| Description | Minutes of a committee which was established in 1969 to replace the Refectory Committee (see UB/COM/11) and the Sub-Committee on Refectory POlicy (see UB/COM/111). All outstanding matters of both these predecessor committees were referred to the University Centre Committee. The minute book containing minutes of meetings held between February 1973 and October 1974 is missing from the sequence
The first meeting of the new University Centre Committee was held on 26 June 1969, and the minutes include a copy of the Report of the Sub-Committee on Refectory Policy to Council May 1969 which recommended the establishment of a new Committee of Council to be known as the University Centre Committee and that funds be made available to meet the cost of preparing, making, and interpreting a survey intended to obtain a representative sample of the activities of members of the University in relation to the catering services and social facilities
Membership of the committee consisted of two members of Council, one to be chair, and one to be responsible for presenting the views of the administrative staff; two members of Senate, of whom at least one should be a member of the non-professorial staff; one member of the Research Staff Association; two members of the Technical, Clerical and General Staff Association; and seven members of the Guild of Undergraduates, of whom two should be postgraduate members and five should be postgraduate members
The Committee's terms of reference were to be responsible for the management and direction of all University catering facilities with the exception of Staff House, the Halls of Residence and the Students' Union; to be responsible for the general management of the Refectory as the University Centre for purposes approved by Council, to formulate rules for the proper use of the building and to make suitable arrangements for consultation regarding day to day management; to obtain from members of the University and consider any comments and views as to the present and future operation of the catering services and University Centre, and to submit to Council within twelve months proposals for the future development of the Centre
It was expected that the committee would meet at least six times a year and to report to Council or the Finance and General Purposes Committee
Minutes of the first meeting of the committee include copies of current regulations governing the use of the Refectory; conditions for use of the Avon Room and other accommodation in the Refectory other than for use in connection with conferences; regulations for dances; list of charges; financial report; a list of particular matters referred to the Committee by the Sub-Committee on Refectory Policy and the Refectory Committee; and a copy of Memorandum from the President of the Senior Common Room addressing current restrictions on membership to certain categories of staff, and possible development of the University Centre to provide better facilities
Minutes of the meeting held on 9 July 1969 include a copy of the Report of the Working Party to recommend the membership, responsibilities and terms of reference of a suitable sub-committee or sub-committees on matters relating to day to day management. It was agreed to form a University Centre Management sub-committee to make suitable arrangements for consultation regarding day to day management of the catering services; to exercise general oversight, including the financial viability of the catering services and to recommend to the University Centre Committee any changes in prices, staffing and services provided; to promote public relations with both staff and customers; to deal with problems, complaints and comments arising from the running of the catering services; to recommend to the University Centre Committee suggestions for variations in the use of the existing facilities; to recommend to the University Centre Committee rules for the proper use of the University Centre and the Medical School Buffet; and to implement the directives of the University Centre Committee in respect of general management matters. This body was to work as an executive sub-committee which could meet at short notice. Membership was to consist of a chair and four other members, with one member with special responsibility for the University Centre (Refectory) and one member with special responsibility for the Medical School Buffet, with the majority of the Sub-Committee appointed from the members of the University Centre Committee
The University Centre Committee agreed the use of the Refectory and University Centre for special functions; received Refectory accounts and discussed Refectory budget and prices; discussed the operation of the Medical School Buffet; dealt with general maintenance issues in the Refectory and University Centre; and discussed prices and staff wages. Minutes include reports of the University Centre Management Sub-Committee; and copies of reports of University Centre Committee to Council and to the Finance and General Purposes Committee
Minutes of the meeting held on 25 June 1970 include papers on the possible reorganisation of the Refectory and different uses of rooms, arising from joint meetings of University Centre Management and Development Sub-Committees. Minutes of the meeting held on 2 March 1971 discuss catering policy, particularly the difficulties in reconciling the competing demands of providing a service consistent with making the Refectory and Medical School Buffet financially viable, and also include a copy of a student petition conplaining about standard and price of catering services in Refectory compared with the Guild building. Minutes of the meeting held on 15 March 1971 contain a copy of the University Centre Survey with results and analysis produced to assess the possibility of establishing a University Centre
Minutes of the meeting held on 7 July 1971 record that the University Centre Committee agreed to establish a Joint Working Party between the University Centre Committee and the Guild of Students to consider how best to co-ordinate services in the Centre and Union which would not exclude the possibility of integration; and to endorse the deferment of consideration of terms of appointment of an entertainments office and the introduction of membership and subscriptions. Minutes of the meeting held on 1 December 1971 incude a copy of the interim report of the University Centre Committee and the Guild of Students Working Party which sets out short term problems and long term problems. The minutes also include a copy of a report by R. G. Playford (Guild President) entitled Do We Need a University Centre? which explains why the student body did not accept the conceptual distinction between the intended function of the Refectory for eating and the Guild building for social activities. Minutes of the meeting held on 20 March 1972 include a copy of the final report of the University Centre Committee and Guild of Students Working Party, which made a short term recommendations and long term recommendations as well as medium term recommendations, and which includes appendices consisting of accounts and reports on discussions with catering managers, discussion of facilities and timetables for use. Minutes of the meeting held on 24 May 1972 record discussion about matters arising from this final report. For records of this Working Party, see UB/COM/113
Minutes of the meeting held on 13 December 1972 discuss comments of the University Centre and Union Services Committees on the Report of the Finance and General Purposes Sub-Committee on Catering and the recommendations of the University Centre and Union Services Catering Joint Sub-Committee. These minutes also record discussion about the utilisation of catering facilities jointly with other bodies, and the expansion of the University Centre main meals service. The minutes refer to the worsening deficit of the University Centre and Medical School Buffet due to increased costs without an increase in the prices charged to customers, because 'in the current climate of general student dissatisfaction with present levels of grants, it is not possible at present to raise prices'
There is a gap in the records between February 1973 and October 1974, though it is possible to trace the development and use of University Centre through records of the University Centre and Union Services Catering Joint Sub-Committee (see UB/COM/114).
Minutes of meetings held from October 1974 onwards are more general in content, and it is possible that operational matters were delegated to sub-committees. Minutes of the University Centre Committee from 1974 onwards include accounts and estimates of University Centre, the Arden Room, Chelsnack, and the Medical School Buffet; discussion about the use of rooms in University Centre; and progress reports on the Technical, Clerical and General Staff bar. The committee agreed accounts and price increases, rules for the use of rooms, and the designation of no-smoking areas. It also recieved occasional submissions from the Technical, Clerical and General Staff Association.
The Report of the University Centre Committee to Council included with minutes of the meeting held on 21 February 1978 notes that the original concept of University Centre was the development beyond a refectory into a centre in its broadest sense, for meeting as well as eating. However, this idea was overtaken by events and the business of the University Centre Committee was now primarily concerned with considering the financial aspects of catering in the Centre. The Committee now usually met four times a year and accounts for the immediate past trading period were presented to each meeting. The Committee reported financial matters to the Finance and General Purposes Committee
Minutes of meetings held during 1980 include discussion of reports of a joint Working Party of Council and Senate on University Centre, set up to investigate the use of the Unversity Centre building and to make recommendations about its future use in the light of academic, catering, commercial, social and other University needs. The Working Party identified two main points; that there was too much catering capacity and demand was unlikely to increase, and that some existing accommodation was not fully used, even in term time. Reports of the Working Party explore options for catering units in the University Centre, Staff House, and the Guild. Minutes of Committee meetings include copies of reports of the Working Party which set out the benefits and disadvantages of a number of different options for reductions in catering capacity. By the time of the second report, included with minutes of the meeting held on 26 November 1980, the options still being explored all involved partial limits to catering in University Centre. This report includes scale plans of the University Centre and an assessment by Estates and Buildings Office of the costs of alterations to the Guild building and University Centre
The last meeting of the University Centre Committee was held on 28 May 1981. The committee was then disbanded after Council approved recommendation that overall policy for the University Centre should in future be decided by the Finance and General Purposes Committee and administered by the Finance Office. Alternative means were to be found to enable customers to make their view known to the management. See UB/COM/1 for records of the Finance and General Purposes Committee |