In August and October of 2008, South East Scotland Area Meeting "considered the history and prospects for the Quaker Meeting House at 7 @@ -414,19 +414,19 @@
??? didn't get anything for this from Madeleine ???
In all there were 132 lets over this 6-week period. +Costs will depend on size of group, length of time they needed space and which room(s) they rent. There is also a cost for refreshments, including tea, coffee and/or lunch.
It was not possible to know from the non-Quaker groups how they rated the premises. However there were over thirty groups using the building which feels very positive.
It is unclear if we should or could increase income by raising the letting rates. Trustees are aware the lettings levels have fallen, especially daytime use. A possible reason for this could be greater competition in the area for the level of provision we offer. Our letting charges are comparable with other churches/halls in the area.
On the plus side it is an advantage having managers on site and we @@ -696,30 +698,24 @@
-Several staff work flexibly to cover these periods. +Several staff work flexibly to cover these periods: there is always someone at +the front desk when the building is open.
Reasons for reducing the opening hours : reducing costs- heating, lighting and staff cover and reducing wear and tear on the fabric of the building
-Reasons for not reducing opening hours: reduced lettings and reduced income, -
--reduced facilities for Quakers and non-Quakers using the building and reduced opportunities for outreach. -
--Note - Lettings are down on previous years and staff costs are higher. +Reasons for not reducing opening hours: reduced lettings and reduced income, as +well as reduced facilities for Quakers and non-Quakers using the building and reduced opportunities for outreach.
Hospitality, information and outreach: the Meeting House is centrally located and attracts many visitors – reduced opening hours would limit contact with the public, it may affect bookings if enquiries are not answered in person (rather than on-line or by leaving a message on an answer-phone) and may reduce first-timers coming to Meeting for Worship.
-Other alternatives – all of which would reduce costs, reduce income and contact with the general public, visitors, newcomers and passers-by therefore reducing outreach opportunities. -
+Other alternatives – all of which would reduce costs, reduce income and contact with the general public, visitors, newcomers and passers-by therefore reducing outreach opportunities:-It is clear from our initial consultations that radical changes would change the nature of the Meeting and affect the users of the building. +It is clear from our initial consultations that any significant reduction in activity would change the feel of the Meeting and affect the users of the building.
-The group looked at selling the building, renting premises and relocating to the outskirts of the city and these are not viable options. -
-The Quakers and non-Quakers who responded to our questionnaire and Worship Sharing sessions said they value the building, its central location and what is available in the Meeting House. Successive Meeting House Managers have continually improved the appearance of the Meeting House. Doing more in the Meeting House and with the Meeting House could include +The Quakers and non-Quakers who responded to our questionnaire and Worship Sharing sessions said they value the building, its central location and what is available in the Meeting House. Successive Meeting House Managers have continually improved the appearance of the Meeting House. Doing more in the Meeting House and with the Meeting House could include:
One of the prime motivations for leaving Stafford Street was that though central it was not 'visible' to the public; it had no lettings of rooms, no display windows and no involvement in the Festival. These would therefore be looked for in any alternative
-premises.
+One of the prime motivations for leaving Stafford Street was that though +central it was not 'visible' to the public; it had no lettings of rooms, no +display windows and no involvement in the Festival. Whether these are wanted in +any replacement should therefore be looked for in any candidate alternative premises.
If we decide to sell Victoria Terrace in order to buy, lease or - even share somewhere else it would probably be necessary to sell also the two flats. [see sections ]
-We explored the cost of moving elsewhere. Minimum accommodation for our own use only would be:
+Preferably, for our own needs and possible lettings or sharing, +we would be looking for:
+A central location would be in the area bounded by High Street to Queen Street and Queensferry Street. to Leith Street.
Alternatively, we might have more that one Meeting House to replace Victoria Terrace; @@ -826,6 +825,16 @@ such as poetry readings, plays, small musical events, and so on. We would not have a café, but might offer light refreshments and have an exhibition on walls other those of the Meeting Room.
+We carried out a survey of commercial property of a reasonable scale in +and around the centre, and there was nothing available for under £250,000 +that was any where near large enough. Finding any premises including one room of approximately 800 +square feet (the size of the current meeting room and of the hall) was itself +difficult, and we found no premises with two such rooms.
+One possibility we are aware of but did not explore in detail is taking +over, or sharing, other church premises. There was some suggestion that for +example the Methodist property off Nicholson Square might be, or be about to +be, available. It seemed at best unlikely that a move to such premises would +result in a situation materially different from our current one.