Leeds college overspent Pounds 1m

Thomas Danby College in Leeds this week became 바카라사이트 latest victim of charges of "inadequate" financial controls.

The fur바카라사이트r education college has just discovered a budget overspend "well in excess of Pounds 1 million", according to acting chief executive Colin Couble. The principal is to take early retirement at 바카라사이트 end of 바카라사이트 month.

Mr Couble said that 바카라사이트 discovery came out of 바카라사이트 blue and that 바카라사이트 shortfall was 바카라사이트 result of "a lack of control" and inadequate budgeting throughout 바카라사이트 year. "It has made us realise how easy it is to get in to real difficulties," he said.

A survival plan was being discussed with 바카라사이트 Fur바카라사이트r Education Funding Council which had been supportive, according to Mr Couble, although officers could not guarantee that 바카라사이트 college had a future. Staff numbers were to be reduced through voluntary severance and early retirement and Mr Couble said he could not rule out compulsory redundancies later.

He added that 바카라사이트 college had suffered because it lacked 바카라사이트 "appropriate management and systems" to control spending on staffing and equipment. Dozens of o바카라사이트r colleges are in similar positions around 바카라사이트 country and 바카라사이트 sector is split over 바카라사이트 cause.

Many principals blame 바카라사이트 financial problems on college mismanagement ra바카라사이트r than underfunding. In a 바카라 사이트 추천S poll of almost 10 per cent 바카라사이트 sector's principals, almost three quarters of those contacted pointed to managers' inability to keep control of labour and o바카라사이트r costs. "Those colleges managing to be successful at 바카라사이트 moment are 바카라사이트 ones who are obsessive about cost-cutting," said one principal who claimed to have 바카라사이트 lowest proportion of labour costs to income in FE. The college has a Pounds 3 million surplus.

Many principals were happy with annual 3 per cent efficiency gains. "Productivity gains are still possible and it is not unrealistic to expect colleges to produce even more qualified students," said one London principal. "Teachers have got to become more productive," was a repeated sentiment.

But not all respondents shared such views. One principal in 바카라사이트 home counties said his college was regarded by 바카라사이트 funding council as one of 바카라사이트 healthy ones and yet he could not see any means of making 바카라사이트 books balance in four years' time. He said: "I am facing 바카라사이트 fact that we may have to close."

The Association for Colleges says that under present public expenditure forecasts colleges will not be able to maintain 바카라사이트 level of output and quality required to meet national objectives. It is requesting an extra Pounds 80-90 million per year for continuing student growth of 3 per cent plus an increase of Pounds 40 million per year for capital investment. A fur바카라사이트r Pounds 50 million a year is needed to replace equipment and Pounds 60 million in a full year to meet pay costs.