From Charles Morgan, Freelance arts researcher
Further to Kim Evan?s response to my reading of Arts Council England?s (ACE) accounts (AP issue 94, 28 March), it is true that in the two months since my article was published (AP issue 90, 31 January) I have travelled to London for a meeting with ACE officers and have had an exchange of correspondence with the Executive Director, Finance and Resources. I remain disappointed that ACE has not provided any statistical basis to justify the assertions it continues to make about its ?savings?, and that it has not made any attempt to reconcile those claims with the figures in the annual accounts. ACE has said that ?it is necessary to go beyond comparing the numbers in the annual accounts for one year with those for another?. It would be a sorry state if there was any period of five years (or more or less) in which the Arts Council?s activities stayed the same. The logical but worrying conclusion seems to be that nobody should attempt to scrutinise ACE?s financial affairs at all.
There is a short paragraph on the back cover of ACE?s accounts which reads, ?We are committed to being open and accessible. We welcome all comments on our work.? I am pleased to know that my efforts are appreciated!