Good afternoon!
Thank you for your response to my email, indeed a rather encouraging response. That said, I must also say that the clarification you provide, sadly, has not been shared, at least not effectively to my knowledge, with the QVMAG's 'Community of Ownership and Interest' – http://thequeensmusingplace.blogspot.com/p/definition.html That is regrettable.
Nonetheless, what is most encouraging is your advocacy for "strong community engagement". It has been my experience that Council's/Trustee's default position in the 20 plus years that I've been looking closely has been the converse. The 'shift away' that you seem to be projecting is welcomed. Also, it is most encouraging that the term 'stakeholder' is absent given that its bureaucratic elasticity in the end renders it meaningless and little more than 'cynical bureaubabble'.
There is much more that I could say, indeed have already said, in regard to the QVMAG's governance, its institutional accountability, its 'audience' engagement/participation, etc. but this is not the opportunity for that. That is except to say, that from where I have made my observations over time, for some 40 years now, serially, sequentially and somewhat surreally, the aldermen/trustees have abdicated their 'governance role'. In fact, they have been looking away as the functions of governance and management have become increasingly blurred – and inappropriately.
The blurring of the roles of governance and management is more than unfortunate. Largely this has left the institution to its own devices and resources. All too often this has led to unfortunate outcomes.
In no way am I implying that the institution's 'operational management' has come up wanting. However, from time to time the institution's management masquerading as governance has by its default settings for self-service and self-congratulations has blighted significant achievements – and sadly so.
The timeline that you've set out for managerial confidentiality – presumably afforded by SECTION 62 of the Act – before there can be 'community inclusion' is way too long. It's especially so given that we are weeks away from an election. If Council is intent on conscripting funding from ratepayers for a largely unarticulated and poorly understood 'cultural strategy', as things stand, it is not signalling anything resembling accountability and transparency. If we are to include equitable inclusion along with participatory, consensus oriented and responsive decision making the timeline for inclusion within moral and ethical bounds the time has almost passed – perhaps it has actually passed.
You encourage me to participate in "the engagement process". I need no encouragement to do so as I've shown over the time that I've been researching the QVMAG as an institution.
To reiterate, I am encouraged by your response and I look forward to some real progress and especially so in regard to the QVMAG's governance – sooner rather than later!
Regards,
Ray
Ray Norman
<zingHOUSEunlimited>
The lifestyle design enterprise and research network
PH: 03-6334 2176
EMAIL 1: raynorman7250@bigpond.com
40 Delamere Crescent Trevallyn TAS. 7250
WEBsites:
http://www.raynorman7250.blogspot.com
https://thezinghouse.blogspot.com/
"A body of men holding themselves accountable to nobody ought not to be trusted by anybody." Thomas Paine
"The standard you walk past is the standard you accept" David Morrison
Disclaimer: Whilst all due care and attention has been given to the compilation of this report, no responsibility is accepted for any errors or omissions that may have occurred. Nor should this report be considered as constituting professional advice. Parties wishing to use or act on any of the contents of this report are advised to seek their own, independent advice before doing so.
From: Michael Stretton <Michael.Stretton@launceston.tas.gov.au>
Date: Friday, 24 August 2018 at 3:04 pm
To: Ray Norman <raynorman7250@bigpond.com>
Cc: Mayor <Mayor@launceston.tas.gov.au>
Subject: RE: QVMAG Strategic Directions
Thanks for your interest in these important matters Mr Norman.
At this stage I can only confirm my earlier advice that the Towards a Cultural Strategy document prepared by Robyn Archer AO remains an internal working document . The document was considered by the Council at its meeting on 24 April 2017 (Agenda item 21.1) and a link to the agenda is provided as follows: https://www.launceston.tas.gov.au/Agendas-Minutes?dlv_OC%20CL%20Public%20Meetings=(pageindex=5) Similarly, the report which has been prepared by Hirst Projects is also an internal working document which will not be released at this time.
I can advise that Hirst Projects will be furthering their initial work and will be producing the City's inaugural Cultural Strategy over the next few months. This process will involve strong community engagement. Robyn Archer will also continue her consulting role on the project. I encourage you to participate in this engagement process, the details of which will be publicised in the near future.
The above-mentioned document are informing the development of the Cultural Strategy which will be completed and released by the end of the year. This Strategy document will provide the information you are seeking and I ask for your patience to enable the Council to complete this important work.
Regards
Michael
Michael Stretton I General Manager I City of Launceston
T | 6323 3104 | www.launceston.tas.gov.au
Dear Michael Stretton,
You are no doubt aware that I have an ongoing research interest in the QVMAG in the context of its 'placedness' and consequently its governance. You may also recall that some time ago I requested a copy of what is euphemistically referred to as the 'Robin Archer Report' that apparently articulates a way forward for the QVMAG. Back then it seems that you, via Duncan Campbell, invoked SECTION 62 of the Local Govt Act informing me "the Robyn Archer report [I am seeking] cannot be released to [me] as an active disclosure under the Right to Information Act 2009 ("the Act")….. and …. "It is the General Manager's view that it is an internal working document."
Presumably, those circumstances no longer pertain. Indeed, quite a bit has changed relevant to the document and the QVMAG'S 'strategic purposefulness'. Curiously, it is rumoured that there is no such document albeit that Richard Mulvaney held a wad of papers aloft at a public meeting declaring that it was in his hand and intimating that it was confidential but indicating, paraphrased, 'that in good time we'd all be able to see it'. So, this document is much speculated upon given that it is also being speculated that it cost Launceston's ratepayers something in the order of $50K plus – these days such consultancies typically do. Indeed, I seem to recall Richard Mulvaney lamenting the cost of the consultancy to the QVMAG'S budget at the public meeting and mentioning that figure.
Given the conflicting 'stories' coming out of Council, the speculation in regard to:
· the brief to which the Robyn Archer report was written in response to;
· the substance of her recommendations in regard to that brief; and
· the cost/value of the report in the context of ratepayers' conscripted funding of the QVMAG as an operation;
it is appropriate that there is considerable interest in this report along with a raft of of other QVMAG issues.
Likewise, Hirst Project's report and its recommendations is generating similar interest. To suggest, as it has been put to me, that these things are trivial matters and appropriately confidential and "none of my business" given the context. You might imagine, given that I'm writing to you now, that I hold another view – and I believe legitimately so.
Given what, indeed all that the ratepayers and residents of Launceston have invested in the QVMAG as an operation and as an institution, it's governance and management is of great interest. Likewise, Tasmania's taxpayers via State Govt. line item funding plus the institution's sponsors and donors who at various times over the QVMAG's 125 plus years of history have contributed to the institutions collections, research, programing – individually and collectively – come together with ratepayers to form the institution's 'Community of Ownership and Interest'.
Where we are right now, and especial because we are on the cusp of an election, I put it to you that 'accountability and transparency' matters a great deal. Also, the matters I refer to are far from being trivial issues. In fact, I draw your attention to Council's "Mission and Values" – https://www.launceston.tas.gov.au/Council/Our-Vision-Mission-and-Values – along with the Minister's Guide to Good Governance relative to local government – http://www.dpac.tas.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0006/380427/Good_Governance_Guide_June_2018.pdf
Given the backgrounding I am putting to you here and the passing of time I look forward to your prompt response to my requests. Unless, I receive your response by the close of business by the close of business tomorrow – Friday August 24 – I intend to seek advice as to how I might receive the information I'm seeking.
Yours sincerely,
Ray Norman
Ray Norman
<zingHOUSEunlimited>
The lifestyle design enterprise and research network
PH: 03-6334 2176
EMAIL 1: raynorman7250@bigpond.com
40 Delamere Crescent Trevallyn TAS. 7250
WEBsites:
http://www.raynorman7250.blogspot.com
https://thezinghouse.blogspot.com/
"A body of men holding themselves accountable to nobody ought not to be trusted by anybody." Thomas Paine
"The standard you walk past is the standard you accept" David Morrison
Disclaimer: Whilst all due care and attention has been given to the compilation of this report, no responsibility is accepted for any errors or omissions that may have occurred. Nor should this report be considered as constituting professional advice. Parties wishing to use or act on any of the contents of this report are advised to seek their own, independent advice before doing so.
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