University is told to pay back £119,000 grant cash

THE University of Aberdeen has been told to repay £119,000 of grant money from the Scottish Funding Council (SFC) over a pay-off to its former principal.

Professor Sir Ian Diamond announced his plans to retire in 2017.

His 12-month notice period only began when he had actually left his post.

Sir Ian became chief executive of the UK Statistics Authority after he retired from the university.

The SFC said: “The former principal’s total remuneration disclosed in the financial statements for 2017-18 was £601,000. In addition, a payment of £60,000 was made in relation to the former principal, for ‘outplacement support’.”

The review concluded the university approved a settlement agreement with the former principal “without a documented assessment of value for money and it could have identified better-value options”.

University of Aberdeen senior governor Esther Roberton said: “The university has co-operated fully with this review, welcomes publication of the report, accepts its main findings and has already repaid the £119,000 to the Scottish Funding Council.

“Court – the university’s governing body – will reflect closely on the SFC’S suggestion that the university may wish to consider repaying additional monies or donating to a university learning-related activity, once it has had the opportunity to fully consider the report’s findings and their implications.”