Issue - meetings

The Council considered a motion from the Labour Group about the University of Bath.

On a motion from Councillor Joe Rayment, seconded by Councillor Robin Moss, it was

RESOLVED that this Council;

1. Notes that the University of Bath is an independent academic institution, whose autonomy must be respected.

2. Further notes, though, that the University of Bath does not operate in isolation, and does impact on the Council. The University of Bath main campus is situated on land owned by the Council, it is the second largest employer in the authority area, and impacts on the planning and housing policy of the Council, particularly with regard to expansion aspirations, which necessarily impact on housing in the city of Bath and the wider area.

3. Notes that some officers and councillors from the Council sit as ex-officio members of the University of Bath Court.

4. Recognises the immense positive impact that the University of Bath has on the local economy, and recognises how successful it has been in recent years.

5. Notes that Home students at the University of Bath are now paying tuition fees of £9,250 per year.

6. Notes that staff paid according to the Higher Education single pay spine have suffered a real terms pay cut of over 16% since 2009.

7. Notes that the latest available figure for the Vice Chancellor (Chief Executive Officer) of the University of Bath is £451,000 for 2015-16 year. This was an 11% rise, compared to a 1% rise in that year for staff paid according to the national pay spine.

8. Notes that the figure of £451,000 is the highest for any Vice Chancellor in the UK.

9. Notes that the pay ratio between the highest and lowest paid member of staff at the University of Bath is approximately 30:1.

10. Notes that the Vice Chancellor of the University of Bath also occupies a grace and favour house in the city, for which the University pays approximately £20,000 each year for running costs including: Council Tax, utility bills, and a housekeeper with such responsibilities as ironing bed linen and towels.

11. Notes that the University of Bath provided its Vice Chancellor with an interest free loan of £31,489 with which to buy a car.

12. Further notes that the University of Bath has confirmed that no other member of staff has been eligible to receive such a loan.

13. Further notes that students of the University of Bath can expect to pay interest rates of 6% on their tuition fee and maintenance loans.

14. Notes that the 2017 meeting of the University of Bath Court included a vote on whether to express concern about the decisions of and transparency of the Remuneration Committee – which sets the pay of the most senior managers at the University. This vote was defeated by 33 votes to 30.

15. Further notes that the Higher Education Funding Council for England are conducting an inquiry into the University of Bath’s governance surrounding remuneration of senior managers, since several members of the Remuneration Committee, or people whose pay is set by  ...  view the full minutes text for item 62