Makerspace Van Club Propsal - Estimated Finances, Vote, some more details

Discussion
1

The following is an outline proposal and again just gauging interest. If there is enough, we can look at actual quotes, legalities etc, and if that goes well, take it to the wider membership.

Makerspace Van Club - MVC - will act like a subsidiary of Makerspace Ltd and members of MVC will pay a membership that is on top of their makerspace fee.

Some of the following figures are approximate and will change but are based on real world case studies

For argument’s sake (you’re entitled to an opinion about this, but I’m not interested in it at this point unless you can show me figures you’ve obtained from an actual business) let’s say those in the MVC buy a 2nd hand van for around £3000 on finance over 3 years.

MVC pay around £1000 per year for all* drivers insurance. MVC members agree to cover the excess charge if they have an accident (same as any hire car company)
*‘All’ meaning all over 25 years old with a clean licence

MVC pays around £300 a year for MOT and maintenance.

MVC pays £230 a year Vehicle Tax

MVC pays £240 a year for Navman GPS tracking

MVC members agree to pay congestion charges they incur. The congestion charge is paid automatically by MVC to prevent late fees but is then charged back to the user (as evidenced by the GPS + RFID/booking log)

MVC members agree to pay for fuel they use.

MVC spends approx 2770 a year for running a van.

There are 30 MVC members paying £10 a month / £120 a year generating £3600 a year. They accept the fee may go up if the MVC membership goes down, or the costs go up.

They can use the van for free.

They could use the van 365/30 = 12 days a year each if split equally - this would cost £1000-1300 for hiring a zip van for the same amount of time.

They would access to the Van 1.75 Saturdays each over the year if there are 30 MVC members.

Please indicate if this sounds good to you. Obviously, I’m looking for over 30 members.

@marketing - have you plans to send out a members email newsletter? Could I get a link - I’m concerned discourse doesn’t reach many people (an idea for all votes perhaps)

  • YES! I love the sound of this. I would in principle accept these T&C’s and when the details are finalised, I would put my money where my mouth is when the time comes.
  • MAYBE… Sounds good but I want to hear more / I’m going to come up with a different proposal backed up by actual researched figures and not just opinions.

0 voters

Show results
2

Amazing research job! Well done!

2 Likes
3

Sorry but how can you have a vote about something where there is not a no answer?

Just so you know officially Makerspace doesn’t have any parking rights on the estate.

1 Like
4

I guess a lack of vote is the same as a No vote.

Still, this seems like really bad value compared to Zipcar, unless you need to use a van a lot. Seeing as I have a Zipcar membership already, I won’t be voting yes or maybe.

1 Like
5

Because this is still just the proposal stage. If I don’t get enough interest then the No vote is totally moot. Do we have interest - yes or not enough enough. If yes, then we take it to the next stage, getting actual figures, quotes, finer legal details. If that all goes well, then we ask the wider members if they would object to a Makerspace Van parked outside, but that conversation isn’t worth having if it’s not even going to get off the ground.

1 Like
6

Your midunderstanding.

Makerspace as an organisation is specifically told we have no parking and only loading and unloading.

7

Why is this post not part of the original post - ‘Makerspace Van, show of interest’?

This is truly unfair and is not community minded. The entire thread needs to be seen by Every Member (approx. 150) to see how Maker Space spend Our Finances.

2 Likes
8

“Makerspace Van Club - MVC - will act like a subsidiary of Makerspace Ltd and members of MVC will pay a membership that is on top of their makerspace fee”.

A subsidiary is a company attached to an existing company, both have their specifics but a subsidiary is legally attached to it’s parent company and all issues lead back to the parent company.

In fairness, the Cost for a van obviously comes from the Parent Company, Maker Space’s Budget!

Unless, of course, a totally separate company is set up.

Where in the paperwork of MakerSpace are the constraints of spending? All companies have a ‘Boundary Expense’ and if this is surpassed, then a vote by those in power have to pass it.

As Maker Space is a community company, things are different! Where is the Quorum? Haven’t read the Company Paperwork yet.

Apart from the Purchase and Construction costs of MakerSpace, this is by far the most expensive proposal to date and by far the most unfair.

9

Meaning, in some form or other a related enterprise - could be related in a very loose way. I wouldn’t worry about it too much Jackie, seems what I thought was a fairly innocuous idea has everyone up in arms and will be shot down before it gets off the ground.

10

jackiekeane: ‘will act like’

mmm, not so sure where you’ve taken this snip from something anybody could have said! It’s best to show the whole quote. Pip, it may seem like an innocuous idea yet it has a Huge impact on everyone who is part of Maker Space. I don’t think it has everyone up in arms. I think it’s a good idea but it is unrealistic. I’d love a van to go on a ‘booze cruise’ but I don’t have one.

11

I quoted you quoting me -

You used it as the basis about concerns of how the finances would work RE being a subsidiary in the proper sense, good questions that may need looked at if the revolutionary idea of having a van goes anywhere, but like I say, I might have been better saying that the whole van idea was always intended to be separate from the membership fees and possibly even Makerpsace Ltd, as you suggest maybe a separate company.

I was of the opposite opinion, that other than loosing one parking space that we don’t officially have anyway, there’s is no other impact on the Space itself. Apologies if you thought the van idea was in any way dependent upon or financially tied to Makerspace - it isn’t.

12

I never mentioned parking but

2 Likes
13

It’s a hotel, in the Bahamas, fabulous behaviour to make the best of things, hey!

14

Jaysus, where are the brakes!

15

Why are some people getting their knickers in a twist? @pip is just floating an idea amongst the group.

2 Likes
16

For £5 more a month (£15/mo) you get the zipcar premium subscription that includes £15 worth of free usage credit, free fuel and no maintenance or insurance costs to worry about.

Doesn’t seem worth it to be honest

2 Likes
17

I want to go to there.

18

No it isn’t the lack of a vote gets grouped in with everyone who didn’t reply for any reason, if you consciously object to this then there is no option for those people.

19

Hi Pip and all

Thanks for the creative suggestion. For my tuppence though it seems a bit out of the core of what the Makerspace is for – though I accept absolutely there are wide views on that.

In my opinion, the best things we should put our efforts on are machines/processes/knowledge/encouragement/empowerment for making things as opposed to supplying easily available services such as transport.

As illustration I thought it was simply joyful to see Chenelle’s workshop getting ten people to do some right-here, right-now screen printing on Sunday. This is something that’s hard to find. Finding a way to make vans a bit cheaper doesn’t seem to be in the same vein.

Of course if people are super keen I wouldn’t be against, but wouldn’t want it taking energies away from making things and enabling making things.

Just an opinion.

All best,
Jonathan.

3 Likes
20

I agree, it’s not really in line with what we should be doing.

But having said that, if a group of people within SLMS want to get together and do this separate from Makerspace, then who am I to object?

1 Like