College chief’s 17% pay rise axed
Deputy First Minister John Swinney has stepped in to stop a 17 per cent pay increase for a college official.
MSPs cr it icised the Scottish Funding Council last week for fai l ing to prevent the rise agreed by Glasgow Colleges’ Regional Board.
The move would have seen the salary of the board’s executive director Robin Ashton increase f rom £ 81,000 to £95,000.
Holyrood’s public audit committee heard that SFC interim chief executive Dr John Kemp had decided not to use his power to step in over the decision, despite thinking it was “very hard to justify”.
But in a letter to the committee, John Swinney has confirmed the rise will not go ahead, describing it as “u n a c c e p t a b l e ”, particularly in the current climate of chal lenging public sector finances.
The Deputy First Minister and Education Secretary wrote: “I expect all publicly funded institutions to ensure they operate with maximum efficiency and effectiveness.
“I am pleased to be able to inform you that my officials have subsequently been in close discussion with the interim chair of GCRB and the SFC.
“We have today been advised by the interim chair that he has reconsidered the decision made by the board.
“He has confirmed that there will be no change to the existing terms and conditions of the current post holder.”