Issue No 6

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

Request	Reason for interest
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.	Transparency of Costs
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.	Transparency
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 ?	Clarification of Role of Chair of Board of Governors
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.	Transparency of costs
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.	Transparency of Costs
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?	Transparency - qualifications of senior staff
Please provide details of all legal costs (by year) incurred by the University during the last 3 years.	Transparency of costs
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.	Transparency of costs
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.	Transparency of costs