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Block grant shortfall jeopardises funding
University Philip Thomas News editor Union officers stressed that without an increase in the block grant funding it receives from the University of East Anglia, its budget will be detrimentally affected, during a presentation on their new strategic plan at union council on Thursday 18 April. The block grant is donated from the university to spend on the union’s charitable aims and services. The union of UEA Students (UUEAS) highlights that their block grant is £649,000 less than the average donation awarded to other Guardian top 20 institutions. With the addition of other income sources, the average funding for charitable objectives is £1,727,000; UUEAS funds are £387,000 short of this figure. The budget document explained that UUEAS previously generated enough income from its own business
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enterprises to match the average funding for charitable objectives. However, licensed trade sales in union establishments have declined 5% each year for the last three years – from £605,000 in 2010, to £508,000 last year. The union forecasts a deficit of £46,500 for the next financial year, including £44,000 of one-off costs. This equates to an operating deficit of £2,500, assuming that commercial services retain current levels of profitability, and that £75,000 is earned from increased trade in the new Megashop. The budget was passed by union council, but is awaiting approval from the trustees and the university registrar and secretary. The document highlighted areas of union expenditure that are no longer feasible. It emphasised that expenditure is “desperately needed” in some areas, explaining that the delayed renovation of commercial services would inevitably decrease profitability and limit
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investment in the student experience. Despite “drastic steps to cut costs,” the union reaffirmed that an increase in the block grant it receives is essential, otherwise its strategic plan is unsustainable and it may have to consider increasing prices at the Hive and union bars. Additional measures proposed include the introduction of a societies membership charge, a significant increase in the price of Sports Association membership, and a possible reduction in funding allocated to sport. During the council session, Finance officer Joe Levell indicated the union was lobbying the university for an additional £166,000 block grant investment. He reiterated the importance of the grant, saying it “is crucial to the future of the services provided by the union. With no significant increase in it, we have no choice but to review the way we fund all areas of the student experience.” Levell remarked: “New income
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streams will hopefully go some way to alleviating this problem but continued underfunding of the union will lead to difficult decisions having to be made.” The union is considering delaying or cancelling some capital intensive projects, including the refurbishment of venues and the replacement of boats for UEA Boat Club. It is seeking to increase earnings from venue hire, website advertising, increased Home Run landlord fees, organised trips, and increased gig bar prices. Responding to the union’s concerns, UEA released a statement to Concrete, revealing: “The university is making £1m of capital investment in the refurbishment of the Street in summer 2013. The budget for 2013-14 is under consideration and goes to council in May. Whatever the outcome, the university will work with the Students’ union to ensure that we continue to deliver, jointly, the strongest possible student experience.”
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