Agenda item

This report presents the draft final report arising from the York Museums Trust (YMT) scrutiny review, and asks the Task Group to identify any changes required to the report ahead of its presentation to the Learning & Culture Overview & Scrutiny Committee on 21 November 2012.

Members considered the draft final report arising from the York Museums Trust (YMT) scrutiny review and asked the Task Group to identify any changes required ahead of the report being presented to the Learning and Culture Overview and Scrutiny Committee.

Following discussions and input from the Assistant Director for Communities, Culture and Public Realm, members requested that the outcomes and recommendations surrounding the training of volunteers and the disposal process for artefacts be amended.

Members agreed that two review conclusions be amended to the following:

·        The Acquisition and Disposal policy needs updating as a matter of urgency, given that it was supposed to have been rewritten in 2006.  And, it should be presented to the appropriate Cabinet Member for approval.

·        It is important that knowledge of the collections is passed on from staff leaving the employ of the Trust to ensure the customer experience remains at a high standard.

In light of the amended review conclusion relating to the training of volunteers, an additional recommendation was suggested, as follows:

·     As a means of enhancing their training, a mechanism should be put in place for disseminating information to new guides and volunteers from experienced employees leaving the Trust.

The Scrutiny Officer noted that throughout the report the Yorkshire Museums Trust should be referred to as ‘YMT’ or ‘The Trust’ and would amend accordingly.

RESOLVED: (i)            That the following amended conclusions be included in the draft final report:

The Acquisition and Disposal policy needs updating as a matter of urgency, given that it was supposed to have been rewritten in 2006.  And, it should be presented to the appropriate Cabinet Member for approval.

It is important that knowledge of the collections is passed on from staff leaving the employ of the Trust to ensure the customer experience remains at a high standard.

       (ii)                  That the following additional recommendation be added to the draft final report:

As a means of enhancing their training, a mechanism should be put in place for disseminating information to new guides and volunteers from experienced employees leaving the Trust.

REASON:                     In order to conclude the work on this scrutiny review in line with Overview and Scrutiny procedures and protocols.