Revealed: The £177k legal cost of the Glasgow Clyde College suspension row

28th September 2015, 3:22pm

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Revealed: The £177k legal cost of the Glasgow Clyde College suspension row

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The suspension of a Glasgow principal has cost the college almost £177,000 since February, it has been revealed.

Figures obtained through a Freedom of Information request and seen by TES Scotland show that the investigation into the case against Glasgow Clyde College principal Susan Walsh, who was suspended in February, had directly cost the college £108,405.71.

Other legal expenses of £68,282.64 were also incurred by the institution - created through the merger of Anniesland, Langside and Cardonald colleges - leading to a total cost of the suspension and subsequent investigation of £176,688.35. The college stated that no members of staff were receiving extra pay for undertaking additional duties in the absence of the principal.

Ms Walsh was suspended in February with no official reason given. In April, it was reported that she would attend a disciplinary meeting, which TES Scotland understands is yet to take place.

In March, the Scottish Funding Council commissioned a review into governance at the college, which was carried out by law firm DLA Piper. TES Scotland understands the board has taken legal advice on whether the investigation was unlawful.

Earlier this month, it was revealed that education secretary Angela Constance had written to the Glasgow Clyde College board, warning that she was considering removing the chair and other board members over their conduct.

Her letter raised a number of concerns, many relating to the board’s suspension of the principal and the process that followed.

A spokesman for the Glasgow Clyde College board said: “Most of these legal costs were incurred as a direct result of the review by SFC’s solicitor DLA Piper into governance following the suspension decision.”

He added that the board and the college’s solicitors had advised the SFC that the review was unlawful “as the SFC were intervening in a current employment matter, which is the locus of the college...This has subsequently been confirmed by senior counsel opinion, which we have forwarded to the Scottish government.”

He continued: “The board agreed to take part in the DLA Piper review under pressure, with assurances from the SFC that the review would be fair and thorough. The DLA Piper Review confirmed that the chair’s decision to suspend the principal was taken under clear delegated authority in the college’s constitution and with senior legal advice. The DLA Piper report makes no recommendation for the chair or the board to be sanctioned.”

The spokesman explained that the board had “fully addressed all the issues put to us by the education secretary and we believe there is no case to dismiss the chair or the board”. 

“All these enquiries by the SFC and the government have been costly, time consuming and stressful for the voluntary board.”

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