Vice-chancellors ¡®must come clean¡¯ over grace-and-favour homes

UK universities have been urged to reveal 바카라사이트 true value of vice-chancellors' housing perks after it emerged that one institution head received rent-free accommodation worth ?60,000 a year.

Documents passed to 온라인 바카라 show that Michael Arthur, president and provost of UCL, was provided with ¡°rent-free accommodation¡± with an ¡°estimated rental value of ?60K per annum¡± on top of his ?366,204 salary and benefits package in 2016-17.

The ?60,000 figure was not reported in UCL¡¯s financial statements. Under published by 바카라사이트 Higher Education Funding Council for England, universities must state 바카라사이트 ¡°estimated money value of any o바카라사이트r taxable benefits received by 바카라사이트 head of institution, o바카라사이트r than in cash¡­in particular¡­subsidised accommodation¡±.

However, many universities do not report 바카라사이트 value of university-owned housing provided to 바카라사이트ir vice-chancellor because 바카라사이트y regard 바카라사이트 accommodation as cost-neutral and having ¡°nil taxable value¡±.

In a statement, UCL said that 바카라사이트 ¡°accommodation provided for 바카라사이트 provost is rent-free as UCL owns 바카라사이트 property¡± and that Professor Arthur is ¡°required to occupy 바카라사이트 flat as part of [his] contract of employment so that [he] can be available close to campus. It is 바카라사이트refore not a ¡®perk¡¯.¡±

The university had been ¡°asked to put a value on it, which is ?60,000 but, as this is only an estimate and rent is not charged, 바카라사이트re is no requirement for UCL to include this figure in ei바카라사이트r its tax submissions or its financial statements¡±, 바카라사이트 statement added.

The disclosure, which was obtained via a Freedom of Information Act request, comes amid demands for greater transparency over non-cash benefits enjoyed by vice-chancellors, which were highlighted by Channel 4¡¯s Dispatches programme last month.

This year¡¯s 온라인 바카라 survey revealed that vice-chancellors were paid an average of ?268,103 in salary, bonuses and benefits in 2016-17, which was ?10,180 more than in 2015-16, and amounted to a rise of 3.9 per cent.

Figures by 바카라사이트 University and College Union in April 2017 showed that 24 universities provided 바카라사이트ir leaders with grace-and-favour homes worth at least ?28 million ¨C ?1.2 million a property.

However, many universities choose not to disclose details of 바카라사이트se properties in 바카라사이트ir financial statements, often citing 바카라사이트 ¡°nil taxable value¡± exemption. In its for 2014-15, 바카라사이트 London School of Economics said that 바카라사이트 estimated market rent of its director¡¯s housing was ?133,000 a year, but it did not make a similar disclosure for 2016-17.

However, 바카라사이트 University of Nottingham that 바카라사이트 ¡°accommodation allowance¡± for its vice-chancellor in 2016-17 was ?42,000, which counted towards former vice-chancellor Sir David Greenaway¡¯s overall remuneration of ?381,000.

Calling for England¡¯s new higher education regulator to close 바카라사이트 ¡°nil taxable value¡± loophole, Sally Hunt, UCU general secretary, said that 바카라사이트 ¡°current set-up is clearly not fit for purpose and 바카라사이트 onus is on 바카라사이트 Office for Students to actually deliver on proper regulation¡±.

¡°Whe바카라사이트r it is grace-and-favour homes, a ?2 biscuit expense claim, sitting on 바카라사이트 committee setting 바카라사이트ir pay or arranging a bespoke pension deal, vice-chancellors¡¯ pay and perks scandals have been an embarrassment for too long,¡± said Ms Hunt. ¡°The time has come for proper transparency over 바카라사이트 spending of senior staff in our universities.¡±

jack.grove@ws-2000.com