College Principal in Garage Bill Row

In reference to the article in the Sinday Post - The secret £470k pay-off to bosses at college  - that we published in The Correlate  - we have been advised of a 'sub-article' that is in the actual newspaper but apparently not available online? ... so ...

College Principal in Garage Bill Row 
- Sunday Post - 16 November 2014

North Glasgow College spent nearly £14,000 at a car repair garage co-owned by its principal Ronnie Knox.

The now-defunct college’s latest accounts show the college spent £6,191 with Knox Brothers garage in 2011/12 then £7,797 the following year.

According to Companies House, Mr Knox, a former mechanic, is a director with the East Kilbride servicing centre.

The retired principal last night insisted he had no involvement in the decision to send vehicles from the Springburn- based college to Knox Brothers. But Eben Wilson, director of campaign group Taxpayer Scotland, said: “There may be a perfectly reasonable explanation why our money has been spent this way, but we think someone of independent status should question precisely why this service was purchased with public money from this supplier.

It does seem odd that such a large amount has been paid to such a distant servicing point.”

Mr Knox said “I had, and insisted on having, no input into this decision. I understand it was because the garage was the cheapest option. It was all in the college accounts.”

Glasgow Kelvin College said it was “committed to the highest standards of governance, transparency, social responsibility and accountability in its use of public monies”.

This had us thinking! .... and guess what we came up with ... a HeraldScotland article...

Colleges told to review contracts
ANDREW DENHOLM, Education Correspondent
Monday 27 July 2009
Exclusive: Colleges across Scotland have been asked to review all their external contracts after The Herald revealed that one institution had claimed millions of pounds in public money for courses it paid a private company to deliver at a fraction of the cost.

Colleges across Scotland have been asked to review all their external contracts after The Herald revealed that one institution had claimed millions of pounds in public money for courses it paid a private company to deliver at a fraction of the cost.

You can read the HeraldScotland article - link below - however within the article we have...

Yesterday, the Sunday Herald revealed Stow College gave £210,000 of public money to Rodgers Electrical for maintenance work. The firm is run by two nephews of Stow principal Robert McGrory.

Days after the Sunday Herald asked college chiefs about the payments last month, Stow put out its electrical services to tender.

A spokeswoman for Stow College said: "The principal played no part in the selection process and declared an interest prior to the commencement of any work being carried out. Procedures were in place to ensure that there was no involvement by the principal in any decisions in relation to procurement."

Asked on what date the college decided to put out an electrical services contract to tender, she said: "The college is reviewing all areas of procurement at present, including contractors.

"In this particular case, as there is no public sector contract available, the college has opted to go out to tender."

Calls to Rodgers Electrical went unreturned.

We note that the Stow issue was in 2009 - and Colleges told to review contracts!

Now some 5 years later ?????

Ever wondered how many 'family contracts" have been allocated in the sector? and we agree with Eben in that .. "There may be a perfectly reasonable explanation why our money has been spent this way, but we think someone of independent status should question precisely why this service was purchased with public money from this supplier."

The Herald Article - Opens in New Tab window