THREE of the five directors of a national body for governors have quit amid internal disagreements over its future funding and organisation.
Fran Hollis and Gordon Hewlett have resigned as vice-chairs of the National Governors’ Council, but remain executive members. Roger Adcock has stood down from both the executive and as honorary secretary.
The resignations come as the council prepares for its annual general meeting in London tomorrow. The trio are concerned about plans to create a new post of general manager and the impact that will have on Simon Goodenough, a co-founder and administrator of the NGC, and on its offices in Devon.
The NGC is looking at creating an office within an hour of London and setting up a network of regional officers following a review of the organisation by consultants PricewaterhouseCoopers.
Mr Adcock said the resignations indicated the unease at the way the plans were being handled. Only the executive have discussed the changes and he said: “The whole membership should be involved.”
Mrs Hollis said: “I hope that these difficulties are going to be resolved.”
Chris Gale, NGC chairman, wants to debate the review at tomorrow’s conference. She said its executive had been discussing changes for a long time, partly in response to a Government decision to move away from giving it core funding for administration.
The Department for Education and Skills has contributed pound;900,000 to the council since it was set up in 1994, and pound;115,000 this year. A spokeswoman said future funding would “be more focused on agreed outputs”.
The review commissioned by the council and the department recommends an increase in subscriptions and membership to boost finances, using a regional officer to help develop local associations.
Mrs Gale does not want to increase the pound;2 a year per governing body subscription before services improve but believes a pound;35,000-a-year general manager’s post could be set up without extra funding.
Mr Goodenough, a former council chairman, would be able to apply for the post.
A summary of the review was sent out to members this week.
Cornwall’s governors’ association has submitted a resolution to the annual meeting demanding that any organisational changes be put to members first.
