Governing body at Leeds Met facing no-confidence vote

Leeds Metropolitan University is facing a potential vote of no confidence in its governors after a series of damaging revelations about its management.

The University and College Union (UCU) – which represents the majority of lecturers at Leeds Met – is unhappy that the governing body remains completely intact despite overseeing the plummeting reputation of the institution following the removal of controversial former vice chancellor Simon Lee.

Leeds Met hopes to head off the planned vote of no confidence by arranging to meet with the union which may result in concessions over the future operation of the governing body.

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Although union concerns focus on the overall governance of Leeds Met, the departure of governors' chairman Ninian Watt could help defuse the situation.

UCU branch secretary Philip Webster confirmed members had already voted to liaise with regional officials with a view to organising a vote and that senior governors at Leeds Met, including Mr Watt, would be meeting with the union shortly. The union believes the governors share responsibility with Mr Lee.

He said: "It's clear to us they have failed. What we will do is meet with the governors, put everything on the table and let them explain themselves. If we are not satisfied with what they have got to say, then we will probably move to a vote of no confidence in the governors.

"We are failing in governance and it is up to them to put things right. In my personal opinion, I would like to see the chairman go. If arrangements were put in place for his departure and for a successor I think that would go a long way to appeasing people."

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The role of Mr Watt and the responsibility of governors for a series of controversial decisions made during Mr Lee's reign was underlined by the chairman's role in approving a deal for Leeds Met to acquire control of the city's professional rugby union team in 2007.

The deal has ended up costing the university 10m – 8m of which is the price Leeds Met agreed to pay to relinquish control because of escalating costs.

Last month it was revealed that Mr Watt had agreed with Mr Lee's suggestion that governors should not be told of the proposal to take a controlling interest in Guinness Premiership club Leeds Carnegie because Mr Lee said they wouldn't understand his "chess moves" or have the "slightest idea of the end game".

As a result, the deal was presented as a fait accompli to governors who did nevertheless rubber-stamp the takeover.

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The huge burden of the rugby deal is one of a series of questionable investments Leeds Met has made in outside interests at a time when student satisfaction surveys rank the university among the lowest in the country.

It was also 101st out of 114 in The Times' latest Good University Guide and last year the Quality Assurance Agency warned there was only limited confidence in academic standards at Leeds Met.

At the same time, spending on partnerships – largely sporting – has continued on a grand scale with 14m alone going on Yorkshire Cricket Club's new pavilion, which will include educational facilities.

There have also been revelations surrounding the lack of financial controls, with procurement rules broken when awarding contracts, and staff credit cards used to pay for overseas trips for Mr Lee's wife, even though she was not an employee.

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The union is also concerned about the governors' perceived endorsement of a management style which led to intervention from Health and Safety Executive over allegations of a culture of bullying. Mr Lee stepped down from running the university at the turn of last year after personally being confronted with allegations of bullying, which he denied.

A Leeds Met spokesman said: "The local branch of the UCU has voiced some concerns about past events at the university and the governors of the university want to understand these concerns and have the opportunity to enter into meaningful dialogue. A meeting is scheduled for early February, which we welcome. As a result, it is too soon to comment further."