It was noted that apologies were received by Councillor Cox.

There were no Substitute Members.

There were no Visiting Members.

There were no disclosures by Members or Officers.

There were no disclosures of lobbying.

RESOLVED:  That all items be taken in public as proposed.

RESOLVED:  That the Minutes of the meeting held on 8 February 2019 be approved as a correct record and signed.

There were no petitions.

There were no questions from members of the public.

The Chairman agreed to take an urgent update to this item as legal advice had just been obtained which would assist Members in their consideration of the options available for the future of the Queen’s Own Royal West Kent Regiment charity.

The Committee considered the report of Ms Victoria Barlow, the Museum’s Director which provided information on proposals to transfer the collection to the National Army Museum.

The Committee made the following comments:-

·  That a submission to the Charity Commission would need to set out clear and robust reasons why the Trust should be dissolved.

·  A representative from the Regiment should be sought and asked to oversee the Trust’s dissolution.  A representative from the dissolved Trust should be asked to join the Maidstone Museum Foundation.   

·  The remaining monies from the collection could be used to a) provide for remedial work to be carried out for the collection; b) put the collection online; and/or c) provide a memorial plaque.

Following the comments from Members, Ms Barlow undertook to come back to the Committee at a later stage with costings and an update on the issues discussed.

RESOLVED:  That

1.  The progress of the Museum Twenty Year Plan be noted.

2.  The Committee takes the decision in principle to dissolve the collection and donate it to the Maidstone Museum in view of its limited funds and the inability to raise funds as necessary to accommodate its recharges.

3.  Officers draw up a clear set of reasons for the dissolution of the charity to the Charity Commission.

4.  Officers provide a cost analysis for the conservation of the collection where required, the provision of putting the collection on-line and the provision of a memorial plaque.

5.  Officers make enquiries to see if there is still a representative of the Queens Own West Kent Regiment who would be willing to be part of the new Friends Association to oversee the smooth transition of the collection to Maidstone Museum. 

Voting:  Unanimous

The Committee considered the report of the Museum’s Director, Ms Barlow which detailed the position of the National Army Museum in relation to the future of the Queen’s Own Royal West Kent Regiment Museum’s collection.

It was noted that a meeting had taken place in August 2018 where Museum officers met with representatives of the National Army Museum and the Army Museums Ogilby Trust.  During the meeting the organisations set out numerous ways in which they could support the local retention of the collection.  However, they did indicate that they would not be willing to accept the collection.

RESOLVED:  That the position of the National Army Museum in regard to the future of the QORWKRMT be noted.

11.00 a.m. to 12 noon.