Report to Heritage Lottery Fund

June 1999    

Report No 4

 

Issues

 

Issue 99/1  Contracts

The contract had not been signed  the end of the month,  but was signed by the company on 5 July and by the HLF on 6 July.  This issue is therefore resolved.

 

Issue 99/2 Request from Participant Archives on Finding Aids

Resolved.

 

Issue 99/3 Cashflow

This issue was discussed at the meeting with HLF evaluators at the meeting on 2 June and proposals were made for resolving it by bringing forward expenditure from other categories.  Details are in the report of the meeting, which is annexed to this report. The matter should, however, be kept under review.  

 

Issue 99/4  ICT Report

Following the meeting on 7 April,  Rob Mildren and Seamus Ross discussed the report, and further comments on it were promised.  These have not been received. 

 

No other issues have been identified at this time.

 

Progress

 

Top Level Finding Aids

 

The detailed sub-project plan for the TLFAs was completed.  There were informal contacts with a couple of the participating archives who wished comments on how SCAN would compile TLFAs, so as to assist those participating archives with identifying IT needs.

 

Special Archive Services Project

The detailed sub-project plan for Special Archive Services was completed. Team leader Joanna Baird has begun work on designing the prototype for the Scottish Archive Network web-site.  And, working towards this, she has also been learning about digital imaging and how to use software packages such as Microsoft FrontPage and Adobe Photoshop. Suggestions in the weekly news for contributions to the SCAN web-site from participating archives have resulted in some useful suggestions.

 

 

Testaments Project

The detailed sub-project plan for Testaments was completed. Team leader, Hazel Anderson, has started work on the testaments, checking them against existing index entries, prior to having the indexes re-keyed for the database.

Peter Dickson, chief conservator, has been using the newly designed database in assessing the testaments and proposing treatment required prior to digital capture. As a result, the number of fields in the database has been reduced and a glossary of conservation terms added,  in order to streamline the pre-conservation process.

Preparations for withdrawal of the St Andrews testaments from reader use early in August are well in hand, in consultation with Reader Services Branch.

 

 

 

 

 

Throughput Reports

 

The revised reporting methodology was incorporated in the revised Project Initiation Document, sent to the evaluators and HLF on 18 June.  The new methodology will now be instituted, subject to any comments from HLF or evaluators.

 

Costs

 

With contract signature now completed, the first drawdown request of £125,499.40 is being made. 

 

As previously agreed, year one of project implementation will start on the day following the day the contract comes into force (i.e. on 7 July 1999).  All costs incurred up to that point will be charged to year 0.

 

 

Staff

 

Total Staff Employed at month end

5

New Appointments

0

Posts backfilled

all

 

 

 

Recruitment of two conservators from outside NAS is now expected on 2 August and 14 September respectively.

 

The press advertisements for 5 curatorial posts appeared on 2 July.  Closing date for applications is 16 July.

 

Procurement

 

No procurement during the reporting period.  No procurement is possible until the ICT report has been approved (see Issue 99/4).

 

Participating Archives

 

No of Participating Archives at month end

45

Changes since last report

0

 

 

Statistics on Use of Network Facilities

Nothing to report

 

Users

Nothing to report

 

Project Board

 

No meetings held.

 

 

 

 

 

 

13 July  1999                       


Annex 1

Notes of Meeting with HLF, TTH, 2 June 1999

 

Present: Henrietta Ryott, Mike Smethurst, Seamus Ross, Beverley Peters,  Chris Alexander, HLF; Ishbel Barnes, Rob Mildren, SCAN, George MacKenzie, NAS.

 

 

Action

1.

Issues:

1.1 Contracts.  

a.  Participating Archives-SCAN.  Noted that reference to Heritage Lottery Fund in drafts should be to National Heritage Memorial Fund.  Agreed that a schedule of minimum equipment requirements should be drawn up by SCAN, and the advice of Tods Murray sought on whether this should be in the agreement or a document apart.

Agreed that the Project Initiation Document should be used for project definition; Beverley will check that this is consistent with the main contract between HLF and SCAN.

Agreed that the requirement on participating archives to retain equipment (Schedule, clause 4) should have no time specified - this should be as agreed with SCAN. 

b. GSU-SCAN.  Noted that in 6.1 the consent of SCAN will mean the consent of more than one director of the company.

c. HLF-SCAN  Beverley had reviewed points with Lavinia.  Grant Expiry date is OK.  Access to the property clause is a standard one, which HLF are not prepared to vary; it is implicit that access is reasonable and to the appropriate parts of the premises only.  SCAN will therefore accept this.  Insurance is a requirement of the agreement, and SCAN confirms that it can and will insure against employer liability, public liability, and loss or damage to equipment.  The requirement for SCAN to conclude an escrow agreement was noted.    

Agreed the following timetable for finalising the contracts:

by Friday 4 June final version of NAS-SCAN agreements will be e-mailed to Beverley;  SCAN will also follow up GSU agreement;

by Friday 11 June HLF will respond with final comments on the agreements (if no GSU final version available, will base on the latest version);

by 22 June SCAN will produce final versions of all agreements,  arrange for signature of NAS-SCAN and GSU-SCAN and provide copies to HLF;  SCAN will also sign HLF-SCAN and present to HLF;

on 24  June HLF Trustees will sign HLF-SCAN.

 

1.2  Participating Archives Assistance with Finding Aids.  No further comments have been received, so this will be considered resolved by the next meeting. 

1.3  Cashflow.  HLF do not see a problem in helping SCAN overcome the forecast difficulties, though it will require special permission, as it involves a change to the normal rules.  Advance payments can be made on staff salaries and items of “other costs” provided that details are given, and that documentation is supplied retrospectively. 

1.4  ICT Report  The delay was recognised, and Seamus will meet with Rob immediately after this meeting to discuss the report.  (Agreed that Seamus will report to Mike on Thursday 3 June). 

1.5  Responses to Proposals.  SCAN noted the lack of responses to various questions and proposals.  Agreed that Beverley will in all cases ensure a reply is sent within 2 weeks, though in some cases this may be a holding reply, indicating when a substantive reply will be sent. 

 

 

 

 

George

 

Beverley

 

 

George

 

 

 

 

SCAN

 

 

 

 

 

SCAN

 

HLF

 

SCAN

 

HLF

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Seamus

Rob

 

 

 

 

 

2.

Progress Report

2.1  TLFAs  Agreed to send copies of the materials Alan Borthwick used in his workshop session to Mike for information.

2.2  Special Archive Services  Noted.

2.3  Testaments Agreed to send a copy of the conservation assessment for St Andrews Commissariot to Beverley and to Mike.  Seamus advises contact with Manfred Thaller at University of Bergen on digitising; Seamus will provide an e-mail contact

 

 

George

 

 

 

George

Seamus

 

 

 

3.

Throughput

Copies of Gantt charts on the Special Archive Services were tabled.  Mike and Seamus stressed the need for detailed resource information, and milestones that include definable deliverables.

Similar charts for the other project areas will be produced as part of the PID.  These will be sent electronically to Beverley, who will print and distribute them (Seamus and Mike cannot handle MS Project documents in electronic format).

Agreed that project projections would be included in the monthly report, showing progress against plans, and any under or over performance. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

SCAN

 

 

SCAN

 

 

 

 

4.

Costs

SCAN will provide invoices to document requests for drawdown.  A monthly print out from the SCOAP system, showing expenditure on the project will be produced, as a means of reconciling payments.  SCOAP prints are generally at least one month in arrears.

 

 

 

SCAN

 

 

 

5.

Staffing

Nothing further to report.

 

 

 

 

 

 

6

Procurement

No procurement to date.  See 1.4 above.

 

 

 

7

Participating Archives

No  changes.

 

 

 

 

 

8.

Statistics on Use

Nothing to report.

 

 

 

 

 

9.

Users

Nothing to report.

 

 

 

 

 

 

10.

Project Board

Noted that the first meeting will take place once the PID has been agreed by the HLF.  Agreed that the revised version will be submitted by SCAN to HLF by 18 June and that HLF will respond by mid-July.

Following discussions at the PRINCE training course, the Board membership will be kept to a minimum.

 

SCAN

HLF

11.

Next Meeting  

13.00 on 11 August 1999 at Thomas Thomson House.