PLANS to hand over management of Banbury Museum to volunteers have been backed by councillors.

Cherwell District Council said the move to transfer it from the authority would save £67,548, as trust status gives an 80 per cent cut in business rates.

It has pledged to continue to provide cash for the museum, based at Castle Quay Shopping Centre.

Total cash for the museum was cut from £640,305 in 2008/09 to £561,370 in 2010/11 in moves that saw staff axed and Sunday closing introduced.

James Macnamara, the council’s lead member for the environment, said: “The council is very committed to it but what I can’t do is promise some future form of money.”

Yet he said the trust would, unlike the council, be able to attract outside grants.

It will also run visitor information services at the front of the museum, its cafe and Tooley’s Boatyard to the rear.

He said: “From the point of the council taxpayer it is a saving that is well over a pound on a band D council tax bill.”

He was confident enough volunteers could be found to run the museum.

Mr Macnamara said: “Things tend to be better run by people who are focused on achieving excellence in one sphere.”

The council’s executive agreed on Monday to support the creation of the Banbury Museum Trust and appoint a shadow trust board. It hopes the changeover will happen in 2013.