By Alan Wilson

DUNDEE UNIVERSITY faces a £10 million black hole in its budget for the next three years, according to principal Sir Alan Langlands.

In a reply to Councillor Ian Borthwick, who wrote to express his concern over the future of the botanic garden, a spokeswoman for the principal said rising pay awards, pensions and utility bills are expected to amount to £10 million more than budgeted for the period 2006-9, and cuts would have to be made.

Student groups, however, dispute that figure and say that rather than a claimed £1.6 million deficit last year, the university actually made a profit through the sale of assets, backing up their claims by saying they have seen the most recent accounts.

Dundee University and College Union (DUCU) suggested the university’s extensive campus redevelopment programme was to blame for any financial deficit, while one student member added that the principal had previously told students the recent pay award had been budgeted for.

The students now plan to meet the principal and hold a rally next week, in addition to organising a petition and picketing the 40th anniversary celebrations for the university at the Caird Hall.

Following the formation of a new campaign group to fight the possible threat to the botanic garden, councillors of all parties have expressed their support for the group and urged the university to reconsider any thoughts of ending their £250,000 per annum lease on the world-renowned attraction.

Last week the university announced it would be cutting jobs and courses in a bid to achieve savings of £4.3 million.

Management are said to be putting together proposals to slash 100 jobs, which the university has denied, and make cuts in town and regional planning and languages departments.

The botanic garden is one area the university is said to be looking at for savings, although management deny there are any proposals to close it.

In the reply to Mr Borthwick, the spokeswoman said, “It is not correct to say the botanic garden ‘is proposed for closure’.

“However, it is true that the university’s recent sustainability review has identified the botanic garden as one of a number of areas in which we should consider making targeted savings.

“The review report will be considered by the University Court later this month.

“Like you, the university has a great affection for the garden and we appreciate the place it has been accorded within the life of the city.

“The hard facts are that, in common with other universities in Scotland, the University of Dundee is facing tough financial times. We simply have to reduce costs and generate more income from our own educational and research activities.

“In facing these issues, I am sure you will understand that our prime focus, however hard, must be on safeguarding the university’s core activities— research and teaching.

“We do hope, however, that with friends like you ready to express their support, the botanic garden may be able to find a new foundation for the future.”

Mr Borthwick said he fully appreciated the financial pressures on the university but stressed he was strongly of the view that the loss of this asset would be sorely missed by the people of the city.

In his letter to the principal he says, “What does concern me if closure does take place, what is the long term future of the grounds? Will it be sold off?

“I think that if this happened it would be a tragedy. If it is in effect to be mothballed then the careful nurturing of plants etc. over the years could be lost.”

Meanwhile, Dundee East MP Stewart Hosie yesterday publicly gave his support to DUCU’s campaign against the proposed cuts.

In a letter to honorary secretary Mona Clark he wrote, “I fully endorse DUCU’s campaign in the hope that we can stop further job losses for the city.”

Student and campaign secretary Philipp Sareika has organised meetings over the next week with the principal and other senior management figures at the university.

He said, “We are meeting the principal on Monday and there will be meetings and a rally next Wednesday.

“Above that, all the cuts that have been proposed were backed up by a ‘deficit’ that the university had to take care of this year.

“At the DUCU meeting the spokespersons informed us that there is no deficit in sight. So why close the botanic garden and cut jobs if the money is there to maintain them all?

“These are some of the questions we will ask the officials,” he said.

“There will be a rally on Wednesday in front of the Tower Building at 3.30pm, and we have also asked students to attend the 40th anniversary celebration on Friday in the Caird Hall, to make our case known to the people at the entrance.”