AGENDA ITEM 11 BRISTOL CITY COUNCIL CABINET 4 October 2012 REPORT TITLE: Governance Options Appraisal, Bristol Museums, Galleries & Archives Ward(s) affected by this report: Citywide Strategic Director: Graham Sims, Interim Chief Executive Rick Palmer, Interim Strategic Director Neighbourhoods and City Development Report author: Julie Finch, Head of Museums, Galleries & Archives Contact telephone no. 0117 9224804 & e-mail address:
[email protected] Report signed off by Simon Cook executive member: Leader Purpose of the report: This report outlines the governance option proposed for the Bristol Museums, Galleries & Archives Services (BMGA). This report is led by the recommendations of the Select Committee Report that gained all party support in November 2009. The report identifies the most suitable model of governance for BMGA to support an improvement strategy and optimise enterprise activity creating a more sustainable future for the service and meet demand. RECOMMENDATION for Cabinet approval: 1. To agree in principle to the transfer of the BMGA to an independent trust at the existing funding levels of £3.7m subject to an agreed business case. 2. To adopt the governance model that will be a single independent museums trust, closely bound into the BCC family through specified interfaces and trustee compositions. Staff would become employees of the new organisation. The major assets will remain the property of the Council. 3. To agree to the implementation of phased approach to a change in governance 1 whereby Bristol City Council (BCC) delivers BMGA activities through a company limited by guarantee with charitable status. 4. To develop the business plan that will frame the transfer and all associated interfaces, service level agreements and entrustment agreements.