Exclusive: Spending spree university pays thousands to governors

Leeds Metropolitan University has confirmed six of its lay governors were paid a total of 22,250 having claimed the sum at the end of July, at the close of the academic year.

Earlier in the month, the governing board was criticised in an independent review of its performance which said it had failed to control a spending spree driven by former vice chancellor Simon Lee – and suggested it should reconsider "the principles" of remunerating its members.

Leeds Met's policy of paying its governors, first brought in last year, is understood to be unique among universities in the country. Last year, six governors claimed a total of 26,760.

After the first year's payments, the Yorkshire Post revealed that board member Sir Iqbal Sacranie had claimed his full entitlement of 3,000 despite only attending one out of 10 board meetings in the academic year.

Sir Iqbal did not claim any payment this time round and attended four out of seven full board meetings during the year. He attended one out of eight meetings of the two committees of which he is a member.

Under the policy, the chairman of the board can claim 15,000, chairs of committees can claim 7,500 with the remaining lay governors entitled to claim 3,000. Staff and student governors cannot claim pay.

Ninian Watt, who stood down as chairman earlier this year, did not claim any pay. The deputy chairman, Keith Ramsay, also chairman of the employment and staffing committee, opted to claim his full entitlement of 7,500.

Alan Baker, chairman of the estates committee, took payment of 3,750 - half his full entitlement. Three other lay governors - Bill Hartley, Gabrielle Atmarow and Judy Atchison took their full 3,000 entitlement while Tony Longworth opted to receive 2,000.

All those who opted to claim payment had attended most of the meetings they were due to attend.

The remaining six other lay governors decided not to claim any payment - a possible reflection of the "very strongly differing views" governors already had on introducing the scheme, according to the independent review of the board's performance.

The review, conducted up by higher education consultant David Fletcher, said: "Although great care was taken over a considerable period of time around the manner in which it was introduced, it would be desirable for a further discussion to take place...around the principles of remuneration."

Last night, Leeds Met confirmed the policy was now being reconsidered.

In a statement, the university said: "The remuneration of governors recognises the considerable commitment and responsibility of leading a large and high profile organisation. The policy, which was agreed by the Privy Council, is due to be discussed by the Board in the light of guidance produced by the CUC (Committee of University Chairs) which post-dates the University's decision to introduce remuneration, as recommended in our Review of Effectiveness of the Board."

Leeds Met's governance has come under close scrutiny after cavalier spending and alleged mismanagement was revealed by the Yorkshire Post over the last 18 months.

One of the central issues was the university's huge spending on links with professional sport, with a total of 22m laid out on the likes of Yorkshire County Cricket Club, rugby league's Challenge Cup and, most controversially of all, the acquisition of a controlling interest in Leeds Rugby Union Club in 2007.

Leeds Met ended up agreeing to pay 8m to the rugby club when it decided it could not afford the potential financial burden and pulled out of the 10-year-deal last year.

The independent review of the governing board said it had not sufficiently challenged the spending regime of former vice chancellor Simon Lee.