| Description | Minutes of the committee which managed the policy and operation of University House and which reported to University Council, via the Halls of Residence committee until its abolition in 1965, and after that via the Finance and General Purposes committee. There is also a sequence of minutes of this committee within the records of University House, see UB/HUH/A/1/4, which largely duplicate those described in this series, though there is a gap in the sequence of minutes kept with the University House records where no minutes exist for the period 1955-1961. The sequence described here is complete for the period from 1955 to 1981.
The committee usually met once a term, and the minutes discuss maintenance and alterations, the hall's accounts including student fees and food costs, use of rooms in the hall including conference use in vacations, and staff appointments and resignations and staff salaries. Accounts were received by the Halls of Residence committee which approved spending, and increases in fees. Approval of more major maintenance and building work was the responsibility of the Works and Maintenance committee. Minutes include copies of the Wardens' reports, which provide statistical information about the number of students in residence, their countries of origin, and the academic departments they studied in, as well as more specific information about individual students leaving the hall of residence or experiencing problems. The reports also record information about staff recruitment and resignations, domestic and catering issues, the health and social activities of students, conferences and University functions, and contain the University House annual financial reports.
Particular topics discussed by the committee in the 1950s include the possible move of University House to a new hall of residence on the Wyddrington site. Minutes of the meeting held on 1 November 1955 include a copy of a memorandum from the University House committee to the Planning and Priorities committee setting out reasons for opposing this move, and a copy of a memorandum from the Planning and Priorities committee on this subject for comment by the Faculties and other bodies concerned. Minutes of the meeting held on 21 November 1957 include a copy of a report by the University House Club Secretary on the use of the licensed bar within University House, and a copy of a memorandum on conferences held at the hall of residence which surveys their organisation and costs in order to assess their value
The need for additional accommodation and the changing expectations of student residents features in committee discussion recorded in minutes of meetings held in the 1960s. Minutes of the meeting held on 15 November 1960 contain references to the need for improved facilities at Winterbourne, used as an annexe to University House, and include a copy of a report on alterations and improvements necessary to counter the disadvantages of the accommodation there. Minutes of the meeting held on 21 February 1961 record that the Planning and Priorities committee had decided that Winterbourne would be used by the Extra-Mural Department and so would not consider the proposed conversion
Minutes of meetings held in 1963 contain discussion of the conversion of University House to a mixed hall of residence and its administration and Senior Common Room staff appointments. Minutes of the meeting held on 28 January 1964 refer to the new halls of residence being constructed on the Vale site, and include a copy of a minute from the Halls of Residence committee about the need for full collaboration between the sub-committees of existing halls of residence and those responsible for the organisation of the new halls of residence concerning the admission of students, licensing arrangement, the duties and payment of members of Senior Common Room staff, and visiting hours and conference charges.
There is some information in the committee minutes about the changes in the management and governance of University House following its conversion to a mixed hall of residence. Minutes of the meeting held on 11 February 1965 include a copy of the constitution, rules, and Junior Common Room rules, and minutes of the meeting held on 24 May 1965 include a copy of the Warden's report on the first year of operation as a mixed hall.
Minutes of meetings held in 1967 and 1968 contain some references to the issue of student representation on the University House sub-committee, and minutes of the meeting held on 23 May 1968 contain a copy of a report drawn up by the sub-committee of the Junior Common Room prior to the decision to re-appoint an administrative Warden for University House, rather than transferring responsibilities to the University central administration, entitled 'Report of the University House Commission on the Central Administration and other halls of residence', which comments on the functions of a hall of residence and relations between the Junior Common Room and Senior Common Room, comparing University House with the Vale halls of residence under central administration and setting out the argument for the benefits of University House remaining semi-autonomous.
A copy of the Junior Common Room constitution is included with minutes of the meeting held on 4 November 1969. Minutes of the meeting held on 2 November 1971 include a copy of the report of the University House Junior Common Room committee which sets out constitutional changes as well as giving brief details about social activities and events organised by the committee. Copies of Junior Common Room committee reports are routinely included with the University House sub-committee minutes after this date.
Further proposed constitutional changes are discussed in minutes of the meeting held on 31 October 1972 which include a copy of the report of a special committee of Council on Halls of Residence which made recommendations about administrative changes and suggested that the University House sub-committee should function as a Hall Council, and that University House should be represented on the reconstituted Halls of Residence committee (minutes described at UB/COM/26). Minutes of the next meeting, held on 27 November 1972, emphasise the committee's view that University House worked well, that residents were happy, and that no changes should be made involving University House until the position regarding other halls of residence had been finalised. Minutes of the meeting held on 13 November 1973 include a memorandum and drawings and sketches for alterations to rooms for use by students with disabilities.
Minutes of meetings held in 1975 and 1976 discuss the difficult financial position that halls of residence were in, the growing deficit at University House, and discrepancies between University House and other halls of residence in the system used for paying staff wages. Minutes of the meeting held on 18 January 1977 refer to proposals to centralise the system of staff wages despite opposition by the Warden and fears about the loss of University House's independence. Minutes of the meeting held on 21 April 1977 discuss the closure of the separate bank account run by University House and the centralisation of personnel procedures.
The committee minutes document further concerns about the deficit throughout 1978 due to increased wages and salaries, and more generous conditions of service following a national agreement. There are also references to the impact on University House resulting from the hall of residence implementing University policy to take a greater proportion of first year students. Minutes of the meeting held on 9 November 1978 refer to the need for the committee to explore ways of eliminating the deficit to prevent changes being imposed on the hall, and the Warden's report compares the financial position at University House with that of the Vale halls, where the accounts were subsidised by profits from the self-catering accommodation units there. Committee minutes for 1979 record discussion about ways of saving money.
Minutes of the meeting held on 20 January 1981 refer to the establishment of a Working Party to consider the future management of University House following the Warden's announcement of his intention to retire in September 1981, and the presentation of the 1980-1981 financial forecast. Minutes of the meeting held on 20 March 1981 mention the recommendations of the Working Party and discuss the function of the reconstituted University House committee. The committee's remit no longer encompassed financial and administrative affairs and, instead of reporting via the Finance and General Purposes committee to Council, it would report to the Halls of Residence committee, effectively bringing the administration of University House in line with that of the other halls of residence from the start of the 1981-1982 academic session. The last meeting of the committee was held on 8 May 1981, and minutes include a copy of the annual report of the University House committee to Council dated 24 June 1981. See UB/HUH/A/1/5 for minutes of University House Council, the internal body established to deal with day-to-day and routine business of the hall of residence |