Agenda, decisions and minutes

Councillor Robert Smith Elected.

Resolved that Councillor Robert Smith be elected Vice Chair of the committee for 2022-2023.

 

Note: Election of Neath Port Talbot CBC Vice Chair deferred to the next meeting.

www.swansea.gov.uk/disclosuresofinterests

None.

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

 

To approve & sign the Minutes of the previous meeting(s) as a correct record.

 

Approved.

Resolved that the Minutes of the West Glamorgan Archives Committee meeting held on 22 July 2022 be approved as a correct record.

 

The County Archivist indicated that despite changing Internet Service Providers there unfortunately remain issues with the broadband connection at Neath Mechanics Institute. This continues to prohibit access to family history websites for members of the public. He would be seeking assistance from the IT department in NPT to try and resolve the issue.

 

He outlined that he had received approval to advertise for the Archives Trainee post. Updates on the appointment would be given at the next meeting.

 

He referred to the statement made in good faith at the last meeting which stated that the archive collections would not be moved from the Civic Centre until the strongroom had environmental recordings in line with BS4971.  Unfortunately this was not correct as the collections have to be in situ in order to monitor the humidity level correctly and hence no such assurance could be given.

 

He indicated that the additional briefing session for members had not yet been arranged. He asked for Members to submit any views or questions on what additional information they would like to receive at another session, if it was still required.

 

 

For Information.

The County Archivist presented a report which outlined the work of the Joint Archive Service during the period June - August 2022.

 

Use of the Service

 

He reported on the figures relating the use of the service via its various platforms both in person and online. The numbers using the service continue to rise slowly.

 

 

National Broadcast Archive

 

He outlined that work on the installation of the ‘Clip Corner’ at Swansea Civic Centre has been delayed until October at the request of the National Library of Wales, who are leading the project. Further updates would be given at the next meeting.

 

He outlined that following discussions with the National Library and further to queries raised by Members at the last meeting regarding possible ‘community’ screenings of footage held under the scheme, he confirmed that this would be possible in the future under a licence agreement, and outreach events could be held.

 

 

Outreach and Educational Activity

 

He referred to the publication of the service’s annual report in June. The report can be found at https://www.swansea.gov.uk/article/6226/Annual-Report-of-the-County-Archivist

 

He also detailed the service’s part in an all-Wales bid for funds from the Anti-racist Wales Culture Heritage and Sport Fund, a bid which consists of three potential workstreams.

 

One of these workstreams is the digitisation and web-mounting of archival material relating to Wales’ links to the historic transatlantic slave trade, a potential project which had been the subject of previous discussion by the Committee.

 

 

Professional Meetings and Training

 

He outlined the various professional groups attended by staff during the quarter.

 

 

Relocation of the Archives

 

He indicated that, since the report was submitted before the postponement of this meeting, things had moved on. He outlined that the request in the report to utilise Archives reserves is no longer needed, as the feasibility study will now be fully funded by Swansea Council.

 

Tracey McNulty noted that the feasibility study will be match funded by Swansea Council’s Place Directorate but the main funding is coming from Welsh Government’s regeneration schemes. It will build on previous work carried out and will look further at the potential for a regional archives facility.  On a point of correction, she pointed to a statement in the County Archivist’s report and outlined that a more accurate description of the reason for this study is that the Council does not believe that the City Centre Hub would be the best location for a regional archive of this sort. This was because it would need large-scale secure storage and access to multiple collections owned by a range of bodies and this aspiration does not accord with a ‘high street’ location in need of regeneration and footfall drivers.

 

She referred to an email she circulated prior to the meeting which sought to give the Committee further background information, additional clarity and context over some of the issues raised, in particular the support from both Welsh Government and the Council for the relocation of the West Glamorgan Archive to the Community Hub.

 

 

Accessions of Archive Collections

 

He detailed on the archives received by the Service during the quarter.