Ethics Q&A: Disposal 1
November 2000
Q:
As a result of new practices in local government, responsibility for our museum service has been transferred from a council committee to a 'cabinet member'. Under this arrangement, executive decision-making has been devolved to the individual member, and full council only concerns itself with strategic and policy issues. Is it ethical for decisions on disposal to be delegated to our cabinet member?
A:
No it isn't. Trusteeship of the collections is legally vested in council, as the governing body for your museum. It would be unethical for decisions to dispose to be delegated to any one individual. Not only has the council the duty to set policy on such matters, but it alone has the authority to make decisions to dispose of items from the collections.
Ethics Code: 6.11
