Launceston Council Questioned In Regard To QVMAG Governance And Management

The Queen Victoria Museum and Art Gallery (QVMAG) is a major cost centre for Launceston City Council. Consequently a significant and largely unidentified component of Launcestonians' rates is for the recurrent costs relative to the management of the institution.

Effectively the most significant component of the institution's total recurrent budget is conscripted from Launceston ratepayers in form of a hidden levy. Many ratepayers do not read the QVMAG' ANNUAL REPORTS [LINK] or its policies [LINK] but they should.

Some interesting facts to be gleaned from QVMAG reporting:

• Ratepayer contributions via their rates is in the order of $4million which amounts to approx $140 per rateable property;
• The institution earns very little via its activities and services;
• The rate/tax payer subsidy per visitor visits is in the order of $50 compared with say approx $5 for the Aquatic Centre;
• The institution is a significant employer in the region;
• The institution holds in its collections material valued something in the order of $230million plus that are arguably a significant component of the national estate; and
• The institution lacks a standalone governing body to ensure its accountability to taxpayers, ratepayers, sponsors, donors and other funding agencies.

At the ordinary Council meeting scheduled for May 23 Ray Norman [LINK] submitted the following questions without notice to Launceston Council in regard to the Queen Victoria Museum and Art Gallery (LINK). 

A) Given that it was nine months ago in August 2015 that Council approved five (5) recommendations in respect to the Queen Victoria Museum and Art Gallery being:

1/ That QVMAG Strategic Plan 2012‐2107, including its guiding vision, is reviewed to ensure best alignment with the Strategic Themes of the CoL Strategic Plan 2014 and the recommendations in this report. 

2/ That beneficial alignments with other Tasmanian museums and galleries be explored in the interests of seeking overall efficiency and equity in use of State Government funds. 

3/ That an evaluation of QVMAG be commissioned that demonstrates its economic, social and environmental value to its community and the special contribution it makes to the educational, intellectual, human, social and natural capital of its community. 

4/ That options for establishment of an independent skills‐based Board of Governance be investigated and the best option implemented. 

5/ That the organizational structure of CoL be reviewed and measures be implemented to more effectively leverage opportunities and pool resources across complementary business units. 

Therefore, will Council please provide an up to date report on the implementation of these five (5) recommendation and the details of progress thus far? Moreover, will council please provide all information relevant to the circumstances germane to:.

• The apparent delay in implementing Council’s recommendations of August 2015 ? and 

• The expected date upon which Council will receive the report/s? and 

•  Any outcomes thus far relevant this overall review process? 

B) Given that there are variously substantiated reports that a high profile consultant has been commission to report on the QVMAG, will Council now: 

1/ Identify the consultant; and 

2/ Publish a copy of her/his brief; 

In the interest of openness and transparency relative to the governance and management of significant component of the City of Launceston’s operation and budget? 

C) Will Council please provide: 

1/ A list of all the acquisitions made by the QVMAG for its collections thus in the current financial year; and: 

2/ A list of all the items in the QVMAG’s collections that have been disposed of or deaccessioned in the current financial year? 

 I look forward with considerable interest to receiving the information requested. 

 Regards, Ray Norman