THE former director of Colchester’s troubled art gallery Firstsite was given a secret £50,000 farewell package, it can be revealed.

The taxpayer-funded payout came despite terrible financial and visitor figures at the gallery while it was under Matthew Rowe’s leadership.

Politicians from across the board are now calling for major changes to the structure of the organisation’s board of trustees after learning it had authorised the behind-the-scenes payout.

They also expressed astonishment they had no idea of Mr Rowe’s “golden goodbye” until told by the Gazette, after an indepth investigation.

Mr Rowe, who was employed as Firstsite’s director for just under two-and-a-half years, left in April.

His departure was announced just weeks after Arts Council England (ACE) – the gallery’s major funder – put Firstsite into “special measures” due to fears about the failing centre’s capacity to turn its fortunes around.

The charity’s six-member board – headed by interim chairman Andrew Nightingale – indicated Mr Rowe had left Firstsite on a voluntary basis.

However, when challenged by the Gazette over the secret payout, Mr Nightingale released a new statement on the board’s behalf. It read: “The matter of Matthew Rowe’s departure from Firstsite is between the Firstsite board, as the employer and Matthew, as the employee.

“As a former employee, Matthew has a reasonable expectation the terms under which his employment ended should remain private. As a responsible employer, Firstsite respects and will uphold this position.”

Colchester’s MP, Will Quince, said he believed it was essential there was more accountability and transparency in the way the board ran Firstsite.

He said: “What I would like to know is who else knew about this situation?

“I believe there should be representatives from the two local funders on the board – Colchester Council and Essex County Council.”

Firstsite is scheduled to get £143,000 from Colchester Council, £100,000 from Essex County Council this year, while ACE will provide £815,000, subject to strict targets being met.

Colchester’s former MP Sir Bob Russell–who is a vociferous critic of Firstsite – said he had faith Mr Rowe’s successor, Anthony Roberts, would be able to turn the organisation’s fortunes around.

Mr Roberts, director of Colchester Arts Centre, was parachuted in shortly after Mr Rowe left the charity.

Blaming ACE for having constricted both Mr Rowe and the organisation’s board in an “elitist straightjacket,” Sir Bob said: “This is the first I’ve heard of any payout, let alone of that magnitude.

“This is public money, and it should be in the public domain – who made the decision and why the decision was made?”

Firstsite’s accounts indicate Mr Rowe was earning between £60,000 and £70,000 a year. His successor, Mr Roberts, has made no secret of the fact his salary is about £45,000 for managing both Firstsite and Colchester Arts Centre.

Paul Smith, leader of Colchester Council, said: “I think this shows what a very strong case we have for representation on that board.”

Tim Young, councillor responsible for culture at Colchester Council, said he was not aware of the package and believed the council should have a seat at the Firstsite top table.

Tory leader at Colchester Council, Dennis Willets, said he thought the decision to award Mr Rowe’s £50,000 should be subject to a town hall inquiry.

He said: “It is a matter which should go to the council’s scrutiny panel as a matter of urgency.

“The full facts of this should be flushed out and assurances can be given to the taxpayer that this was, or was not, a sensible use of borough resources.”

Roger Hirst, Essex County councillor responsible for the arts, said: “I would like to see our presence on the board.

“We have been major funders of this gallery in the past and I think we should be more involved.”

ACE said it was not in a position to block any payments.

The Gazette made numerous strenuous efforts to contact Mr Rowe, but he did not respond.

TROUBLED ART GALLERY HAS ONLY SIX ON ITS BOARD
FIRSTSITE has a board made up of only six members because a further half-dozen have resigned - including its most recent permanent chairman – over the past two years. 

Although all of its funders and the board of Firstsite itself have been striving to recruit a permanent chairman, this has proved to be an uphill struggle.

Earlier this year the Arts Council appointed a headhunter to try to identify a suitable candidate and approached aboutten possible recruits. 

These included a baroness and a former UK ambassador, but, for various reasons, those approached declined to take up the position.

It is understood Essex County Council, Colchester Council and the existing board are continuing to search for new members and a chair.

Records held at Companies House show one newmember has joined the Firstsite board in the past few weeks, although this has yet to be formally announced.

She is Eliza O’Toole, listed as company secretary at International Port Holdings Ltd, based in Great Yarmouth.

Long-standing board member Jeremy Theophilus passed away last month, leaving the number of board members at six. 

However, it is believed the spaces will soon be filled following the popular appointment of Anthony Roberts as director.