The Keats House Consultative Committee is scheduled to meet on Thursday 30 April 2026. The meeting's agenda includes a review of achievements at Keats House between April and September 2025, and a discussion of outstanding actions from previous meetings.

Achievements at Keats House April - September 2025

The committee will be presented with a report detailing the achievements at Keats House during the period of April to September 2025. This report, prepared by Executive Director of Environment Katie Stewart and authored by Rob Shakespeare, Head of Heritage & Museums, Natural Environment, is for information and discussion. It outlines how Keats House has been delivering on its annual Activities Plan, which in turn contributes to departmental, corporate, and wider cultural sector outcomes. The report notes that Keats House continues to focus on its core services of opening to the public, delivering school sessions, and promoting exhibitions and events. It also highlights ongoing initiatives and longer-term projects aimed at preserving and enhancing the premises and improving access to its collections. The report will also form the basis of a presentation to the Culture, Heritage and Libraries Committee on 18 May 2026.

The report details a number of successes during the period. The Keats House 100 exhibition, celebrating the centenary of the house opening as a museum, ran from May 2025 to April 2026 and attracted 8,283 visitors, an 8% increase on the previous year. A total of 38 public events were held, engaging 1,139 people. Keats House also continued to be a popular destination for school groups, delivering 74 taught sessions to 1,134 students from 57 schools. The house was awarded the prestigious Sandford Award for the high quality of its heritage education and holds the Learning Outside the Classroom Quality Badge. Volunteers provided 681 hours of support across various roles, including visitor tours, poetry readings, and collections care.

The report also addresses maintenance and environmental concerns. In June 2025, a large limb fell from an ash tree in the garden during an outdoor event. While no one was injured, this highlighted the risks posed by trees under stress from climate change. Urgent works to reduce the crown of the damaged ash tree and remove a wild cherry tree were completed in March 2026. The committee will also be updated on detailed surveys of the Grade I listed Keats House and Grade II listed Ten Keats Grove (library) buildings, with a schedule of works commencing in April 2026, including the restoration of the Conservatory and veranda.

Outstanding Actions

The committee will also review a report on outstanding actions from previous meetings, compiled by the Clerk. This report provides an update on progress made on various action points. For instance, the copy of the lease was forwarded to the Chair and Deputy Chair on 17 April 2026. Updates on tree management to reduce tree fall risk have been provided, with urgent works completed and the risk score reduced to Amber. A schedule of works for 2026/27 has been drawn up, with initial phases including repairs to the Keats House Conservatory and veranda, and planned works for the street perimeter fencing and entrance gate, subject to consents from LB Camden.

The agenda also includes noting the minutes of the previous meeting held on 31 October 2025, and a section for questions on matters relating to the work of the Consultative Committee. The date and location of the next meeting, scheduled for 30 October 2026 at Guildhall, will also be confirmed.