The Board of Governors responsibilities

The Governors serve for three years and are eligible for re-appointment. They appoint their Chairman from among themselves and their primary role as the board is to address major issues of principle by setting aims and objectives.

Other duties of the Board of Governors

The Board of Governors have other responsibilities which include:

• to represent the public interest in the museum;
• to secure high standards;
• to ensure that responsibility for management of the assets, collection and documentation, buildings, plant and money is clearly laid down and undertaken effectively;
• to take decisions on certain matters required by standing orders.

On these issues, the Board will have the advice of the Director and their other officers. It is not the task of the Board to manage the Museum on a day-to-day basis; these functions are the responsibility of the Director and staff, supported by the board’s other officers.

The Board’s primary duty is to exercise the powers conferred on them by Act of Parliament in accordance with the Museum’s objectives, using the collections it holds in trust.

Promoting the Museum's mission

The Museum is one of over 200 in London, many of which contain material relevant to London’s history. But Museum of London is the only museum to be concerned with the whole of London in all aspects and in all periods from its historic core to the furthest limit of Greater London. The Board, therefore, must exercise their powers having regard not only to their own interests but also to those of other institutions concerned with particular themes or particular parts of London.

In addition, the Board as a whole and Governors individually should promote the interests of the Museum in other places; not only with the contributing authorities (the Department of National Heritage and the City of London), but also with all organisations and individuals who can contribute in any way to the Museum’s work.

The Board will at all times:

• observe the highest standards of integrity and objectivity in relation to stewardship of public finds and management of the Museum;
• comply with all reasonable requests for information from the Secretary of State and the City of London, users of services and individual citizens;
• be accountable to the Secretary of State and the City of London, users of services, individual citizens and staff for the activities of the Museum, their stewardship of public funds and the extent to which key performance targets and objectives have been met;
• maximise value for money through ensuring that services are delivered in the most efficient and economical way, within available resources.