Minutes:
Apologies for absence were received from Councillors J Bell, R Bell, Buckham, Carr, Conway, Hicks, Iveson, Maitland, Oliver, Pemberton, Shuttleworth and Stoker (Durham County Council), Goldsworthy and Green (Gateshead Council), R Bell, Fletcher, Kelly, Scott, Trueman and Turton (Sunderland City Council), Mr Ashburner (Friends) and Mrs Stewart (BDT).
The Museum Director also gave his apologies for the meeting as he had been called away on urgent Museum business.