An Open Letter to Nigel McCulloch
(former Bishop of Manchester), Chair of Board of Governors, University of
Bolton.
Dear Mr McCulloch,
As Chairperson of The University of Bolton, Board of
Governors. I am asking you to respond to the following issues :
a. I have formally
requested minutes from UoB Governors Meetings held by the Vice Chancellor's
designated person. These minutes, I am informed, are different from those
minutes which are made available for public scrutiny, of which I have copies. I
have noted a failure to respond to my request. I ask you, as Chairperson
of UoB Governors, for a copy of the minutes, held on this 'private' file.
b. I have made a formal
complaint to the Head of Human Resources at UoB, relating to the misuse of honorary
qualifications by the The UoB Registrar. I have noted a failure to respond. I
will now make representation to the Legal Commissioner on the same complaint. I
ask you as chairperson to respond to my complaint.
c. I have written directly to those 'named' UoB
Governors who were unwilling or unable to respond to legitimate questions, in
relation to allegations of corruption and malpractice in the governance and
management of the University of Bolton. The specific failure to respond by some
'named' governors to the material sent by Special Delivery has been noted.
There are 'named' governors who have accepted material benefits from the UoB,
contrary to Principle 2 of the Nolan Standards in Public Life:
2. Integrity
Holders of public office must avoid placing themselves
under any obligation to people or organisations that might try inappropriately
to influence them in their work. They should not act or take decisions in order
to gain financial or other material benefits for themselves, their family, or
their friends. They must declare and resolve any interests and relationships.
I am making formal representation to the Chairperson
of the Committee for Standards in Public Life, naming those Governors who, it
has been alleged, have contravened their public responsibilities and
obligations.
d. I and many other
concerned individuals have made 'Freedom of Information' requests, relating to
the management and governance of the University of Bolton on several occasions.
There appears to have been a concerted and collective effort to ignore the law
in relation to the communication of information by the University of Bolton. ,
and other concerned individuals have made formal complaints to the Information
Commissioner.
e. As Chairperson
of Governors of the University of Bolton, you have presided over a Governing
Body which has treated those inside and outside the UoB with contempt and
disregard. You remain unwilling to offer any response to the intimidation and
threatening culture created by management at the UoB. Even in your private
correspondence you demonstrate a contempt for that openness and integrity which
should be evident in a person who once held the office of Bishop.
Critical questioning of the Governing Body and the
management of the University will not end until meaningful responses are
offered. The University of Bolton is too important fo, the current indifference
to be accepted.
Yours Sincerely,
Joe Whittaker,
Senior lecturer University of Bolton (1987-2010)
Below are Freedom
of Information Requests Submitted to University of Bolton. The response to each
question has been a blanket refusal.
Applicants are now in correspondence
with the Information Commisioner
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Request
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Reason
for interest
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Please
would you state the financial arrangements, including contracts signed,
between the UoB and Ginetta cars surrounding the Le Mans Prototype 3 car.
Please would you state the financial arrangements, including contracts
signed, between the UoB and Tony Keating (Keating Supercars) and including
the cost to the UoB of the stand at the NEC Autosport event in 2015, to be
hosted by Tony Keating.
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Transparency
of Costs
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what
are the post school age qualifications of the Vice Chancellor from records
held by the human resources department, from either the postholders job
application form or from subsequent records kept.
Where possible please state the name of the awarding institution, the period
of study, the name and level of the award gained, any grades given, and the
date awarded.
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Transparency
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Please
can the Chair of Board of Governors, Nigel McCulloch confirm that he
"signed off" on all financial arrangements between the University
of Bolton and Vice Chancellor George Holmes , during his period of office ?
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Clarification
of Role of Chair of Board of Governors
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Please can you provide an itemised breakdown of the cost of any building work
commissioned by the University within Bolton One since Jan 2012.
a. Name of Supplier carrying out the building work.
b. The amount paid to each supplier.
In addition, please provide details of the acquisition and tender process
carried out for all building work commissioned by the University within
Bolton One since 2012.
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Transparency
of costs
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Please
would you state all payments (fees and/or expenses)
a. made to the company Ginetta Cars Ltd by the University of Bolton
b. made to the University of Bolton by Ginetta Cars Ltd.
including any costs incurred by the University of Bolton as a result of the
unveiling of the Ginetta-Juno LMP3 at Autosport 2015 at Birmingham's NEC
(stand 7120, 11am on January 8 2015, as detailed in Bolton News 30th Dec
2014.
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Transparency
of Costs
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Please
could you provide answers to the following questions under
the Freedom of Information Act:
1 Where did Ms Sue Duncan study and gain her LLD (or is this an honorary
title?)?
2 What Honorary award has she been granted by the University of Bolton and
when?
3 What was the award given for?
4 What is Ms Duncan’s Legal practice certificate number?
5 What is her Law Society Registration Number?
6 When did she register as a practising solicitor
7 Has she carried out any other work for individuals set out in rule 4 of the
SRA practice framework rules 2011.
8 Are these individuals employed as staff at the University; or individuals
with no relationship to the University ?
9 Does Ms Duncan have individual Professional Indemnity Insurance cover and
if so for how much cover?
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Transparency
- qualifications of senior staff
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Please
provide details of all legal costs (by year) incurred by the University
during the last 3 years.
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Transparency
of costs
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The
totals paid by the University of Bolton for all consultant fees, each year
over the last 5 years.
To include payments to self-employed individual consultants, as well as
consultants employed through a company.
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Transparency
of costs
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Please
provide details of any non annual salary payments (including bonuses and
gratia payments) made to staff in the Finance department. This should include
any payments over and above their graded annual salary scale pay.
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Transparency of costs
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