The minutes for a meeting are added to these pages approximately three months after the meeting is held. This is because the minutes must be agreed by the trustees at their next quarterly meeting before being released.
Bryan Gray, Alexis Redmond, Brian Wong, Eva Wisemark, Jonathan Falkingham, Sir Robert Crawford and Nisha Katona
David Fleming, Sharon Granville, Amy de Joia, Claire Harvey, Maxine Carden, John Millard and Tony Allen
There were apologies for absence from Anil Ruia, Norman Kurland, Professor Chris Green and Sir Neil Cossons.
The Chairman formally welcomed Sir Robert Crawford CBE and Mrs Nisha Katona to this their first Board of Trustees meeting.
2.1. The Chair invited members to indicate whether they had any conflicting or prejudicial interests within the items of business set out below and none were notified.
2.2. The Chairman noted that there may be general conflicts of interest arising from his position within the Culture Company.
2.3. Bryan Gray noted there may be general conflicts of interest arising from his Chairmanship of the North West Development Agency (NWDA).
The minutes of the meeting of the Board of Trustees of 11 March 2009 were submitted and signed by the Chair as a correct record of proceedings.
The Chairman provided a verbal update on recent and forthcoming meetings and matters of interest, noting in particular that the Chairman has recently written to the Secretary of State articulating his desire to meet to discuss funding for NML from 2010/11 onwards, and in particular, revenue and capital funding for ISM.
The Board considered a report to update the Trustees on the current position on a range of topics of interest to the Trustees not otherwise covered by agenda items, noting in particular;
a) the recent identification of five Ming Buddhist statues possibly being the only surviving set of bronze temple sculptures from the sacred Chinese island of Putuo, highlighting the international importance of NML’s collection;
b) the underlying growth in visitor figures, with an increase of 5% on the same period last year, and up 15% on 2007 figures for the same period ;
c) the International Slavery Museum was unsuccessful at the recent European Museum of the Year Awards held in Turkey on 8 May; and
d) the 36% increase on the same period last year in visitors participating in learning activity between 1 February and 15 April 2009.
RESOLVED that
1) the report be noted; and
2) due credit be given to all staff who have helped towards the noticeable increase in both visitor figures and learning activity figures so far this year.
The Board considered the proceedings of the various Committees which had taken place since the last main Board of Trustees on 11 March 2009.
a) the Chairman advised the Board that due to the timing of the Easter break, and subsequent meetings, it had not been possible to circulate the minutes of the Audit and Finance Committees, but had asked the Chair of each to report verbally.
b) a verbal update on the proceedings of the Audit Committee of 7 May 2009 was provided by the new Committee Chair, noting that,
EXEMPTED MATERIAL: The details of this item of business have been removed from this version of the minutes because they relate to the effective conduct of public affairs that might be prejudiced by disclosure.
RESOLVED that the verbal update be noted.
c) A verbal update on the proceedings of the Finance Committee of 7 May 2009 was provided by the Committee Chair, and summary financial reports were circulated to the Board, noting in particular that;
EXEMPTED MATERIAL: The details of this item of business have been removed from this version of the minutes because they relate to the effective conduct of public affairs that might be prejudiced by disclosure.
RESOLVED that the verbal update be noted.
The Board considered a report of the various Registrars listing acquisitions made and gifts accepted in exercise of delegated powers in the period since the last meeting of the Board on 11 March 2009.
RESOLVED that
1) the report be noted; and
2) Trustees would like to see perhaps one or two of the items listed in the report at each Board.
The Board considered a report of the various Registrars listing loan arrangements entered into since the last meeting of the Board on 11 March 2009.
RESOLVED that the report be noted.
The Board considered the latest health and safety statistics for the
organisation.
RESOLVED that
1) the report be noted;
2) the Board are satisfied that they have discharged their statutory obligations in respect of Health and Safety management;
3) future reports are to highlight any key issues of note and provide assurance that risks are being mitigated; and
4) the Chair of the Audit Committee assured Trustees that Health and Safety was to be included within the review of risk management now underway.
The Board considered a report apprising them of developments since the last meeting relating to the Museum of Liverpool project, noting that;
EXEMPTED MATERIAL: The details of this item of business have been removed from this version of the minutes because they relate to the effective conduct of public affairs that might be prejudiced by disclosure.
The Board considered the draft strategic plan for 2009-2011, noting in particular that the Board agreed that this latest version had addressed most of the comments made at the last meeting.
RESOLVED that
1) the report be noted;
2) the Executive Team to finalise the document, with the Chairman being involved in any further editing; and
3) the final draft be circulated via email for approval by Trustees.
The Board considered a report, as presented to DCMS at their request, highlighting the outline capital proposals for NML in the short, medium and long term, and estimated costs required to undertake essential maintenance and repairs across the estate over the next ten years.
RESOLVED that
1) the report be noted; and
2) the report be developed, and projects prioritised, as we move forward into the future.
There were no matters discussed under this agenda item.
The next meeting will be held at 1pm on Tuesday 30 June 2009, and will be at the County Sessions House.