Issue - meetings

In March 2019, the Management Committee agreed that the Russell-Cotes Art Gallery & Museum would be best served by moving to full trust status, allowing the museum to better fulfil its long-term strategic and charitable objectives with good governance and financial transparency.

The Committee recognised the complexities of achieving full trust status required further examination before a commitment can be made and that the final decision should lie with BCP Council Cabinet.

At its request, further work has been done by BCP officers, museum staff and external consultants, funded by core budget and ACE CRF Fund to fully develop the business plan.

Business Plan

At their meeting on 8 January 2021, the Management Committee supported a draft proposal for the financial arrangements for an independent charity based on BCP support for transition costs, an initial contribution towards the backlog maintenance issues of the building and a 10 year funding arrangement.

On that basis a business plan has been fully articulated and circulated to Council officers for their input and due diligence for the agreement of the Chief Finance Officer. This business plan continues to be updated and used as the basis for future planning and grant applications.

Governance

The Museum governance is complex because the charity was established with the Council as sole trustee and is subject to the  Bournemouth Borough Council Act 1985. It has been seeking a view on whether or not, in principle, a change of Trusteeship could be made through the Charity Commission’s normal jurisdiction, but it has now received definitive legal advice that any change of governance would have to be made by a Statutory Instrument through Parliament.

An understanding of the process through DCMS, which would sponsor the Order of Parliament has been initiated. A request has been made to the Charity Commission to understand their view of any change and the process, time and likely cost for consideration by the Committee.

Public consultation on the proposed changes will be initiated as this is a requirement of initial discussions with the Charity Commission.

A draft timeline outlines that the process of externalization may be achieved for 1 October 2023.

Exempt Report as defined in Paragraph 3 in Part I of Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act 1972.

The Museum Manager presented a report, a copy of which had been circulated to each Member and a copy of which appears as Appendix 'F' to these Minutes in the Minute Book.

The Management Committee was asked to note the progress made with Business Planning and Governance Discussions and to approve the continued progress of the Russell-Cotes Art Gallery and Museum to externalization as a fully independent charity.

The Committee was advised that since this report had been written, contact with the Charity Commission had only resulted in a holding response so far.  A meeting with the Monitoring Officer had gone well and was encouraging to finding a route through this. 

It was explained that the next course of action was to take a report to Cabinet.  The initial process had commenced with the Charity Commission, who want evidence externalisation was in the best interest of the charity. 

In response to a question about levels of support needed to achieve the project, it was explained that it would depend on the Charity Commission feedback.  The Monitoring Officer had confirmed the use of internal legal resources to support this.

RESOLVED that:

a)     The Management Committee noted the progress made with Business Planning and Governance Discussions; and

b)    The Management Committee approved the continued progress of the Russell-Cotes Art Gallery and Museum to externalization as a fully independent charity

Voting: Unanimous