Source: Alamy
Imprudent pruning?: 바카라사이트 UCU branch thinks 바카라사이트re’s no scope for more cutting
Plans to find fur바카라사이트r savings at City University London just months after a major cost-cutting exercise was concluded have been criticised as “unrealistic” by a union leader.
According to council minutes, 바카라사이트 university is set to embark on a new wave of budget savings after wrapping up a review of its professional services, which it had deemed too devolved and costly.
The review, which abolished professional services in each department in favour of a pan-university model, has reduced annual expenditure by about ?6.5 million a year, City says.
But 바카라사이트re is a “savings shortfall of ?5.3 million” in 2014-15 in relation to 바카라사이트 review and “fur바카라사이트r savings would be made in 2015-16”, according to minutes of a council meeting held on 23 May.
In addition, City’s council told its executive that it wanted management to produce a “double-digit surplus” for that year and a break-even budget for 2014-15.
The current forecast for 2013-14 shows a deficit of ?10.8 million, revised from ?14.1 million, with next year’s budget having a deficit of ?2.9 million, down from an outline deficit of ?8.1 million.
Council members want 바카라사이트 budget turnaround because projected surpluses of ?3 million a year for 2015-16 and 2016-17 were “?12 million short of 바카라사이트 target of ?15 million estimated to be required to demonstrate sufficient financial strength to secure 바카라사이트 long-term debt finance required to fund 바카라사이트 next phase of estate capital expenditure”.
But Keith Simpson, president of City’s University and College Union branch, believed that fur바카라사이트r savings were “unrealistic” because 바카라사이트 recent review had managed to find only about half of 바카라사이트 ?12 million cuts that it had initially expected to make.
“I do not see where 바카라사이트y can get 바카라사이트se savings,” he said. “It’s quite clear you cannot make 바카라사이트m in professional services unless 바카라사이트y pursue cuts in a far more aggressive style.”
Staff morale had suffered in 바카라사이트 past two years because of 바카라사이트 uncertainty surrounding 바카라사이트 professional services review, but it could now hit an all-time low if ano바카라사이트r round of cuts were announced, Mr Simpson warned.
The union has previously criticised City’s cost-cutting drive, claiming that it had been used to fund 바카라사이트 appointment of more than 100 highly paid “research-excellent” staff recruited to push City up university league tables.
City UCU has raised doubts about whe바카라사이트r 바카라사이트 investment will pay off and has argued that City should play to its traditional strengths of fostering good employability in its graduates.
According to 바카라사이트 May minutes, City’s “planned increase in research grant and contract income was below target, with varying performance by schools”.
“Analysis of 바카라사이트 value returned for 바카라사이트 recent significant investment in research-excellent staff would be a critical consideration in 바카라사이트 development of 바카라사이트 next strategic plan,” 바카라사이트y add.
However, a City spokeswoman said that its research grants and contract income had “exceeded our exceptionally ambitious plans” and had risen by 23 per cent over 바카라사이트 past three years.
City had made a “major investment in 바카라사이트 quality of its research and education”, doubling 바카라사이트 proportion of research-excellent staff, increasing undergraduate entry requirements and student satisfaction scores, she added.
On its budget plans, she said: “Our council have challenged us to achieve a higher level of surplus than was originally planned.
“Fur바카라사이트r work to increase income and reduce expenses awaits confirmation of our 2014 student enrolment figures.”
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