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| College's senior heads suspended | College's senior heads suspended |
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| Three senior officials at a college in Flintshire have been suspended after a report by an independent auditor. | Three senior officials at a college in Flintshire have been suspended after a report by an independent auditor. |
| The suspensions at the Welsh College of Horticulture in Northop involve principal Dr Mark Simkin, vice-principal Vivienne Martin and head of horticulture Nicolette Evans. | |
| A governor said no accusations had been made but after the report "further inquiries have got to be made." | |
| A spokesperson said the action would cause "no disruption" to the college. | A spokesperson said the action would cause "no disruption" to the college. |
| The spokesperson refused to confirm the identities of those suspended - Dr Simkin, Ms Martin and Ms Evans. | |
| Colin Bithell, a governor who chairs the college's audit committee, commented: "I can confirm that three senior officials have been suspended while inquiries take place. No accusations have been made." | |
| He also said the suspensions were on full pay, and described them as a 'neutral act'. | He also said the suspensions were on full pay, and described them as a 'neutral act'. |
| A college spokesperson commented: "We are able to confirm that three members of staff have been suspended while further inquiries are taking place. | A college spokesperson commented: "We are able to confirm that three members of staff have been suspended while further inquiries are taking place. |
| Impact | |
| "These actions will cause no disruption to the education of, and services provided to current and future Welsh College of Horticulture students. | "These actions will cause no disruption to the education of, and services provided to current and future Welsh College of Horticulture students. |
| "The college has no further comment to make at this stage." | "The college has no further comment to make at this stage." |
| Peter Jones, chair of the Wales national council of the lecturers' union UCU said he is concerned about the impact the suspensions will have on students and his members. | |
| He says there should be proper democratic control over further education establishments and be under the Welsh assembly government . | |
| An assembly government spokesperson said: "We are aware of the action of the board of governors, however, it would be inappropriate to comment while the college's internal procedures are being followed." | An assembly government spokesperson said: "We are aware of the action of the board of governors, however, it would be inappropriate to comment while the college's internal procedures are being followed." |
| In April 2008, BBC Wales's Dragon's Eye programme reported that the assembly government had accused the college's governors of a failure to safeguard the college's solvency. | In April 2008, BBC Wales's Dragon's Eye programme reported that the assembly government had accused the college's governors of a failure to safeguard the college's solvency. |
| They were also accused of failing to provide reliable and consistent financial information to the assembly government, weaknesses in governance and management, and financial problems dating back to 2000. | They were also accused of failing to provide reliable and consistent financial information to the assembly government, weaknesses in governance and management, and financial problems dating back to 2000. |
| The college currently has 246 full time and 4,100 part time students. | The college currently has 246 full time and 4,100 part time students. |