Agenda and minutes

The Chairman and Members of the Committee welcomed Mrs Charlotte Hodgson to her first meeting of the Committee. Mrs Hodgson has replaced Canon Stephen Ryan as the representative from the Diocese of Llandaff.

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors EJ King, KE Marsh, PM Meara, C Thomas and DW Davies, Mr A Dulley and Dr L Miskell.

In accordance with the Code of Conduct adopted by both authorities, no interests were declared.

 

To approve the Minutes of the West Glamorgan Archives Committee meeting held on 19 June 2015.

RESOLVED that the Minutes of the West Glamorgan Archives Committee Meeting held on 19 June 2015 be approved as a correct record.

The County Archivist presented a report which outlined the work of the Archive Service during the period June to August 2015. 

 

South West Wales Partnership

 

The County Archivist reported and updated Committee on the discussions undertaken and progress made since the last meeting regarding the potential for a partnership with Swansea University and Carmarthenshire Council.

 

He detailed a summary statement prepared by Elizabeth Oxborrow-Cowan an independent archive consultant, and referred to further work and research needed to progress the development of a partnership arrangement, along with a business plan for this.

 

He also reported and gave feedback to Committee on the visit made to The Keep in Brighton, which is home to a similar service to the one being discussed between the Local Authorities and the University. The benefits and disadvantages of a shared service were outlined and discussed.

 

RESOLVED that the use of Archive Service reserves to make an appropriate contribution of circa £5,000 towards consultancy fees to further investigate joint service options with Swansea University and Carmarthenshire County Council be approved.

 

Use of the Service

 

The County Archivist reported on the use of the Service for the quarter and detailed the number of school sessions undertaken.

 

He also outlined the ongoing negotiations over commercial digitisation of selected collections by the two major family history website companies, Ancestry and Findmypast. The possible anticipated income stream from this relationship was discussed.

 

Service Outreach

 

The County Archivist reported on the various areas of work that staff have been involved with, in particular a scheme in Townhill, Swansea which will result in the holding of a “History Day” at the Phoenix Centre.

 

Professional Meetings and Partnership Working

 

The County Archivist referred to the professional meetings and training

attended by staff during the last quarter.

 

Accession of Archives

 

The County Archivist detailed the various accessions received by the Service.

 

 

Anniversary of the Swansea Blitz

 

The Chairman asked whether any exhibition was planned for 2016 to commemorate the 75th Anniversary of the Swansea Blitz.

 

The County Archivist indicated that he would update the exhibition created for the 70^th anniversary. This could again then be exhibited at various locations throughout the two authorities.

 

 

Thomas Horner Watercolour Collection

 

The County Archivist reported that he had been contacted by the Glamorgan Archivist regarding the Thomas Hornor album ‘Views of a Tour through the Vales of Glamorganshire’ which had been a longstanding issue from the break up of the joint Glamorgan Archive Service in 1992. He outlined for information that the Committee had previously agreed to its transfer to the National Museum Wales where it could be more appropriately displayed on occasion. He requested that the Committee confirm its earlier decision to support the donation of the album to the National Museum Cardiff.

 

The Committee reconfirmed its previous decision. (Minute 33 of 7^th October 2005)

Meetings will take place at 11 a.m. on the following dates: -

·         18 December 2015 (Committee Room 5, Guildhall, Swansea);

·         18 March 2016 (Rooms A & B, Civic Centre, Neath).

NOTED the dates of meetings for 2015-2016 at 11.00 a.m. on the following dates:

·       18 December 2015 (Committee Room 5, Guildhall, Swansea);

·       18 March 2016 (Rooms A and B, Civic Centre, Neath).