Present: Alan Knox (Aberdeen, Convenor), Neil Curtis (Aberdeen, Secretary), Justin Parkes (Robert Gordon University), Matthew Jarron (Dundee), Dawn Kemp (Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh), Jacky MacBeath (Edinburgh), Ewen Smith (Glasgow), Ann Jones (Heriot-Watt)

1. Apologies

Ian Carradice (St Andrews), John Scally (Edinburgh), Graham Lowe (Dundee), Tracy Mckenna (Dundee), Jane Cameron (Stirling), Donna Holford-Lovell (Abertay)

2. Approval of minutes of Annual General Meeting on 17th November 2006

The minutes were approved with minor corrections.

3. Matters arising

Heritage Assets accounting
Ewen reported that there appeared to be less urgency about this than previously expected. However, he offered to make available copies of Glasgow University's response is available, while further information about ongoing discussions are available on the Accounting Standards Board website (www.frc.org.uk/asb/ ).
Corporation Tax
Possible changes were being examined by the University Finance Officers Group.
Beacons
Edinburgh University had been successful, though the museum contribution to this was marginal.
Scotland and Medicine
'Anatomy Acts: How we come to know ourselves' has won the first prize for 'New Non-Clinical Medical Book' and the 'RSM Library prize: Medical Book of 2007' by the Society of Authors.

4. Convenor's report

The Convenor's Report was as follows:

Ian Carradice remarked a few years ago that UMIS activity and meetings called on a basis of need seemed to operate on a 2 year cycle, with the even years being much busier, largely because of the conference. This year has conformed with that pattern. Even so, although there has been only one Committee meeting, there has been quite a lot of activity.

Government and other consultations
We submitted a response to the draft Cuture Bill, in the hope that something might survive any change of government. The new administration has now published its intentions with respect to the Bill, but this now omits many provisions which received broad support from the museums community. Individually, many of us contributed to, amongst other things, NatSCA Subject Specialist Networks, SMC brand and identity, Treasure Trove Allocation Criteria. Lurking in the background were ongoing issues such as the proposed changes to the capitalisation of heritage assets on institutional Balance Sheets, and changes in Corporation Tax liability which it was feared might adversely impact on university museums. The latter is in the hands of the University Finance Officers' group. The full details of how, and when, the former will impact on us has yet to emerge.

Recognition
One of the more important events in the year for all Scottish museums was the start of the application process for Recognition. With the completion of Round One, we can celebrate the success of the Hunterian at Glasgow, the University of Edinburgh (for its musical instruments), the Royal College of Surgeons and the University of Aberdeen, in gaining the status of Recognised Collections of National Significance, and wish well those still under assessment or yet to apply. The success already achieved confirms yet again the overwhelming importance within the Scottish museums landscape of our university museums. This is a position we must exploit to our advantage.

HE funding
Within the HE community, there have been major initiatives, like the call for Beacons of Public Engagement, where individual museums have been involved (mostly peripherally). Knowledge Transfer funding seems to offer opportunities too, but success has been patchy to date and we need to learn how to tap into this stream rather better. Similarly, most of us have so far seen little of the money from the new Cultural Engagement strand.

SFC funding to selected museums has been continued to 2008-09. I had a meeting recently with David Lott at SFC to talk about what happens after this. He is anticipating that a review will be undertaken in 2008 and we discussed the role of UMIS in this process. Mr Lott has agreed to come to our meeting in February to talk to us about this further. It will be important for us to be prepared for this.

Other matters
During the year we started to discuss the building of strategic partnerships and this is something to which we must return soon, as is the topic of metrics, both for internal use and advocacy. Indeed, advocacy is going to be another major issue in the coming year, and not just in the context of the SFC review.

To finish this brief report, this has been a good year for university museums - the successes of Recognition, the refurbishment of our largest museum at the Hunterian, which is also celebrating its bicentenary, the continuing success of the Scotland and Medicine partnership and many other initiatives. We have much to be proud of, and a great deal more still to do.

I'd like to thank our officers and members for their continued support and look forward to next year, and in particular our conference, which I hope everyone will be able to come to.

5. Treasurer's report
The Treasurer's report was read and accepted. Taking into account current commitments, the available balance was £4042.62. It was agreed that there should be no change in the subscription rate for the coming year.

There was some discussion about the use of this reserve, alongside underwriting the biennial conference and advocacy, particularly supporting members to attend major conferences on behalf of UMIS. The difficulty of assessing applications, ensuring benefit to UMIS and ensuring sustainability was accepted, but applications could be considered on a case-by-case basis where this had clear benefit to UMIS and ideally where such support would unlock other funding sources.

6. Election of office bearers

It was noted that the UMIS constitution specified that Vice-Convenor, Treasurer and Secretary be elected for three-year terms, as is the case with the Convenor. It was therefore agreed that committee responsibilities for 2006-7 were:

Convenor - Alan Knox (2006-2009)
Vice-Convenor - Peter Trowles (2006-2009)
Treasurer - Ewen Smith (2007-2010)
Secretary - Neil Curtis (2007-2010)
Web editor - Matthew Jarron (2007-2008)

Matthew noted that he was still trying to arrange for the papers from the last conference to be published by the Group for Education in Museums. It was also noted that annual reports should now be sent to Matthew.

It was noted that there was not a formal reciprocal arrangement with UMG to ensure an exchange of information. Alan agreed to investigate links with UMG further.

Opportunities for UMIS involvement with UMAC were probably limited to individual involvement with UMAC groups, rather than a formal arrangement with UMIS. Dawn was interested in establishing a medical collections group of UMAC, but that this would need a fairly substantial group of 50 members expressing an interest in becoming involved.

7. AOB

Peter raised a question about the collection of subscriptions under charities regulations. Ewen agreed to investigate.

8. Date of next meeting

The date for the 2008 AGM would be set by the committee for some time in the latter half of the year, coniciding with the conference.

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