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1.0
|
Apologies
|
| 1.1 |
Apologies for absence were received from Board
members David Barrie, Vic Gray, Loyd Grossman, Mark
Jones, Alan Watkin, and Lola Young, and Resource
officers Stuart Davies and Karen Knight.
|
|
2.0
|
Reports prepared for the November 22nd meeting
|
|
Minutes of Previous Meeting and Matters Arising
|
| 2.1 |
The minutes of the previous meeting were agreed as a
true record of the proceedings. |
| 2.2 |
The Chairman signed the minutes. |
| 2.3 |
Matthew Evans welcomed Sue Wilkinson to her first
Board meeting, and congratulated her on her recent
appointment to the post of Director of Learning and
Access. There were no other matters arising not on
the agenda. |
|
|
Quarterly progress report
|
| 2.4 |
Neville Mackay gave the quarterly progress report
(the format of which reflected comments previously
suggested by the Board) deferred from the November
meeting, which covered progress up to October 2001.
Progress is generally good, but delays in some areas
of work were noted. This was caused by a combination
of external factors, the fact that some areas of
work had considerably broadened in scope since work
got underway, and the fact that some work had been
displaced by unplanned activities such as the
Regional Museums Task Force. Neville Mackay was
confident that the overall programme would regain
lost ground in the months to the end of the year. |
|
|
Consultation responses
|
| 2.5 |
Chris Batt introduced a paper summarising
consultation by the Learning and Information Society
Team on strategic documents. The overall conclusion
was that these exercises were extremely worthwhile
and resulted in productive and supportive feedback
from the sector. |
| 2.6 |
Matthew Evans asked about recent adverse press
speculation about public libraries dispensing with
and dispersing "unfashionable" stock. Chris Batt
replied that the new DCMS Library Standards required
public libraries to review and assess use and
turnover of stock. In practice, most public
libraries were developing a balance between popular
material and older stock, and the public library
standards would be may be modified to reflect this. |
|
|
Finance & General Purposes Committee
|
| 2.7 |
Terry Marshall summarised actions arising from the
Finance & General Purposes Committee meeting
held on 14th November 2001. |
| 2.8 |
Nick Hodgson queried the high figures for financial
delegation, and asked about virement procedures.
Terry Marshall replied that this was part of the
move to devolved budgeting, and that the high levels
of expenditure approval were related to the types of
grants that Resource awards. He added that virement
would be approved through the mechanism of the
Finance & General Purposes Committee approval to
revision of budgets powers.
|
|
3.0
|
Corporate Planning: Work Plan and Budget For
2002/03 and Progress Towards a Three-Year
Corporate Plan
|
| 3.1 |
Neville Mackay presented a paper outlining progress
to date, and the draft Workplan for 2002/03, which
detailed the Resource vision, core roles, corporate
objectives, and key tasks for 2002/03. The aim was
to set a three-year framework for effective planning
and monitoring of performance against key outcomes.
The budget plan identified budget priorities, and
took into account the £10 million allocated to
Resource by the DCMS for regional work and the
Designation Challenge Fund. The Board was invited to
comment on the proposed framework and plan. |
| 3.2 |
Michael Stevenson commented that the objectives were
bold, representing challenging action, and asked
whether the listed tasks were achievable within
2002/03. Neville Mackay replied that although many
tasks would be initiated and achieved in 2002/03,
others were part of longer-term projects, which
would continue over a three-year period. |
| 3.3 |
Ajay Chowdhury and Vivien Griffiths asked for a
clearer indication of timescales and budgets and of
whom would be responsible for their delivery.
Neville Mackay replied that a more detailed version
of the paper would be prepared as an internal
management tool. |
| 3.4 |
Jane Ryder and Maurna Crozier asked for
clarification on the geographical remit of tasks
outlined for each objective, and asked for clearer
definitions of regional, national UK and
international. In responding, Neville commented that
work was nearing completion with concordats with the
Welsh Assembly, the Northern Ireland Executive. The
objectives and tasks outlined Resource's interface
with Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland on a
project basis. It was agreed that the terms
"regional", "national" and "international" were
confusing, and the plan would be redrafted to remove ambiguity. |
| 3.5 |
Maurna Crozier and Neil MacGregor highlighted the
importance of Resource's international work, and
called for Resource to formalise and strengthen its
existing links with institutions such as the British
Council. Neville Mackay agreed that this was an
important area of work, and outlined the main areas
of Resource's International Strategy for the next 3
years which covered Funding, Legislation and Best
Practice. The nature of Resource's current contacts
with the British Council was also discussed. |
| 3.6 |
Mark Wood suggested that the plan should consider
funding as a separate theme, and focus on the
advocacy and lobbying role of Resource. |
| 3.7 |
The Board congratulated the officers of Resource for
producing a clear and focused workplan, and offered
their support for the proposed framework. Activities
included in the workplan that could be expanded
included Resource's international work and the long
term implications of different funding models. The
Board also felt that it would be helpful to provide
Resource officers with details of individual Board
members' expertise and interests. |
|
4.0
|
Renewal of Banking Facilities
|
| 4.1 |
Terry Marshall requested the Board to formally adopt
the resolutions outlined in his paper providing a
full list of Senior Management Team members who,
with the Chairman are authorised to sign cheques on
behalf of the Council, and the extension of the
authority to enter, extend and renew agreements
between the Council and its bankers. |
| 4.2 |
The Board approved both resolutions. |
|
5.0
|
Regional Museums Task Force
|
| 5.1 |
Neville Mackay gave a progress update. On the 21st
December, in response to a letter from Baroness
Blackstone, Resource had provided DCMS with a
framework document on the identification and
establishment of regional hubs, and details of the
proposed timetable. Rosemary Ewles has been
appointed to act as interface between regional
museums and Resource. Criteria for selection of hubs
will be published in mid February, applications
invited in April, and announcement of hubs in
principle in June/July, with funding hopefully
coming on stream to confirmed hubs in 2004. |
| 5.2 |
Matthew Evans outlined progress with the advocacy
campaign which was being led by Erica Bolton. Events
with key opinion formers were being arranged and
Matthew Evans' meetings with key parliamentary
figures confirmed broad cross party support for the
Regional Museums Task Force report recommendations. |
|
6.0
|
2012 Forward Look
|
| 6.1 |
Michael Stevenson said that steady progress was
being made and that the working group was pursuing
innovative and promising thinking, around the theme
of the meaning for our sector of a digital world in
a local, regional, national and international
context, embracing stewardship, access learning and
social inclusion. The group was keen to engage more
people (Board members and Resource officers) in its
thinking. A paper would be circulated for the next
Board meeting. |
|
7.0
|
Dates for 2002 meetings
|
| 7.1 |
A calendar of provisional dates for future Board
meetings was circulated. Board members were invited
to respond with details of their availability. |
|
8.0
|
Any other business
|
| 8.1 |
Vivien Griffiths congratulated Resource on a
positive Investors in People assessment. There was
no further business. |
|
9.0
|
Date and Time of Next Meeting
|
| 9.1 |
Subject to confirmation, the next Board meeting will
be on Thursday 21st March 2002 at 11.00am -1.30pm,
followed by lunch. Venue to be announced. |
Action List
|
| 3.0 |
CORPORATE PLANNING
- The Board approved the proposed framework
and process for the corporate plan
- A more detailed paper to be prepared as an
internal management tool. (Neville Mackay,
Fennah Podschies)
|
| 4.0 |
RENEWAL OF BANKING FACILITIES
- The Board approved the resolutions put
before them by Terry Marshall
|
| 5.0 |
REGIONAL MUSEUMS TASKFORCE
- Work was continuing to develop regional hubs
and the advocacy campaign
|
| 6.0 |
2012 FORWARD LOOK
- A progress paper would be presented at the
next Board meeting (Stuart Davies)
|
| 7.0 |
DATES FOR 2002 MEETINGS
- Board members were requested to complete and
return their diary sheets
|
