College governor quits over report; Councillor attacks "Stalinist" rules.

Byline: MARCWADDINGTON

A LIVERPOOL Community College governor resigned from the board over its refusal to publish a confidential report into allegations of a bogus qualifications scam.

Cllr Malcolm Kennedy's letter of resignation, obtained by the ECHO, claims a report shown to governors at a recent meeting revealed "some of the allegations were found to be true".

He said the report also revealed the remaining allegations made against the college's IT department "could not be proven".

The college "strongly refutes" the allegations and said there was no evidence to justify taking action against any individual.

It declined to comment on Cllr Kennedy's claims saying it did not want to prejudice a Learning Skills Council inquiry. The LSC's internal audit investigations unit is probing the allegations.

Cllr Kennedy said the meeting was told some disciplinary action had taken place following the investigation.

Cllr Kennedy also compared the restrictions placed on members to the totalitarian regime of former Russian dictator Joseph Stalin.

Cllr Kennedy, ex-husband of Wavertree MP Jane Kennedy who earlier this month quit the government, said he was unable to accept the "rather Stalinist rules of the corporation" which meant governors could not speak to the press without the consent of chair Viv Tyler.

Cllr Kennedy joined the college board in December and was not involved when the governors discussed the issue in September last year.

He wrote: "I'm sure it is purely coincidental that at virtually the same time two Kennedys in Liverpool were being asked for what amounts to a loyalty pledge." He added: "I was fully prepared to be convinced at the recent extraordinary board meeting to discuss the situation the college was now in, that the college board and management had dealt with the current situation well and that the report, which was first considered at the September meeting, would be sufficient to put the matter to bed." The college has said that the investigation report was subject to "legal privilege" and could not be made public.

But Cllr Kennedy said it appeared to him "the main reason the report being kept from public view has less to do with legal privilege and more to do with the fact the report raises more questions than it answers." He signed off saying: "The issue for me is whether after the events of recent weeks and the fact that further allegations continue to be made, can I accept the restrictions placed on me by the rather Stalinist rules of the Corporation. I have come to the conclusion I cannot and therefore I must hand in my resignation as governor." A college spokesman said: "As has been said previously, Liverpool Community College has managed allegations about matters dating back seven or eight years thoroughly and appropriately.

"As papers relating to these matters are with the Learning Skills and Council the college is treating the matter as sub judice in order not to prejudice any inquiries the Learning and Skills Council wish to make.

"Malcolm Kennedy was a governor for less than a year and chose to resign last week." Read the full text of Cllr Kennedy's resignation letter at www.liverpoolecho.co.uk

CAPTION(S):

LOYALTY: Councillor Malcolm Kennedy who quit the Liverpool Community College board