Agenda item

To agree the minutes of the previous meeting held on 28 October 2022.

On DBS checks: A Member sought an update on the matter. The meeting heard that young people were frequent visitors to the House and therefore enhanced DBS checks were appropriate – but that volunteers were always accompanied by a DBS-checked staff member, did not necessarily come to the House very often, and did not meet criteria around regulated activity (therefore they did not meet the frequency and role-based criteria for DBS checks). In the event that a learning volunteer role was developed then it was likely that a DBS check would be appropriate.

In response to a question on the practicality of allocating a volunteer to always be with a staff member, the meeting heard that there was no way of avoiding a situation whereby a volunteer was always with a paid staff member.

In response to clarification on non DBS-checked people in the gardens visited frequently by children, the meeting heard that children were always with

parents or carers and were therefore not the direct responsibility of the House though House staff would always be aware of safeguarding matters (while school groups were accompanied and supervised by teachers and paid staff members – as set out in the risk assessment).

On the inclusion of Keats House in the Destination City strategy, a Member commented that there was no mention of Keats House on the Destination City (DC) website and that there ought to be a link to the Corporation’s other assets, including the London Metropolitan Archives. A Member noted that the matter had been raised with the DC executive and that it was being explored. The meeting noted improvements to the Keats House website.

A Member sought clarification on museum accreditation: the Committee heard that Keats House has not yet been invited to be involved, and the Museum will not need to make a submission before 2024.

RESOLVED, That the minutes of the meeting of 28 October 2022 be agreed as an accurate record of the proceedings.