MSPs appalled at huge payoffs to college chiefs
A LEADING committee of Holyrood MSPs has condemned the massive ‘ golden goodbyes’ handed to former college bosses.
In a report to be published today, MSPs on the public audit committee say they are ‘appalled’ at the generous deals secured following the merger of some colleges.
Seven staff at the ex-Coatbridge College in Lanarkshire have been accused of ‘moral corruption’ after sharing a package worth around £850,000.
Two former members of staff at North Glasgow College, now part of Glasgow Kelvin College, also walked a way wit h nearl y £500,000.
The report comes after the suicide of a former faculty director at Coatbridge College, triggered – his family believe – by stress at work caused by the controversial merger with other institutions to form New College Lanarkshire.
Relatives of Francis McGeachie, 44, of Cumbernauld, Lanarkshire, are to meet Education Secretary Angela Constance to discuss their concerns,
Today’s report goes on to question the Scottish Government’s promise that a raft of mergers in the further education sector since 2011- 12, which has seen the number of colleges slump from 37 to 20, will deliver £50million in savings for taxpayers.
Public audit committee convener Paul Martin said: ‘The com- mittee was assured by the Scottish Government that the lessons identified by the Auditor General from previous public body mergers had been learned.
‘So it is disappointing that the Scottish Government and Scottish Funding Council have not yet been able to provide detailed figures to demonstrate efficiencies. The £50million figure for savings has frequently been referred to but we have yet to be convinced and we have sought clarity on the timescale f or achieving this saving.’
The committee report adds: ‘Although it is welcome that most severance was managed in line with good practice, the commit- tee is appalled that two colleges displayed significant shortcomings and auditors i dentified shortcomings in another four colleges with regards to the provision of voluntary severance arrangements to senior members of staff.’
Earlier this year, the Scottish Daily Mail revealed how former Coatbridge College principal John Doyle received a massive payoff worth £304,000, part of a £ 849,842 severance package shared among seven staff.
A Scottish Government spokesman said: ‘We will consider carefully the public audit committee’s conclusions and recommendations. We particularly welcome that the report recognises that planning for mergers was good and the sector has responded well to a period of significant change.’
‘Demonstrate efficiencies’