JUST as the Hampshire Chronicle was going to press yesterday we learned that Hampshire Cultural Trust plans to cut a significant number of jobs.

We report on the issue on page 4.

http://www.hampshirechronicle.co.uk/news/15807292.Trust_tasked_with_protecting_Hampshire_s_heritage_to_cut_jobs_after_grant_reduction/

The trust was set up in 2014 to run the cultural assets of Hampshire County Council and Winchester City Council, mainly the collections and various museums, including in Winchester, the City Museum in The Square, the Westgate on the High Street and the Gallery at the Discovery Centre.

There were concerns at the time about a democratic deficit as removing the trust from the direct control of local authorities meant there would be less public scrutiny.

One benefit of such scrutiny is that the managers have to constantly be thinking of how their actions impact on the public.

The comments of the chief executive Dr Janet Owen do not inspire one with confidence. How about this for a classic piece of management gobbledegook. The ten per cent reduction in headcount “is being delivered through a fitness for purpose organisational review which focuses more resources from central teams into delivering local benefit.

“HCT is on a long-term journey of development that needs to combine effective delivery and future financial resilience.”

These cuts risk a cultural disaster for Hampshire. Perhaps Dr Owen could better explain what she is on about.