The University and College Union is polling its members at City College Plymouth on whether they have confidence in the college’s principal.

This follows an ’“inadequate” response by the college’s chair of governors to a letter from the union, which asked if she was confident in the process that led to the recruitment of Garry Phillips, who took up his post this summer. Last week, a scathing report by the FE commissioner highlighted “poor” leadership at Ealing, Hammersmith and West London College, where he was previously principal.

In its letter to the chair, the union also called for restructuring plans at CCP to be halted until it could be ensured mistakes made at the London college would not be repeated. However, in her response, Pauline Odulinski said the corporation was “confident in the recruitment process it followed to appoint its CEO and it continues to have confidence in its ability to lead the college’s executive function”.

‘Inadequate and insulting’

She added the corporation “reluctantly accepts that restructuring is a necessary part of a range of measures designed to ensure financial stability for the college”.

The union is now asking for individual meetings with college governors. The poll on staff’s confidence in their college leadership closes at 11am on Friday.

UCU regional official Philippa Davey said: “We are absolutely stunned by the college’s response to our letter. It is totally inadequate and insulting to staff. Clearly, the other governors have not been consulted and we have written to them to ask if they are happy with the further education commissioner’s findings and the response from the chair of governors.”