Agenda

To receive any apologies for absence from Councillors.

Councillors are requested to declare any interests on items included in this agenda. Please refer to the workflow on the preceding page for guidance.

Declarations received will be reported at the meeting.

To confirm and sign as a correct record the minutes of the Meeting held on 27 October 2025.

To receive any public questions, statements or petitions submitted in accordance with the Constitution. Further information on the requirements for submitting these is available to view at the following link:-

https://democracy.bcpcouncil.gov.uk/ieListMeetings.aspx?CommitteeID=151&Info=1&bcr=1

The deadline for the submission of public questions is midday Tuesday 13 January 3 clear working days before the meeting.

The deadline for the submission of a statement is midday Friday 16 January the working day before the meeting.

The deadline for the submission of a petition is Friday 2 January 10 working days before the meeting.

It is a statutory requirement to agree the Annual Financial Statements for the Russell-Cotes Art Gallery and Museum and submit to the Charity Commission by 31 January each year. The Management Committee are asked to review and agree the Financial Statements and the Letter of Representation prior to them being signed off by the Leader of the Council.

In December 2025, the Charity Commission informed the Russell-Cotes that the Department of Culture Media and Sport (DCMS) has made progress on the governance. It has appointed a team to work on the drafting of the Scheme and the scheduling of the associated Order of State through Parliament and consulted the relevant Minister.  However, DCMS require some redrafting of the Scheme, which, though largely technical, will need agreement with BCP Council as Trustee before it can be scheduled for parliamentary approval.  It will therefore not be able to meet the anticipated deadline of 1 April 2026 for Vesting Day. An update is being sought on a projected Vesting Day.

A meeting was held in November 2025 between the RCAGM Management Committee and the BCP Council Chief Executive Officer (CEO).  This discussed the impact of the Council’s decision to use the £2.25million lump sum (originally agreed by Council on 20 February 2024 to fund the new trustee at Vesting Day) to fund revenue costs incurred from 1 October 2025 until externalisation takes place.  The Management Committee expressed their concern that this decision could undermine the future financial viability of the independent charity and therefore put the process of externalisation at risk.  A verbal update will be given at the meeting.

To note the date of the scheduled meeting on Monday 1 June 2026.