Present: K Matthias (Denbigh, Chairman); A D Carr (UWBangor); S Edwards (Glam); G Jenkins (NLW); David Leitch (PRO); H Malaws (NMRW); David Rimmer (Gwent); Rowland Williams (SocArch);
J Watts-Williams (NLW).

Apologies: A Lloyd Hughes (NMW); R Sargent (HMC).

1	Minutes of the last meeting
	After adding the word 'Penderfynwyd' to minute 5 in the Welsh version, the minutes of the last meeting held on 23 July 1997 were confirmed.

2	Matters arising from the minutes
2.1	Local Government Reorganisation
2.1.1	Carmarthen: it was noted that this was the only authority which had not submitted a section 60 scheme. It was also noted that its HLF bid had not gone forward. It was decided to consult John Davies before venturing to bring the matter to the attention of the Welsh Office.
2.1.2	Anglesey: it was noted that the prospects were more promising. The preliminary steps had been taken towards acquiring a new building.
2.1.3	Conwy: it was noted that the authority had expressed an interest in setting up its own service.

2.2

HMC Mapping Project

It was noted that the quality of data provided by Welsh offices had not been as good as that provided by England, where a 100% response to a more detailed questionnaire had been obtained. The Lottery Adviser was to be given a picture of the most urgent funding needs. The PRO was anxious to keep the mapping momentum going and Welsh offices were invited to participate this year in updating their data. DL circulated an introductory note from the NCA's Archive Lottery Adviser, Cathrin Cassarchis, and suggested that she would probably fix up a schedule of visits early in the new year. It was noted that her responsibilities encompassed university and special repositories as well as county archives. It was decided to advise her to meet a wider group of archivists than the members of ACW.

2.3	Robert Chell's Survey
	It was reported that RC had a student working on updating his benchmarking report. It was decided to encourage the Welsh County Archivists' Group to discuss the matter with RC.

2.4	Interdepartmental Archives Committee
	It was noted that the Committee's main preoccupation recently had been the question of bursaries for archives students; and that the heads of university training courses had been pressing hard for direct representation on the Committee. ADC added that the request had been granted within the previous few days.

2.5	Circulation
	GJ's letter had not reached ADC. Nevertheless, ADC said that the matter was being attended to and that the University sector was to receive a report of ACW proceedings.

2.6	Gregynog Meeting
	GJ and RW were thanked for arranging the very useful meeting of 13 September 1997.

2.7	Annual Report
	GJ was thanked for the annual report in its final form.

2.8	Subscriptions
	It was noted that the NCA wished to double its rate of subscription for 1998. It was suggested that ACW should consider increasing its own rate to cover the cost of subscribing to NCA and CWLIS.

2.9	Annual Conference of the Society of Archivists 2001
	It was noted that the initial moves had been made for holding the conference in Aberystwyth in 2001.

3

Report on the Welsh Archives Network

The report was praised. A few factual amendments were accepted. It was suggested that restricting the project to twenty institutions might be a disadvantage when trying to secure Lottery support and it was decided to follow the example of Scotland and to try to include the lesser repositories as well. It was recognised that the next step was to seek financial backing to carry out a feasibility study and it was decided to approach both the Lottery and WIS. DL agreed to seek the opinion of Cathrin Cassarchis on ACW's terms of reference for a feasibility study. It was decided to co-opt Linda Tomos to ACW for the discussions on networking.

4

Record Office for Wales

The draft proposal was discussed. ACW was given to understand that there would be no time to include a reference to records in the first draft of the Welsh Assembly Bill, but that it was intended to include it later, possibly at the committee stage, by way of an amendment. ACW would be sure to receive a copy of the amendment hot off the press and it was agreed that ACW should meet immediately afterwards to discuss it. It was decided not to complicate the draft document and to send it, with very few alterations, to the Secretary of State.

5	Consortium of Welsh Library and Information Services (CWLIS)
	KM reported on the activities of CWLIS. He drew attention to two reports which had been a major subject of discussion for the Consortium: (1) New Library, the People's Network (Library and Information Commission); and (2) The Net Result, Social Inclusion in the Information Society (National Working Party on Social Inclusion).

6	National Council on Archives
	GJ reported on the proceedings of the NCA meeting the previous week. He noted the following points:
6.1	a seminar was to be arranged for specialist repositories and local record offices on collaborative projects between national institutions;
6.2	doubling the subscription to £100. Invited comments;
6.3	Archives Policy for UK: Lord Chancellor's response expected early in the new year;
6.4	a letter to Chris Kitching stating the Lottery's current relationship to archives: 'grants of more than a million pounds will be considered only exceptionally'. Even so, it was worth emphasising that the HLF still represents the best source of funding for archival projects;
6.5	the Business Archives Council had produced a document for discussion on the principle of terms of deposit;
6.6	a federation of associations of archives' friends was to be established, the matter to be taken up by the BRA;
6.7	the University of North London has applied for Lottery money to set up a Social Action Archive. The Archive had no interest in collecting local records;
6.8	the BRA conference to be held on 2-3 December was to include a lecture by Mark Fisher MP on 'The nation's archives: promoting an understanding of our cultural heritage'.

7	Next meeting
	Friday, 13 March 1998, 11.00 (could be brought forward if required)

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