Future of 7 VT working group: Ninth meeting

2. Status of form distribution/collection

Financial experts: LN has sent email summarising his telephone +interviews with Paul Kenny, Caroline Evens and John Phillips.
Lettings comparison: ES has done this, discussed last +time. Some more info to come re out-of-town sites.
Quaker groups: MH sent email with interim results, has now +gotten 12 replies, will re-circulate an updated tabulation
Central Edinburgh: HST has a substantial number of completed +forms, will tabulate and circulate this evening.
Midweek meeting: AB has tabulated the 8 returns she has received.
Local meetings: PL has had replies from S. Edinburgh and +Central Fife
MH staff: PL has only just received the individual +responses. He also has a "discerned corporate response" from a meeting of MH staff.

3. Additional input from the Meeting House Managers

We considered the question of whether we needed further input from the +Meeting House Managers. They have conveyed a concern that we do not yet fully +understand the nature of their work and the work of Meeting House staff. We +agreed that HST will invite the MHMs to our next meeting, at the beginning.

4. Financial experts interviews

LN summarised. Overall answers were fairly similar, although they were +arrived at by differing routes. All were enthusiastic about the property, +albeit in one case in part because it offered such an attractive proposition as +a rental property itself. None thought that selling was a good plan. Renting +for ourselves was judged to be beset with difficulties. Minimum lease would +likely be five years.

A point which came up was that more use means more cost to offset wear +and tear. The Festival is a particular case in point.

This is to some extent subject to manipulation: by stopping the +consumption of hot drinks in the Meeting Room, the wear and tear is reduced, +but the Library gets more use as a breakout room, thereby reducing the +opportunity for letting.

There was not complete unanimity on the question of whether we should or +could increase income by raising our letting rates.

The question of strategy: maximising income versus maximising utility for +Quaker use, comes up again. PL reminded us of the history of AM's decisions in +this area.

The proposition that we are subsidising groups by default was clarified: +we do charge a low rate to some groups, which means that if no-one +else was in the building by the time that group meets we end up losing money as +against the cost of opening the building.

5. Responses from Quaker Groups

Although not dependent as such, many groups expressed a sense of +ownership wrt 7VT. Overseers did feel dependent on 7VT as their base.

"The atmosphere can be felt when you walk into the place" like any other +religious place, so it's appropriate to meet here.

The opportunity to plan in advance, and thereby had access to resources, +was welcomed.

Groups were willing to meet elsewhere. In particular, study groups were +happier meeting in homes, for greater intimacy, and because it addresses +childcare needs.

Facilities generally liked, one or two niggles.

Parking and, at least for the time being, access on foot a bit of a +problem, but public transport good.

Availability was characterised as 'good'. Some asked about the +possibility of there being particular designated Quaker slots in the diary.

Big meetings (e.g. Scotland GM) needed the whole building.

Our ability to host young people's events was discussed in some detail

The value of being a central venue was remarked on a number of times.

Car parking will of course always be an issue for a central venue, but +the impact of that on those with physical disabilities has to be managed.

6. Planning for open meetings

[Note that the date of the 1st meeting was changed following consultation +to Sunday 26 April.]

We agreed to have the meeting in the hall, and to start as early as we +think feasable.

Aim for 2:30 finish

HST suggested opening with an introduction

BM suggested that we had to include the basic outline of the financial +difficulty that provoked the establishment of our group.

LN wanted to be a bit less explicit, focussing on the broad picture, 20 +years on, 10 years with balanced books, 10 years during which a gap has opened up

MH: The questionnaires and a lot of our fact-finding to date have been +about the nature of our current (and immediately past) situation: now we need +to look to the future.

Focus on "What is your vision for the Quaker presence and witness in +Central Edinburgh for the next 20 years." Offer an +opportunity to stay behind afterwards for more focussed questions to the group.

Is it appropriate to make notes during a worship sharing session? Yes, +if it's made clear at the beginning, and explained as based on the special +nature of the meeting itself.

6.1. Meeting on 26 April

HST to introduce
PL to take notes
MH, BM, RR will also attend.

6.2. Meeting of 4 May [subject to revision]

HST to introduce +

LN to take notes +

PL, MH, BM will also attend. +