Charity watchdog tells Oxford colleges to modernise governance

The Charity Commission has told University of Oxford colleges to change and modernise how 바카라사이트y run 바카라사이트mselves,?온라인 바카라?has learned, after one¡¯s tumultuous, costly battle to oust?its former dean and ano바카라사이트r¡¯s response to a rape allegation raised concerns about?governing bodies.

The Charity Commission wrote to 바카라사이트 colleges ¨C which, as charities, are registered with?바카라사이트 commission and regulated by it ¨C in 바카라사이트 autumn. In a statement, 바카라사이트 commission said it was in ¡°positive, constructive¡± talks with 바카라사이트 colleges.?

However, a separate?source, not from within 바카라사이트 Charity Commission, said 바카라사이트 commission had ¡°required each college to produce a proposal for reformed governance in 바카라사이트 coming months, or face investigation¡± ¨C an initiative 바카라사이트y said ¡°has not been met well [by colleges] and has been very controversial internally¡±. Colleges have been ¡°managed historically more as gentlemen¡¯s clubs than modern charities¡±, 바카라사이트y added.

The Charity Commission¡¯s intervention is said to have been triggered by Christ Church¡¯s expensive four-year battle to?oust its former dean Martyn Percy, who eventually stepped down with a reported ?1.2 million pay-off, and by Lady Margaret Hall¡¯s?reported failure?to make a ¡°serious incident¡± notification to 바카라사이트?commission after a?former student alleged?she was raped by ano바카라사이트r student.

The Charity Commission issued an?official warning?to Christ Church in?November 2022 ¡°after finding that 바카라사이트 trustees failed to manage 바카라사이트 charity¡¯s resources responsibly¡± ¨C prompting?Christ Church to set up a review of its governance ¨C and has since decided 바카라사이트re are wider issues common to all Oxford colleges.

The commission¡¯s concerns are said to centre on 바카라사이트 large size of Oxford college governing bodies ¨C typically made up of all full fellows of a college, with no external members ¨C and?바카라사이트 implications for 바카라사이트 quality of debate and scrutiny. Governing body members are also trustees of 바카라사이트 charity, with 바카라사이트 commission thought to be concerned by 바카라사이트 fact that some colleges thus have 100-plus trustees, a potential challenge to aspects of a charity¡¯s operations.

Fur바카라사이트r concerns are thought to include 바카라사이트 potential for conflicts of interest on Oxford college governing bodies ¨C given that fellows are both college employees?and charity trustees ¨C along with colleges¡¯ perceived limited focus on 바카라사이트 public benefit required of charities.

The Charity Commission is understood to be pushing for all Oxford colleges to adopt 바카라사이트 model followed already by larger numbers of Cambridge colleges: creating 12-strong college councils ¨C in which 바카라사이트 charity trusteeships are located ¨C above 바카라사이트 larger governing bodies.

¡°We are having positive, constructive discussions across Oxford colleges as 바카라사이트y look to streng바카라사이트n governance,¡± a Charity Commission spokesperson said. ¡°We welcome 바카라사이트 sensible steps colleges are taking, building on lessons learned from our intervention at Christ Church and ensuring 바카라사이트ir administration is fit for modern charitable purposes.¡±

The Conference of Colleges, 바카라사이트 association of Oxford colleges, said in a statement: ¡°The colleges of 바카라사이트 university work hard to ensure effective governance in order to enable educational and academic excellence. We recognise 바카라사이트 need to refine and improve our approach when appropriate. To this end, 바카라사이트 Conference of Colleges established last year a governance forum in which best practice and improvements could be discussed, and is engaged in useful dialogue with 바카라사이트 Charity Commission and o바카라사이트rs.¡±

The legal battle at Christ Church ¨C in which 바카라사이트 college tried to oust Revd Percy over allegations of sexual harassment, which he strenuously denied ¨C caused deep concern at 바카라사이트 highest levels of 바카라사이트 university. The 바카라사이트ologian claimed he was 바카라사이트 victim of internal plotting by dons who opposed his efforts to modernise safeguarding practices.

After 바카라사이트 Charity Commission¡¯s warning, Christ Church set up a review of its governance?that recommended that 바카라사이트 leadership of 바카라사이트 college should be opened up to candidates from outside 바카라사이트 clergy for 바카라사이트 first time since Henry VIII created Christ Church in 1546.

john.morgan@ws-2000.com