| Description | Signed minutes of the committee appointed by University Council in January 1966 to have responsibility for the oversight of financial transactions of the Edgbaston Meteorological Observatory, recorded in an account separate from that of the Department of Geography; the oversight of the Observatory property; and ensuring satisfactory arrangements for fulfilling the University's obligations to maintain meteorological records. It was established following the lease of the Observatory by the University in 1965 from the City of Birmingham Water Department, and the first meeting was held on 24 March 1966. These minutes contain discussion about the University's takeover of the Observatory for teaching and research and the staffing of the Observatory, and include a copy of the lease agreement between the City of Birmingham Water Department and the University
Membership of the committee consisted of the Vice-Chancellor or Deputy Principal; two members of Council; two members of Senate; and the Head of the Department of Geography. It usually met two or three times a year
The minutes contain information about staffing and finances, including copies of income and expenditure accounts and estimates; information about the Observatory services provided to Birmingham Corporation Departments and the charges made; details about the grant by Birmingham Corporation to the Observatory; and the development of the area adjacent to the Observatory. Most sets of minutes include copies of the Scientific Director's reports to the Observatory committee, and financial statements
Minutes of the meeting held on 4 July 1968 include a copy of a report entitled 'The function and future of the Observatory as a centre for weather forecasting' by the Observatory Scientific Director. Minutes of the meeting held on 2 April 1969 include a copy of the report of the Edgbaston Observatory committee to the Finance and General Purposes committee on the operation of the Observatory. Minutes of the meeting held on 3 June 1969 include a copy of a report to Council on the Edgbaston Observatory by Charles Beale, chairman of the Observatory committee addressing staffing problems and an adverse report in the Birmingham Post about the University's management of the Observatory.
Minutes of the meeting held on 28 October 1969 include a copy of a report on matters relating to the future of Edgbaston Observatory which discusses conflict between members of Observatory staff. Minutes of the meeting held on 16 December 1969 include a report on the daily routine of the Observatory. Minutes of the meeting held on 21 January 1970 include a report on a research project in numerical weather forecasting, and details about an application to the Natural Environment Research Council. Minutes of the meeting held on 12 February 1971 include a report on a 24 hour working system of the Observatory, requested by the local authorities.
Minutes of the meeting held on 7 December 1971 discuss the organisation of the Observatory and tensions between commercial operations and the academic activities of the Department of Geography, and include proposals submitted by Professor H. Thorpe. Minutes of the meeting held on 13 June 1972 include a copy of a first draft of a proposed submission to the Board of Faculty of Science and Engineering to take over the Observatory. This includes a section on the history of the Observatory from its establishment in 1884, and including information about its use since its takeover by the University in 1965. A revised draft of this submission is included with minutes of the meeting held on 26 September 1972. Minutes of the meeting held on 7 November 1972 include copies of the recommendations of the Faculty of Science and Engineering that the Observatory should become the responsibility of the Faculty of Science and Engineering and that the Observatory Committee should be dissolved from the end of the 1972-1973 academic session. The final meeting of the committee was held on 12 June 1973 |