Issue - meetings

To approve and sign as a correct record the minutes of the meeting held on 9th October, 2017 and to deal with any matters arising, attached.

To approve and sign as a correct record the minutes of the meeting held on 3^rd April, 2017 and to deal with any matters arising, attached.

RESOLVED that the minutes of the Committee meeting held on 3^rd April, 2017 be approved and signed as a correct record following the correction of Louise Hallett’s name. 

To approve and sign as a correct record the minutes of the meeting held on 1st December, 2016 and to deal with any matters arising, attached.

RESOLVED that the minutes of the Committee meeting held 1^st December 2016 be approved and signed as a correct record with the following amendments:

Item 11 Update on Flagship Galleries Network Project

Add to the first paragraph ‘The Committee resolved that we would be supportive of the Flagship Galleries Project’.

Item 12 Feedback from Trustees Meeting

Add at the end of the paragraph ‘including securing insurance sponsorship’.

Item 13 Insurance Sponsorship

Add at the end of the first paragraph ‘It was noted that UNIQA was providing insurance to cover the costs of restoration (deleted phrase) of the collection, in the event of disaster, up to the value of £1,000,000’.

Item 14 Art Gallery Bi-Annual Report

Add new fourth paragraph ‘The Committee recommended that the National Art Director be involved in the recruitment process and they requested an opportunity to comment on the job description.’

Matters arising

Item 15 Chipperfield Bequest Fund Bank Accounts and Appointment of Financial Advisor

The Service Director, Growth reported that the Trustees were unable to appoint a financial advisor to the Committee.  It was agreed that the Committee would write a report to the Trustees setting out their reasons for a separate bank account and how this should be administered. 

To approve and sign as a correct record the minutes of the meeting held on 11^th July, 2016 and to deal with any matters arising, attached.

RESOLVED that the minutes of the Committee meeting held on 11th July 2016 be approved and signed as a correct record with the following amendment:

Item 6 – Update on Ace Bid

It was noted that the ACE and HLF were 2 separate bids. 

To approve and sign as a correct record the minutes of the meeting held on 24^th November 2015 and to deal with any matters arising, attached.

RESOLVED that the minutes of the Committee meeting held on 24^th November 2015 be approved and signed as a correct record. 

Matters arising – Annual Report

It was noted that the Annual Report would be put before the Trustees at their meeting to be held on Wednesday 21^st September. 

To approve and sign as a correct record the minutes of the meeting held on 8^th June 2015 and to deal with any matters arising, attached.

RESOLVED that the minutes of the Committee meeting held on 8th June 2015 be approved and signed as a correct record. 

Matters arising:

Item 2 – Art Gallery Roof

In relation to the Committee’s request that regular communication be established between the Committee and the Trustees rather than relying on an Annual Report, the Committee were assured that the Cabinet Member was updated on a regular basis. The Committee requested that in future all Chipperfield Advisory Meetings be co-ordinated to facilitate the attendance of the Cabinet Member.

RESOLVED that the minutes of the Committee meeting held on 30^th June 2014 be approved and signed as a correct record. 

Matters arising:

Item 2 – Art Gallery Roof

Whilst informal meetings had taken place with Councillor Barnes-Andrews, discussions concerning the establishment of an independent charitable trust had not moved forward.  The Committee wished to encourage the Council to give serious consideration to set up a charitable trust status.

It was noted that an options appraisal had been carried and if agreed by the Cabinet Member for Communities, Culture and Leisure a report would be submitted to Cabinet in August 2015 to start the consultation exercise.

The Committee’s response to the alternative governance model options appraisal paper (February 2015) detailed below:

‘The Paper also expresses in rather dry, bureaucratic language its analysis of the situation and clearly displays a lack of understanding of what is likely to be the most successful option for the Art Gallery and the Chipperfield Trust.  It seriously underestimates the vision, imagination and determination that will be necessary to re-establish the Gallery’s position as the pre-eminent venue for viewing 20/21^st Century British Art outside of London and isn’t it that what we should all be aspiring to.

What all successful, dynamic Art Galleries in this country and throughout Europe have in common is recognition that a strong, well respected director/curator in overall charge is a crucial factor.

The Chipperfield Advisory Committee was initially set up in the aftermath of the controversy surrounding potential sales from the collection that were being suggested at that time.  The Advisory Committee was seen as a body of individuals with experience of a connections with art, culture and education that would not be affected by the same potential conflict of interest that might be encountered by councillors and Trustees performing the same role.  In addition it was hoped that the Advisory Committee might become an importance force in raising extra funds for the gallery.  After considerable time and many meetings and consultations with a variety of individuals the Advisory Committee came to the conclusion that the best way forward for the Gallery and The Chipperfield Trust was for it to be constituted as a single Trust separate from the Council.  This viewpoint has been the subject of several informal and formal statements over the past year.

The Chipperfield Advisory Committee have already outlined the potential opportunities that exist for fundraising under the auspices of a single Trust as well as providing a detailed analysis of the methodology and procedures necessary to form a single Trust. 

It should be noted that these proposals include a clear commitment to continue to work in partnership with Southampton City Council in order to maintain the Civic connection with the gallery albeit under an alternatively devolved system of governance. 

It seems to me that [Chair] yet again, there could be a conflict of interest in the role of councillors required to make cuts etc still trying to maintain a position in the cultural life  ...  view the full minutes text for item 2