| Description | Minutes of a committee established when responsibility for the running and management of St Francis Hall was transferred from the Guild of Students to the University of Birmingham in 1989. See UB/GUILD/A/21 for minutes of the Guild St Francis Hall Committee, 1937-1990. The main reason for this transfer of responsibility was that St Francis Hall had become the focal point for the organisation of religious activities in the University as a whole. It was envisaged that students would continue to play a full part in the affairs and activities of St Francis Hall. A new constitution was drawn up, and amendments were made to the Guild of Students constitution to establish the new committee which was responsible to University Council for the policy concerning the use of St Francis Hall for the organisation of religious activities at the University. Funding to the Guild of Students St Francis Hall Committee was received from the Guild, the University, and the Cadbury Trust. The new St Francis Hall Committee agreed to use its best endeavours to maintain the budget at its then current level. A full time recognised chaplain to be appointed by the main Committee was to be responsible to the chair of the St Francis Hall Committee for room bookings and the administration of the University Carol Service. It was anticipated that Niteline would continue to occupy space in St Francis Hall, and that the University, in consultation with the Guild of Students, would seek alternative accommodation for Niteline if it became necessary
The committee met at least once a term and membership consisted of a Chairperson appointed by University Council; a Vice-Chair who was a student of the University elected annually by and from the student users of St Francis Hall; a member of each religious society having a recognised Chaplain or otherwise recognised by the Committee, elected annually by that society; one Guild Councillor elected annually by Guild Council; one Guild sabbatical officer nominated annually by the Guild; four chaplains appointed annually by and representative of the Recognised Chaplains Committee; and three members of the University or Guild staff appointed for a four year period by Council
A number of sub-committees were also formed. These consisted of a Building Advisory Sub-Committee which was responsible for repairs, alterations and modifications to the building and formulating requests through the accounting officer to the Director of Estate Management; an Events Sub-Committee which determined the use of the budget allocated to it by the main committee, publicised the activities of St Francis Hall, and co-ordinated, represented and furthered the interests of religious societies and groups, and encouraged the use of the St Francis Hall building; and a Recognised Chaplains Sub-Committee, chaired by one of the chaplains elected for this purpose by the sub-committee and all recognised chaplains were members. Its purpose was to co-ordinate the work of the chaplains in the University
The minutes of the main St Francis Hall Committee include reports of these sub-committees. This set of minutes was kept by Tony Manchester, Warden of University House, in his role as chair of the Buildings Advisory Sub-Committee, and so the minutes also include papers submitted to that committee. These papers largely discuss repairs, cleaning, alterations, occasional misuse of rooms by groups using the building, requests for furniture, and access for people with disabilities. They include a conservation report on the painted ceiling in St Francis Hall and a condition survey of the building, 1989, as well as copies of plans of the building
The first meeting of the new Committee was held on 2 May 1990. Minutes discuss the recognition and membership of religious societies; the use of the building for worship by different faiths; the maintenance of the building and its property; the organisation of seminars, conferences and other events; membership of sub-committees; the renaming of rooms in the building; the appointment of chaplains of different faiths; and the future of the St Francis Hall library. The budget is also discussed, and the minutes include a copy of the income and expenditure account and budget 1990-1991. There is also a copy of a St Francis Hall information booklet 1989-1990 |