Chairman's Message - TrustNews Summer 1997
THE HOME OF THE TRUST
In the Spring 1997 Newsletter and also in a letter enclosed with it, I outlined the dilemma facing us following the loss of our grant from the City Council and our rejection by the Heritage Lottery Fund.
The guiding principles were that whatever we decided to do in the future must be financially sound and as risk-free as possible; also that what we do must not in any way adversely affect the primary work of the Trust, which is to preserve the character of our City by influencing the decision makers, primarily the local authorities. Our first task was therefore to consider what options might be open to us, and the financial implications of each.
Amongst other alternatives, the short-list ranged from what became known as "the shoe-box option", which was to rent or buy just enough space from which to operate a Trust office and somewhere to put the records and archives, or to rent a cavernous space in St Thomas Church in Southgate Street, or to lease or buy one of several vacant shop premises in the city centre, or finally to see if we could take out a long lease on 30/32 Upper Brook Street, the present Heritage Centre, and operate it within our means.
We are very grateful to Antony Proudman and Andrew Smith for the great assistance given to us in coming to a decision. They dissected each option in... great detail to provide us with the financial figures for the acquisition, fitting out and operation of each. This could then be balanced against the needs of the Trust in both the short and long term.
After considerable study and discussion, the vital decision has now been made by the Council of the Trust to accept the City Council's offer of a 99-year lease on 30/32 Upper Brook Street and the adjacent land at the back. The legal agreement for this is now being drawn up.
We are very confident that this decision is in the best long term interests of the Trust, giving us an appreciating asset and flexibility in the use of the land.
However, the down-side is that, in the shorter term, this course will seriously deplete our financial reserves, the income from which is essential to carry out the Trust's objectives, over and above what we receive from subscriptions and other sources.
The difficult, but financially sound, decision has therefore been taken to divide the building vertically, as it was before it became derelict, into one third and two thirds. In this way, one third can be relatively easily converted into two small flats which can be let, and so realise an income for us and set us on the path of restoration of our capital base. The necessary planning application for this has been submitted and is now being processed.
The use of the remaining two thirds of the building and the land will be entirely within the Trust's gift. Although, due to lack of space, we must rule out running the full tourist/visitor oriented Heritage Centre in the same way as we have run it since 1983, there are many exciting alternative uses to which we can put the building. These include many of those for which it is already used. It will remain a gathering place for Trust members, book-launchings, lectures, quizzes, display of historical videos of Winchester, meetings of external organisations, visits by small parties of school children, etc. and we shall continue to call the building The Winchester Heritage Centre.
There will still be one large and one small meeting room with available wall space (especially for displaying current planning problems), an office for the Trust and space for the records, archives and the photographic library of the City streets and buildings. It will also be possible to increase significantly the educational work of the Trust, in the form of an Urban Studies Centre, focused on adults and children who live or are being educated in Winchester. This would build on the work already done by the Trust under the Chippindale Venture.
After the new arrangements have settled down, we can assess if we need to accelerate the rate of re-accumulation of our financial base by fund-raising by whatever means. If that succeeds we will be well-placed to move forward again to reconvert the whole building for our own use, or develop the land for a Trust project - or both!
Finally, I would like to repeat what I have said in a previous newsletter. A change of course or emphasis, even if forced upon us, need not be retrograde, and can be rejuvenating. However, it is unavoidable that people closely concerned with previous projects will be disappointed. Some will have no difficulty in taking on the new direction - others will find it hard to do so. The fact remains that there are many people who have given a lot of time and expertise to the Heritage Centre activity since 1983, and we are all extremely grateful to them for their past work. We must now look forward to the time when we shall again be seeking their services to support new Trust ventures.
HONORARY SECRETARY FOR THE TRUST
We need help with this important appointment. After Antony Skinner retires as Chairman at the AGM in November, Robin Merton, Chairman-elect, will need someone to assist him with the day to day business of the Trust.
This honorary part-time post is open to anyone who has flexible time to spare, is energetic and practical and sympathetic to the aims of the Trust. No typing or computer skills are required, although they could be useful.
Our present part-time secretary will continue with the administrative tasks of looking after membership and subscription matters, minutes and correspondence, submitting invoices to the Honorary Treasurer and keeping records. The Honorary Treasurer is responsible for financial matters and the Chairmen of the various specialist committees and projects are responsible for their individual interests.
Anyone interested in applying should, in the first instance, contact the present Chairman for further information (telephone 01962 854210).