Minutes of the 249th Meeting of the University Council held on 11 February
1998.
Dr S C Miller
Mr. H. Barber Professor D.J. Hourston (ab)
Mr. G. Barfield Professor M. Hutchinson (ab)
Mr. J.B.C. Blood (ab) Mr. M. Joyce
Mr. R.H. Boissier Mr. E.O. Maxwell (ab)
Dr. W.R. Bowman Professor R. McCaffer
Dr. T.G.M. Brooks (ab) Mr. A. Milne
Professor L.M. Cantor (ab) Mr. M. Moghal (ab)
Professor S.J. Cox Professor I.C. Morison (ab)
Professor J.V. Dawkins Mr. W.M. Moss
Dr. A.M. Duncan Mr. D'A.T.N. Payne (ab)
Dr. D.W. Edwards Dr. A.C. Pugh (ab)
Dr. A.N. Fairbairn Professor P.H. Roberts (ab)
Professor J.P. Feather Sir Denis Rooke
Mr. G.P. Fothergill (ab) Professor M. Shaw
Dr. M. Gilbert (ab) Mr. M. Shuker (ab)
Mr. S.J. Gorton Ven. I. Stanes (ab)
Dr. J.K. Green Mrs. C. Stephens
Professor N.A. Halliwell Mrs. J.A.M. Strong (ab)
Mr. P.W. Harrisson (ab) Mr. E. Waite (ab)
Miss J.E.L. Harvatt (ab) Professor D.J. Wallace
Dr. R.A. Haskins Professor C. Williams
Dr. T. Higgins Ms. J. Willmott
Professor J.R. Hough (ab)
By invitation: Mr. J. Warren
In attendance: Dr. J.E.M. Elliott
Dr. D.E. Fletcher
Ms. E.A. Howarth
Mr. H.M. Pearson
Apologies for absence were received from Mr. Blood, Mr. Brooks,
Professor Cantor,
Mr. Fothergill, Dr. Gilbert, Mr. Harrisson, Miss Harvatt,
Professor Hourston, Professor Hutchinson, Mr. Maxwell, Mr. Moghal, Professor
Morison, Mr. Payne, Professor Roberts, Mrs. Strong and Mr. Waite.
Members are reminded that matters minuted under 98/2 are commercially
sensitive at this stage and asked to respect confidentiality.
- .1
- The Vice-Chancellor reported that despite a 4% national decrease in UCAS
applications the University was showing a 6-7% increase in applications, this
increase being reflected across all Faculties. This position was very
encouraging but there remained the need to convert applications to admissions.
- .2
- An assessment of the impact on the University of the state of the Far East
economy was underway and it was intended that a scholarship scheme for students
from the affected countries would commence in September 1998. The most serious
impact for the University related to the position of Malaysian students.
Should the University lose half of its 150 Malaysian students this would result
in lost income to the University of £0.5M.
- .3
- Over the first five months of the year new research grants and contracts
had reached record levels. In addition the University had been awarded £450K
from the HEFCE Joint Research Equipment Initiative for an Optical Engineering
Laboratory. This position was very encouraging.
- .4
- The University was involved in positive discussions with the national
governing bodies of sport and intended to re-submit a bid for a 50 metre
swimming pool.
- .1
- Council was asked to consider proposals in relation to the University's
Estate Strategy with reference to the West and Central sites and, in
particular, to approve a recommendation from the Executive Management Group and
the Estates Management Committee that the Engineering Project be permitted to
proceed to tender stage within an overall cost limit to be agreed by Council.
Members were reminded that the financial information should be treated as
Commercial in Confidence.
- .2
- The Senior Pro-Vice-Chancellor gave a presentation of the proposals with
reference to the construction of buildings on the West site and refurbishment
of existing buildings to create an Integrated Engineering Faculty, and
attendant proposals for the Central site and Library building. Mr Warren, the
Campus Consultant, gave a commentary on a CAD `fly-around model' demonstration
of the scheme design for the proposed new Engineering buildings.
- .3
- A maximum cost estimate for the Engineering Project, involving the new
buildings and the move to the West site of the Departments of Aeronautical and
Automotive Engineering and Transport Studies and Manufacturing Engineering, was
£14.5M. Council was informed that from the bids made for external financial
support to the Wolfson and Weston Foundations and HEFCE, income of £1.5M could
reasonably be expected. Under the most pessimistic scenario for long-term
payment for the project there would be an additional impact on the budget of
approximately £1.5M, equivalent to a permanent reduction on all budgets of 2.5%.
- .4
- The Deans of Engineering and of Science expressed their strong support for
the project. The Engineering Faculty was part of the premier league and needed
to be able to continue to compete and grow. In particular the automotive
industry looked to the University for its research. The present accommodation
for that research was exceedingly poor and industrialists were now commenting
on this. The future of the Engineering Faculty would be put at risk if the
status quo remained. The project also provided the opportunity for Departments
in the Science Faculty to improve their space and for multidisciplinary
activity in Informatics to become a more powerful strength.
- .5
- The Treasurer reminded members of Council's corporate responsibility not to
place the University at unwarrantable financial risk and for this purpose
provided Council with the relevant financial information on which to make a
judgement. Council would be responsible for meeting the cost of the project
once the contract had been signed. The project would result in a 47% increase
in the value of the University's land and buildings. On the strength of the
balance sheet the project could be maintained. Liquid reserves would be
severely depleted, however, and a policy of replenishment would be needed to
support any future capital projects. The restoration of reserves would require
a top slicing of income which would inevitably affect annual budgets to
Departments. The Engineering Project would benefit other parts of the
University and as such some of the cost should be shared.
- .6
- A member, whilst supporting the project in concept, expressed concern at
the burden across the University that would result from the worst case scenario
and from the replenishment of reserves, in addition to the continuing cuts in
HEFCE funding. Many Departments in the Faculty of Social Sciences and
Humanities could be profoundly affected whilst receiving no direct benefits
from the project. Another member highlighted the implications of such a large
financial commitment on the ability to accommodate the salary increase
currently under negotiation and the possible effect on staff numbers and
workload. Whilst the project had been the subject of much discussion within
the Engineering Faculty, it was felt to be important that the wider University
community should have the opportunity to provide an input to discussion and
that its support should be sought.
- .7
- It was noted that the project would not increase the teaching space held by
the Engineering Faculty and it was questioned how any increase in students
could be accommodated. The need was suggested for more lecture space on the
West site to reduce the travelling required by staff and students to other
sites. Council was informed that lecture theatre space on the site was
considered to be sufficient, but new laboratory, computing and seminar
facilities were proposed. A move away from lecture delivery to more flexible
learning methods could be expected. The scheme design for the new Engineering
buildings coped with current student projections but also included the
potential for expansion. It also had to be noted that one facility that should
arise from the project was a Teaching and Learning Support Centre, which would
be to the benefit of the whole University.
- .8
- The opportunity of Central site developments to establish a Biological
Sciences focus within existing activities was highlighted. A member identified
the segregation of Engineering staff and students on one site as an undesirable
outcome of the proposals, and emphasised the need to ensure interdisciplinary
mixing through other activities. The Students' Union and Halls of Residence
should ensure such interaction.
- .9
- Individual members expressed their support for the proposals in terms of
the need for the University to continue to strive to be at the forefront of
Engineering. The University could not afford to stand still or it would be
overtaken. All sources of external funding had not yet been exhausted and
other monies would be likely to follow once the project had commenced. The
need was identified, however, for the more detailed proposals that would
ultimately be received by Council to concentrate more on the advantages of the
proposal to the rest of the University. This would require a clearer estimate
of the sum required for the refurbishment of the Central site and associated
developments.
- .10
- Council RESOLVED, with one abstention on the basis of the implications of
the proposed financial commitment on staff workload,:
- (i)
- to accept the proposals in principle, noting the estimated maximum
expenditure of £14.5M for the Engineering Project
- (ii)
- to request that work proceed towards a firm quote for the Engineering
Project for presentation to Council at its meeting on 15 July 1998, when the
extent of external funding secured would be known and a final decision would be
made
- (iii)
- to request the Treasurer's Committee to present to Council at its meeting
on 15 July 1998 a plan to re-build the University's reserves consequent upon
the provision of funding for the Engineering Project and associated developments
- (iv)
- to ensure the wider dissemination of the proposals within the University
community.
- Wednesday 25 March 1998 - at 10.45 am
- Wednesday 15 July 1998 - at 10.45 am
Author - Dr J E M Elliott
Date - February 1998
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