Present: K Matthias (Denbigh, Chairman); S Beckley (WGlam [for S Edwards (Glam)]); A Lloyd Hughes (MWL); G Jenkins (NLW); D Leitch (PRO); H Malaws (NMRW); L Tomos (DILS); J Watts-Williams (NLW).

Apologies: A D Carr (UWBangor); S Edwards (Glam); D Rimmer (Gwent).

1	Minutes of the last meeting
	The minutes of the last meeting held on 17 July 1998 were confirmed.

2	Matters arising from the minutes
2.1	Local Government Reorganisation
	PRO had noted encouraging signs with regard to Carmarthenshire Archive Service; and it was still monitoring the situations in Anglesey and Gwynedd. It was recognised that perhaps we would have to await the Assembly before finding a more favourable climate for the reconvening of the Advisory Panel.

2.2	Robert Chell's Survey
	SB had acquired the survey data (which was some 90% complete and on disk with RC). SB offered to complete the survey.

2.3	Survey of Visitors to UK Archives in June 1998
	It was noted that the results were to be released at the annual meeting of the Public Services Quality Group at the PRO on 19 November. The number of services from Wales which had taken part was praiseworthy.

3	Welsh Archives Network
	LT reported that the research project had begun on 28 September with ex-student, Sarah Chubb, as researcher. It was decided to prepare the bid itself during the period January-March 1999 and aim to complete it by 31 March. Several other matters which might be relevant were mentioned: the library network, the Assembly network, the National Grid for Learning, and the Opportunities Fund.

4	Mapping Project
	The final format of the questionnaire was agreed and the timetable for the project: distribution of the questionnaire during the week 19-23 October; receipt of replies by 30 November; draft findings in early January; and final report by the end of February. The meeting was unanimously in favour of being open about the results.

5	Record Office for Wales
	It was agreed that ACW would have to lobby the Assembly on this issue. It was noted that the post of Director of Public and Research Services for the Assembly had been advertised at that time and that its responsibilities included an `archiving’ function.

6

Consortium of Welsh Library and Information Services (CWLIS)

The Chairman reported on the CWLIS meeting of 22 September 1998. It was decided to invite the chairman of LISC Wales, Lionel Madden, to the next meeting of ACW in order to discuss the link between archive services and LISC. It was decided also that ACW should respond to the public spending review document, Modern Public Services for Wales. It was noted that archive services had not been included in CWLIS’s training review. Mention was made also of the preparations for the annual meeting of CWLIS with its emphasis on making the needs of the library services known to as many as possible of the key players in the Assembly.

7	Welsh Archivists' Meeting
	The arrangements for the meeting at NLW on 17 October 1998 had been completed.

8	HMC: Archives and the Millennium
	The draft response was tabled with an invitation to submit comments and suggestions in time for it to be sent to HMC before the end of October.

9	Annual Report, Subscriptions, Membership, and Objectives
	The draft annual report was tabled with an invitation to submit comments and suggestions in time for it to be published during November. It was noted that some subscriptions had not been received; and the objectives for 1998-9 were agreed.

10	DCMS Spending Review
	It was decided that ACW’s brief comments should be sent by fax immediately after the meeting.

11	Next meeting
	Friday, 5 February 1999.

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