Mercurial > hg > rsof
changeset 50:34171276efb3
done for now
| author | ht |
|---|---|
| date | Sat, 06 Jun 2009 06:29:16 -0400 |
| parents | 39bd4c88cc75 |
| children | f019f69ec28c |
| files | 7vt/report.html 7vt/report.xml |
| diffstat | 2 files changed, 77 insertions(+), 54 deletions(-) [+] |
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--- a/7vt/report.html Sat Jun 06 04:40:28 2009 -0400 +++ b/7vt/report.html Sat Jun 06 06:29:16 2009 -0400 @@ -44,12 +44,9 @@ @top-left { content: normal } @top-right { content: normal } @bottom { content: normal }} -</style><title>Report to Area Meeting from the Future of Victoria Terrace Working GroupDRAFT: Very nearly done, some appendices still -missing, as well as remaining red bits to be addressed</title></head><body style="font-family: DejaVu Sans, Arial; background: rgb(254,250,246)"> +</style><title>Report to Area Meeting from the Future of Victoria Terrace Working Group</title></head><body style="font-family: DejaVu Sans, Arial; background: rgb(254,250,246)"> <div style="text-align: center"> <h1>Report to Area Meeting from the Future of Victoria Terrace Working Group</h1> - <h1><span style="color: red">DRAFT: Very nearly done, some appendices still -missing, as well as remaining red bits to be addressed</span></h1> <div class="byline">Alison Burnley, Madeleine Harding, Phil Lucas, Brian Mayes, Laurie Naumann, Rufus Reade, Eileen Schott, Henry S. Thompson</div> @@ -74,9 +71,9 @@ situation, and a range of possibilities for the future. These are preceded by a brief ‘executive summary’ of our work and its conclusions, and followed by a collection of background material.</p> - <p>Although in the end it is our judgement that some options make more sense -going forward than others, we have <i>not</i> felt that it was our place -to make any overall recommendations. We feel strongly that it is for Area + <p>Throughout our work we have not seen it as our task +to make any overall recommendations, but rather to gather the information +necessary to support Area Meeting as it seeks answers. We feel strongly that it is for Area Meeting, gathered in Meeting for Worship for Business, to discern the right way forward.</p> </div><div id="exec"> @@ -100,10 +97,9 @@ Terrace, or do we leave it? If we leave, do we attempt to find somewhere which provides essentially the same facilities as 7 Victoria Terrace, or somewhere more modest, or more than one place? Do we look for somewhere to -share, or somewhere of our own? If we stay, do we reduce our use, and with it our costs, or -do we continue more-or-less as at present, or do we try to do more? How do each of these +share, or somewhere of our own? If we stay, do we reduce our use, and with it our costs, +do we continue more-or-less as at present or do we try to do more? How do each of these choices align with our vision for Quaker presence and witness in Edinburgh?</p> - <p><span style="color: red">[more, or leave it at that?]</span></p> </div><div id="history"> <h2>3. <a name="history">The past</a></h2> <div id="origins"> @@ -717,7 +713,7 @@ <div> <h4>Summary of input from Quaker Groups which use the Meeting House</h4> - <p><span style="color: red">See Questionnaire ?? in Appendix ??</span></p> + <p><i>See Questionnaire A in Appendix B</i></p> <p>People felt they were not entirely dependant on Victoria Terrace but for meetings it was felt to be accessible, convenient and the "right" place to meet. Good access by public transport.</p> @@ -859,7 +855,7 @@ <div> <h4>Do Less</h4> <p> -One option would be to do less than at present. That could mean reducing the hours that the building is open +One option would be to do less than at present. That would almost certainly mean reducing the hours that the building is open </p> <ul> <li> @@ -907,6 +903,9 @@ Reduce or cancel Christmas lunch and other social activities involving the preparation of food and serving of food and drink. </li> </ul> + <p>It is important to underline that the impact of the kind of changes listed +above is both uncertain, and in the main likely to affect the overall financial +picture only modestly.</p> <p> 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. </p> @@ -968,13 +967,14 @@ </ul> <p>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.</p> +display windows and no involvement in the Festival. If these still matter they +would be requirements for in any candidate alternative premises.</p> <p>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. 7 Victoria Terrace was valued at only £160,000 <i>before</i> the current slump + even share somewhere else it would probably be necessary to sell at least +one of the +two flats as well. 7 Victoria Terrace was valued at only £160,000 <i>before</i> the current slump in property prices, at which time the two flats together were valued at closer -to £300,000. The rateable value (reflecting a fair-market annual +to £300,000. The official rateable value (reflecting a fair-market annual <i>rental</i> value) for 7 Victoria Terrace is £14,600, which is broadly in line with, or a little below, the £160,000 valuation.</p> <p>We explored the cost of moving elsewhere. Minimum accommodation for our own use only would be:</p> @@ -1005,11 +1005,13 @@ <p>If we could find no suitable venue for our exclusive use we might share with, say, 7th Day Adventists, a play group, an Open Door or community hall that was not required on a Sunday.</p> -<p>However, it would be necessary for us to be the ‘chief’ occupants in order that we can +<p>However, it would be necessary for us to be the ‘chief’ +occupants if we wish to be able to arrange mid-week or evening meetings, and have some say over publicity displays and -lettings. We would wish to be in charge of lettings, including festival events +lettings. We would probably want to be in charge of lettings, including festival events 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 +café, but might offer light refreshments and have an exhibition on walls +other than those of the Meeting Room.</p> <p>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 @@ -1025,28 +1027,36 @@ </div> <div id="vision"> <h4>5.2. <a name="vision">The Vision</a></h4> -<p>From the returned questionnaires and the discussions we have had it would seem that the +<p>From the returned questionnaires and the discussions we have had it is clear that the majority of users of the premises would prefer to remain in Victoria Terrace if this is -financially possible. </p> +financially possible.</p> <p>It is felt that we should be in the centre of Edinburgh for a number of reasons, such as the presence of the Scottish Parliament and the Scottish offices of financial, church and corporate bodies, such as Christian Aid. This would enable us to present our Quaker witness to these bodies and to the general public, including the large numbers of tourists and visitors to the city. However, it cannot be assumed that Friends in Scotland outwith Edinburgh would be happy to recognise us as a Scottish Quaker Centre. Indeed, there -are Friends in the Area Meeting who do not have any feeling of ‘ownership’ of 7 +are Friends in the Area Meeting who do not have any feeling of ‘ownership’ of 7 Victoria Terrace nor any sense of involvement in its activities. It is also the case that not all members of Edinburgh Central welcome the disruption and disturbance arising from our Festival activities.</p> <p>Overall, we feel that most people have been positive about staying in Victoria Terrace -because it is central and visible, available and open. The doubts are about finance and +because it is central and visible, available and open. Such doubts as were expressed were about finance and the Festival.</p> </div> <div id="concl"> <h4>5.3. <a name="concl">Conclusions</a></h4> - <p><span style="color: red">How the practicalities and the vision fit (or -don’t). What does Area Meeting do -next. . .</span></p> + <p>7 Victoria Terrace is owned by Area Meeting, and it is for Area Meeting +to determine its use. Once the outline of a future for Friends in Edinburgh +is discerned, whether it means retaining Victoria Terrace or disposing of it, +further questions will have to be asked and answered, detailed options +explored, specified and costs and benefits assessed. The Working Group has +done its best to bring together as much information as possible to assist Area +Meeting in the discernment process regarding the fundamental questions: What +is our vision? Stay +or go? If we go, whither? If we stay, on what terms? Beyond that, and +against the background of the answers to <i>those</i> questions, further +work will be needed before the next set of decisions can be considered.</p> </div> </div><div id="appendices"> <h2>6. <a name="appendices">Appendices</a></h2> @@ -1056,6 +1066,7 @@ </div> <div id="quests"> <h4>6.2. <a name="quests">Appendix B: Questionnaires for different user groups</a></h4> + <p>[include docs here]</p> </div> <div id="open"> <h4>6.3. <a name="open">Appendix C: Summary of contributions from open meetings</a></h4> @@ -1303,7 +1314,7 @@ <div id="refs"> <h4>6.5. <a name="refs">Other sources</a></h4> <p>The following documents, while not part of this report, have been -submitted to Area Meeting as they provided input to our work:</p> +lodged with Area Meeting as they provided input to our work:</p> <ul> <li>Summary budget figures from John Phillips</li> <li>Report to Trustees by Kath Russell of Woodbrooke</li>
--- a/7vt/report.xml Sat Jun 06 04:40:28 2009 -0400 +++ b/7vt/report.xml Sat Jun 06 06:29:16 2009 -0400 @@ -4,8 +4,6 @@ <doc> <head> <title>Report to Area Meeting from the Future of Victoria Terrace Working Group</title> - <title><emph color="red">DRAFT: Very nearly done, some appendices still -missing, as well as remaining red bits to be addressed</emph></title> <author>Alison Burnley, Madeleine Harding, Phil Lucas, Brian Mayes, Laurie Naumann, Rufus Reade, Eileen Schott, Henry S. Thompson</author> @@ -50,9 +48,9 @@ situation, and a range of possibilities for the future. These are preceded by a brief ‘executive summary’ of our work and its conclusions, and followed by a collection of background material.</p> - <p>Although in the end it is our judgement that some options make more sense -going forward than others, we have <emph>not</emph> felt that it was our place -to make any overall recommendations. We feel strongly that it is for Area + <p>Throughout our work we have not seen it as our task +to make any overall recommendations, but rather to gather the information +necessary to support Area Meeting as it seeks answers. We feel strongly that it is for Area Meeting, gathered in Meeting for Worship for Business, to discern the right way forward.</p> </div> @@ -77,10 +75,9 @@ Terrace, or do we leave it? If we leave, do we attempt to find somewhere which provides essentially the same facilities as 7 Victoria Terrace, or somewhere more modest, or more than one place? Do we look for somewhere to -share, or somewhere of our own? If we stay, do we reduce our use, and with it our costs, or -do we continue more-or-less as at present, or do we try to do more? How do each of these +share, or somewhere of our own? If we stay, do we reduce our use, and with it our costs, +do we continue more-or-less as at present or do we try to do more? How do each of these choices align with our vision for Quaker presence and witness in Edinburgh?</p> - <p><emph color="red">[more, or leave it at that?]</emph></p> </div> <div id="history"> <title>The past</title> @@ -694,7 +691,7 @@ <div> <title>Summary of input from Quaker Groups which use the Meeting House</title> - <p><emph color="red">See Questionnaire ?? in Appendix ??</emph></p> + <p><emph>See Questionnaire A in Appendix B</emph></p> <p>People felt they were not entirely dependant on Victoria Terrace but for meetings it was felt to be accessible, convenient and the "right" place to meet. Good access by public transport.</p> @@ -831,7 +828,7 @@ <div> <title>Do Less</title> <p> -One option would be to do less than at present. That could mean reducing the hours that the building is open +One option would be to do less than at present. That would almost certainly mean reducing the hours that the building is open </p> <list> <item> @@ -879,6 +876,9 @@ Reduce or cancel Christmas lunch and other social activities involving the preparation of food and serving of food and drink. </item> </list> + <p>It is important to underline that the impact of the kind of changes listed +above is both uncertain, and in the main likely to affect the overall financial +picture only modestly.</p> <p> 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. </p> @@ -940,13 +940,14 @@ </list> <p>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.</p> +display windows and no involvement in the Festival. If these still matter they +would be requirements for in any candidate alternative premises.</p> <p>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. 7 Victoria Terrace was valued at only £160,000 <emph>before</emph> the current slump + even share somewhere else it would probably be necessary to sell at least +one of the +two flats as well. 7 Victoria Terrace was valued at only £160,000 <emph>before</emph> the current slump in property prices, at which time the two flats together were valued at closer -to £300,000. The rateable value (reflecting a fair-market annual +to £300,000. The official rateable value (reflecting a fair-market annual <emph>rental</emph> value) for 7 Victoria Terrace is £14,600, which is broadly in line with, or a little below, the £160,000 valuation.</p> <p>We explored the cost of moving elsewhere. Minimum accommodation for our own use only would be:</p> @@ -977,11 +978,13 @@ <p>If we could find no suitable venue for our exclusive use we might share with, say, 7th Day Adventists, a play group, an Open Door or community hall that was not required on a Sunday.</p> -<p>However, it would be necessary for us to be the ‘chief’ occupants in order that we can +<p>However, it would be necessary for us to be the ‘chief’ +occupants if we wish to be able to arrange mid-week or evening meetings, and have some say over publicity displays and -lettings. We would wish to be in charge of lettings, including festival events +lettings. We would probably want to be in charge of lettings, including festival events 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 +café, but might offer light refreshments and have an exhibition on walls +other than those of the Meeting Room.</p> <p>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 @@ -997,28 +1000,36 @@ </div> <div id="vision"> <title>The Vision</title> -<p>From the returned questionnaires and the discussions we have had it would seem that the +<p>From the returned questionnaires and the discussions we have had it is clear that the majority of users of the premises would prefer to remain in Victoria Terrace if this is -financially possible. </p> +financially possible.</p> <p>It is felt that we should be in the centre of Edinburgh for a number of reasons, such as the presence of the Scottish Parliament and the Scottish offices of financial, church and corporate bodies, such as Christian Aid. This would enable us to present our Quaker witness to these bodies and to the general public, including the large numbers of tourists and visitors to the city. However, it cannot be assumed that Friends in Scotland outwith Edinburgh would be happy to recognise us as a Scottish Quaker Centre. Indeed, there -are Friends in the Area Meeting who do not have any feeling of ‘ownership’ of 7 +are Friends in the Area Meeting who do not have any feeling of ‘ownership’ of 7 Victoria Terrace nor any sense of involvement in its activities. It is also the case that not all members of Edinburgh Central welcome the disruption and disturbance arising from our Festival activities.</p> <p>Overall, we feel that most people have been positive about staying in Victoria Terrace -because it is central and visible, available and open. The doubts are about finance and +because it is central and visible, available and open. Such doubts as were expressed were about finance and the Festival.</p> </div> <div id="concl"> <title>Conclusions</title> - <p><emph color="red">How the practicalities and the vision fit (or -don’t). What does Area Meeting do -next. . .</emph></p> + <p>7 Victoria Terrace is owned by Area Meeting, and it is for Area Meeting +to determine its use. Once the outline of a future for Friends in Edinburgh +is discerned, whether it means retaining Victoria Terrace or disposing of it, +further questions will have to be asked and answered, detailed options +explored, specified and costs and benefits assessed. The Working Group has +done its best to bring together as much information as possible to assist Area +Meeting in the discernment process regarding the fundamental questions: What +is our vision? Stay +or go? If we go, whither? If we stay, on what terms? Beyond that, and +against the background of the answers to <emph>those</emph> questions, further +work will be needed before the next set of decisions can be considered.</p> </div> </div> <div id="appendices"> @@ -1029,6 +1040,7 @@ </div> <div id="quests"> <title>Appendix B: Questionnaires for different user groups</title> + <p>[include docs here]</p> </div> <div id="open"> <title>Appendix C: Summary of contributions from open meetings</title> @@ -1270,7 +1282,7 @@ <div id="refs"> <title>Other sources</title> <p>The following documents, while not part of this report, have been -submitted to Area Meeting as they provided input to our work:</p> +lodged with Area Meeting as they provided input to our work:</p> <list> <item>Summary budget figures from John Phillips</item> <item>Report to Trustees by Kath Russell of Woodbrooke</item>