MAIDSTONE BOROUGH COUNCIL
QUEEN'S OWN ROYAL WEST KENT REGIMENT MUSEUM TRUST COMMITTEE
Minutes of the meeting held on Tuesday 22 January 2019
Present: |
Councillor Cox, Cuming, Mrs Gooch and Mrs Wilson (in the Chair) |
|
Also Present: |
Councillor Newton |
6. Apologies for Absence
It was noted that apologies for absence had been received from Councillor Round.
7. Notification of Substitute Members
There were no Substitute Members.
8. Notification of Visiting Members
Councillor Newton was in attendance as a Visiting Member.
9. Disclosures by Members and Officers
There were no disclosures by Members or Officers.
10. Disclosures of Lobbying
There were no disclosures of lobbying.
11. Exempt Items
RESOLVED: That all items be taken in public as proposed.
12. Minutes of the Meeting held on 16 January 2018
RESOLVED: That the minutes of the Meeting
held on 16 January 2018 be approved as a correct record and signed.
13. Minutes of the Meeting held on 22 May 2018
RESOLVED: That the minutes of the Meeting
held on 22 May 2018 be approved as a correct record and signed.
14. Presentation of Petitions
There were no petitions.
15. Questions and answer session for members of the public
There were no questions from members of the public.
16. Accounts 2017/18
Mr Paul Holland, Senior Finance Manager (Client) presented a report detailing the Queen’s Own Royal West Kent Regiment Museum Trust’s accounts for the year ending 31 March 2018 for approval by the Committee before submission to the Charity Commission.
Mr Holland informed the Committee that the Trust continued to have a healthy level of assets overall for day to day operations which stood at £24,979 and a bank account balance of £1,751.
In response to a question from a Member, Mr Holland advised that a service charge payment to the Museum of £1,273 was made in 2017/18 from the donations box and that payment of the shortfall of £727 was not being pursued by the Museum.
The Committee expressed their disquiet that the shortfall had not been paid as they felt that it was important that the Trust should pay all of its financial commitments to the Council in full and requested further information on the background to why full payment had not been made. They were also concerned that a proportion of the service charge had been paid from the donations box.
Officers were requested to settle the outstanding sum and that the service charge payment of £1,273 that had already been made be reflected in the accounts.
RESOLVED: That the report be deferred to enable the Officer to come back with revised accounts to reflect the discussion.
Voting: Unanimous
17. Annual Report
The Committee considered the report of Ms Samantha Harris, Collections Manager which provided an overview of the Queen’s Own Royal West Kent Regiment’s collection activities during 2018.
Ms Harris highlighted to the Committee that:
·
The Learning Team had run several workshops based on WW1 and WW2
which related to the artefacts and history of the Queen’s Own Royal West Kent
Regiment Museum Trust (QORWKRMT) throughout 2018. In total 680 school children
engaged specifically with the collection and gallery in formal learning
activities since January 2018.
·
There had been increased social media presence in 2018 relating
to the QORWKR, which related to posts and blogs regarding the Regiment’s
involvement in WW1 in the final centenary year. The Keys of Jerusalem were due
back in the next week having been on loan to the Tower of David Museum in
Jerusalem.
·
During 2018, 73 items had been donated, accessioned and added to
the Trust’s collection The new items consisted of:
* The Invicta (the magazine of the 1st Kent Regiment)
* Various items of the uniform worn by the Regiment
* Accessories which included a respirator, bottle, bayonet frog and
holster
·
No major redisplay work had been undertaken in the permanent
gallery in 2018. However a number of the medal drawers had now been made
secure after developing faults over time.
·
Café Culture sessions have continued to be popular and have
included talks/discussions and object handling.
·
A series of events named ‘What’s in Store?’ were scheduled to
begin in January 2019 with monthly tours behind the scenes. These sessions are
bookable in advance by the public.
·
Mr Finnis continued to work on the QORWKRMT archive and the large
photographic collection. Following completion of the 3D objects, he was now
cataloguing the 2D items.
·
There had been no new collections care issues raised in 2018.
However this would be reviewed in line with display needs and budget allowing.
·
A large number of enquiries had been received during the last
year possibly as a result of the final year of WW1 centenary commemorations.
The enquiries were received by contact form, email, phone, letter or in person
and can be quite resource orientated.
In response to a question from the Committee, Ms Harris
replied that Ms Barlow, the Museum’s Director had contacted the National Army
Museum but they would not be looking to take on the collection were the Trust
to dissolve, whilst they felt it would be of enormous interest to people in
Maidstone, it would hold little interest in the National Army Museum.
The Committee requested that their thanks be expressed in a letter to Mr Finnis, the officers and other volunteers at the Museum for all their hard work.
The Committee also requested that a report be brought to the special meeting of the Queen’s Own Royal West Kent Trust Committee in February providing an update on the transformation plan and evidence of the written response received from the National Army Museum about the collection.
RESOLVED: That
1)
The annual report be noted.
2)
A letter be sent from the Chairman to Mr Finnis, the officers and other
volunteers at the Museum expressing the Committee’s thanks and appreciation for
all their hard work.
3)
That an update on the transformation plan be provided to the special
meeting in February.
4) That evidence of the written response from the National Army Museum be provided at the February meeting.
Voting: Unanimous
18. Duration of Meeting
11.30 a.m. to 12.30 p.m.