget.

A report to the cabinet by the corporate director (regeneration), John Donnellon, says: "Lancaster would retain control of its assets and have a powerful voice in how the service is delivered through a negotiated agreement and the payment of an annual fee."

All museum staff would be transferred to the county council which, according to the report, could make it easier for them to advance their careers in a large organisation.

Draft heads of agreement have now been drawn up which would ensure that access to collections would be maintained to at least the current levels.

The report will be discussed by the council's cabinet on Tuesday.

Councillors will also have the option to pull out of negotiations and continue to run the museum service in house should they feel it suitable to do so at this moment.