Annual Report for 2000 - City of Edinburgh Council Business

The council of the society have been extremely concerned by the escalating costs associated with our tenancy of the City Observatory. As a charity, we receive 80% relief on our rates bill, but that still leaves us to pay £1105, p.a. In addition, the water bill, which does not afford us any relief, is £2,000 p.a. and is the most cause for concern. In addition, the alarm system has been unreliable, resulting in many call outs for the key holders at all hours of the day and night.

The Observatory management committee (President, Secretary and Treasurer) had a meeting with Dorothy Marsh of the Recreation Department of the City Council on 27th July 2000, to discuss our problems. Although the City officials were sympathetic, there was little action and the bills kept coming.

By the beginning of November, the council of the society came to the unanimous view that to remain at the Calton Hill was in conflict with the aims of the society. Our aims are to promote public interest and education in astronomy. Too much time, effort and money was going into the running of an historic building.

At the November meeting, we informed members of the society that unless a satisfactory solution to our problems could be found, we would have to find an alternative venue for our monthly meetings. The financial burden of the City observatory was too great a drain on society funds.

When this information became public, we had tremendous support and offers of help from many individuals and organisations including Professor John Brown, Astronomer Royal for Scotland, Prof Andy Lawrence, Councillors Sue Tritton and Dougie Kerr.

Dougie Kerr raised a motion at the full council meeting of the City of Edinburgh, in support of the ASE. At this meeting, the Lord Provost announced that the ASE had the unanimous support of all the councillors.

Contact was also made with East of Scotland Water who assured us that our problems would be dealt with as a matter of urgency. A water meter will be installed as soon as possible and he would personally revise all the paperwork relating to the society.

The Recreation Department of the City Council are working on ways to alleviate our financial burden by looking at whether they could take on the water charges and deal with the alarm call outs. The question of our rates may be appealed and is being looked at. In return, our lease will have to be renegotiated. The council of the society feel more optimistic about the future of the Astronomical Society at the Calton Hill.

The support we received from so many people was very encouraging and greatly appreciated.