Financial year 2004/05 saw a continuation in the reduction
of the UK’s contribution to ING operations as planned for under PPARC’s
restructuring plan for ground based facilities. This was a result of the UK’s
membership of the European Southern Observatory (ESO) and the consequent need
to make savings in other parts of the UK’s ground based programme. Nevertheless,
the overall financial position for the observatory was healthy and enabled not
only a full operational programme to be carried out but also an interesting
programme of enhancement and development projects. However, it should be noted
that, as part of the restructuring plan, the 1.0m Jacobus Kapten Telescope (JKT)
had been withdrawn from service in semester 2003B. The approved funding for
ING’s Joint Programme during financial year 2004/05 provided a requisitions
budget of €3317k, including receipts for repayment services provided to
other observatories at the Roque de Los Muchachos Observatory (ORM). As a result
of careful financial management, the observatory managed to hold back approximately
€600k. This money was "banked" with PPARC to be called forward
in the future to help offset the significant budgetary reductions planned from
2005 onwards. The resulting allocations and associated expenditure are set out
below under the main budget headings (staff costs associated with the international
posts at ING are excluded).
| Financial year 2004/2005 |
| |
| Budget centre |
Allocation €k |
Expenditure €k |
| Operations |
| Administration and management |
112.1 |
90.5 |
| Astronomy support |
71.1 |
67.0 |
| Conferences |
5.0 |
0.8 |
| Engineering support |
388.0 |
340.2 |
| Local staff |
1154.0 |
1157.0 |
| ORM operations |
613.5 |
659.7 |
| Sea-level infrastructure and services |
225.0 |
192.2 |
| Students |
21.0 |
16.2 |
| SUBTOTAL |
2589.8 |
2524.5 |
| Enhancements and developments |
358.0 |
157.9 |
| TOTAL |
2947.5 |
2682.4 |
Financial year 2005/06 saw the final phase of the planned reduction of the UK’s
contribution to ING's budget. As a result, the funds approved by the international
partners through the ING Board totalled €2149.5k. The observatory therefore
requested the first portion, €365k, of the "banked" funds be
carried forward. This addition, plus funds received from the EU and repayment
services mean that the total cash budget available increased to €2769.5k.
In addition, during the year, it became clear that there would be sizable underspend
against UK staff costs and €350k were therefore transferred from this budget
to requisitions.This was distributed between the various activities as set out
below. Due to delays in the delivery of goods and equipment, the year closed
with approximately €140k unspent, although this sum had been fully committed.
Details of the expenditure between the various activities is also set out in
the table below.
| Financial year 2005/2006 |
| |
| Budget centre |
Allocation €k |
Expenditure €k |
|
| Operations |
| Administration and management |
88.8 |
82.7 |
| Astronomy support |
40.0 |
41.0 |
| Conferences |
15.0 |
17.0 |
| Engineering support |
359.0 |
331.0 |
| Local staff |
1333.8 |
1344.0 |
| ORM operations |
647.3 |
743.4 |
| Sea-level infrastructure and services |
190.8 |
226.3 |
| Students |
21.7 |
19.9 |
| SUBTOTAL |
2696.5 |
2805.3 |
| |
| Enhancements and developments |
404.8 |
158.4 |
| TOTAL |
3101.3 |
2963.7 |
