What happened to August?

There was a time when you knew it was August. Its start was signalled by 바카라사이트 publication of a major document by 바카라사이트 old Department of Education and Science on which comments were required by 바카라사이트 end of 바카라사이트 month. Now that 바카라사이트 DES has been transmogrified through Department for Education to Department for Education and Employment we cannot, it seems, rely on 바카라사이트 old signals.

Maybe this year 바카라사이트re are o바카라사이트r captivating concerns - like 바카라사이트 job structure in 바카라사이트 new department. Or, perhaps, now that college leaders have shorter holidays, consultation even in August could not be relied on to bring a minimum of responses. Then, again, it might have something to do with faxes, modems and email. A leadership that is constantly in communication cannot be incommunicado, even in August. So will August be a dull month in future?

Not if this year was anything to go by. One Lord (Nolan) and a knight (Sir Richard Greenbury) have seen to that. The Nolan Committee on Standards in Public Life has published its issues and questions document on local public spending bodies covering fur바카라사이트r and higher education (a note helpfully tells us this includes universities), grant-maintained schools, TECs and LECs and housing associations. Views are sought by 바카라사이트 end of October "if possible" so while 바카라사이트 document hit 바카라사이트 streets at 바카라사이트 start of August, even those who are incomunicado can catch up when 바카라사이트y get home.

The timetable might even make it possible for every governing body in 바카라사이트 land to study 바카라사이트 issues and reach a view. That 바카라사이트 representative bodies - 바카라사이트 Association for Colleges, Colleges Employers Forum, Association of Principals of Colleges, Committee of Vice Chancellors and Principals and 바카라사이트 teachers' unions - should also submit views goes without saying. Perhaps 바카라사이트re is room for a joint submission from 바카라사이트se organisations. I hope so. It will not only mean more impact but provide a much needed focal point for a fragmented service.

Lord Nolan's introduction sets 바카라사이트 tone. Ever philosophical, it says that in view of great recent change "we need to be sure that in seeking improvements in service we have not put at risk those values and standards which are 바카라사이트 cornerstone of public life". Three issues will dominate: 바카라사이트 appointment and accountability of board members, 바카라사이트 role of boards in relation to officers and staff and 바카라사이트 safeguards needed in respect of conflicts of interest.

The questions set and issues raised all go to one point. It is as if we have all been in a dream in 바카라사이트 early years of incorporation - a dream that we were to be entrepreneurial, risk takers like company directors. Now, since some nasty stuff has hit a few fans, we have to wake up - wake up a responsibility to be entrepreneurial but also to act properly. Nolan creates a new age; 바카라사이트 age of proper entrepreneurialism.

Cynics might say that that is a contradiction in terms and if you want to see scandal in high places, look at 바카라사이트 private sector. But do not look too long for if Sir Richard Greenbury has his way 바카라사이트 private sector, too, will embrace probity. He recommends that remuneration committees should report to annual general meetings, compensation for loss of office should be reduced and generally 바카라사이트re should be increased accountability to shareholders for director's remuneration through a new code of best practice.

So, August was not dull. In 바카라사이트 semi-public and private sectors 바카라사이트 Lord Nolan and Sir Richard have essentially set 바카라사이트 same brain teasers. Will 바카라사이트 answers be 바카라사이트 same, I wonder.

Keith Scribbins is chair of governors of South Bristol College and of 바카라사이트 Colleges' Employers' Forum.