Date: Saturday, 25 August 2018 at 2:49 pm
Subject: RE: QVMAG Strategic Directions
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
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From: Michael Stretton <Michael.Stretton@launceston.tas.gov.au>
Date: Friday, 24 August 2018 at 3:04 pm
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
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