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, Gillian Reynolds, Norman Kurland, Alexis Redmond, Brian Wong, Eva Wisemark, Professor Margaret MacKeith, Professor Sarah Palmer, Professor Chris Green and Anil Ruia.
Amy de Joia, Sharon Granville, Claire Croucher, Irene Newton, Carol Rogers, Tony Moran and Bill Donnelly.
Tracey McGeagh for items 1-5.
Apologies for absence were received from, Jonathan Falkingham, Lorraine Rogers and Sir Neil Cossons.
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 on the Culture North West Board
2.3. Bryan Gray noted there may be general conflicts of interest arising from his Chairmanship of the North West Development Agency (NWDA).
2.4. Norman Kurland noted that there may be general conflicts of interest arising from his association with publishers Scala.
2.5. Eva Wisemark noted that there may be conflicts of interest arising from her association with 3XN
The minutes of the meeting of the Board of Trustees of 11 March 2008 were submitted and signed by the Chair as a correct record of proceedings.
Minute 5 – 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.
Minute 6 3) – it was noted that the delegated authority to sign agreements related to the purchase of the Dock Traffic Office has not yet been exercised.
The Board considered a presentation outlining the findings of NML’s visitor profiling survey for 2007/08.
RESOLVED that
1) the presentation be noted; and
2) a copy of the presentation be circulated to Trustees.
The Chairman provided an oral update on the process currently underway to appoint his successor, informing Trustees that interviews for the position will take place on 19 June.
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 success of the Liverpool bid for the DCMS Find Your Talent scheme and the NML and Liverpool Philharmonic led project having been chosen as one of ten pilot schemes around the country;
b) the recognition being given to the International Slavery Museum at international conferences;
c) the continued success of the touring exhibition programme to regional museums and galleries;
d) 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.
e) the submission of two expressions of interest bids to ERDF towards Museum of Liverpool and phase two of the International Slavery Museum; and
f) the increase in visitor figures for 2007/08 of 28% on the previous year, with a total number of visits of 2,167,626, and this being 2% above the target for the year.
RESOLVED that the report be noted.
The Board considered a report to update the Trustees on resolutions taken by the various Trustee Committees between 11 March and 10 June 2008
RESOLVED that the report be noted.
The Board considered the proceedings of the various Committees which had taken place since the last main Board of Trustees on 11 March 2008
a) The proceedings of the Committee of Chairs of 11 March 2008 were submitted.
RESOLVED that the proceedings be approved.
b) The proceedings of the Capital Programme Committee of 11 March and 23 April 2008 were submitted, and in addition, the Board received a verbal update, noting in particular, in relation to the Museum of Liverpool project;
i) approval for the use of Jura Limestone and the re-design of the external ramps was given at Planning Committee in April;
ii) the structural steelwork is now complete and the temporary propping on the cantilevers is now being removed, and once this has been done the structure will then be handed over to us;
iii) a possible PR event is being discussed to tie-in with the handing over of the structure;
iv) the structure is to be clad in black insulation material over the next six weeks, before the stone cladding is affixed from mid July;
v) the glazing will commence in late September and it is anticipated that the building will be watertight from early October;
vi) 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.
vii) it is expected that the building will be handed over to us in May 2009, and the first phase to open to the public in October 2010.
RESOLVED that
1) the proceedings be approved; and
2) the Board receive at the next meeting an update on the financial table and the funding challenge associated with the Museum of Liverpool project.
c) The proceedings of the Audit Committee of 15 April 2008 were submitted, noting that
i) the report on the key strategic risks faced by the organisation had not been circulated at this meeting as stated in the Audit Committee proceedings, as it has not yet been to the Audit Committee for comment, and will be seen by them at their 1 July meeting;
ii) Deloittes have been appointed to carry out the additional audit work on capital projects; and
iii) although we have raised objections to the increase in the fee charges for the external audit provision for this financial year, we have not been granted any reduction.
RESOLVED that the proceedings be approved, and the Trustees were also informed that Internal Audit is now, for pay and ration purposes, managed by the Executive Director of Finance.
d) The proceedings of the Finance Committee of 20 May 2008 were submitted, noting that, due to the changes to the fit out programme for the Museum of Liverpool, there was no requirement to deplete the reserves by £1m in 2007/08, though, if additional project funding is not identified, it will be necessary to deplete the reserves in 2008/09.
RESOLVED that the proceedings be approved.
e) A verbal update was provided on the proceedings of the Human Resources Committee held earlier in the day, noting;
i) the recent senior staff appointments across the organisation;
ii) the difficulties associated with the recruiting of the Director of Development and proposals for re-advertising this post and other Development vacancies;
iii) the current situation with regard to pay negotiations.
RESOLVED that the verbal update on proceedings 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 2008.
RESOLVED that the report be noted.
The Board considered a report of the various Registrars listing loan arrangements entered into since the last meeting of the Board on 11 March 2008.
RESOLVED that
1) the report be noted; and
2) the Board receive assurances that permission for loans is being given in accordance with the Loans Policy and Trustee delegated authority at the next meeting.
The Board discussed the recent cancellation of some Committee meetings and whether the Committee structure matches the needs of the organisation and provides Trustees with the appropriate level of involvement and information.
RESOLVED that the Board agrees that the Committee structure should be reviewed with the incoming Chairman.
The next meeting will be held on Tuesday 9 September 2008, 1.15pm, venue to be advised.
CHAIRMAN