A Liverpool Council cabinet member has claimed his appointment to the board of a major further education facility in the city was blocked over his support for striking staff.
In a written report, Cllr Tom Logan, the city’s education and skills lead, said he felt his recommendation by the local authority to City of Liverpool College to join the board was not taken up owing to his “vocal and unapologetic support for striking UCU members.” Cllr Logan also took aim at the college, referring to the “deterioration of a once great institution.”
In a statement, the college said it had not received an application from Cllr Logan to join its board.
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It was announced earlier this week that the University and College Union (UCU) would continue industrial action for another six months after balloting its members. The union, which represents higher and further education staff, first staged strikes in November last year in the long running disputes over pay, working conditions and pension cuts.
In his written report, Cllr Logan said as the main provider of further education in Liverpool, the City of Liverpool College holds “an integral position in our education system” and he met with Elaine Bowker, college principal, to discuss how they could strengthen the two parties’ relationship. Cllr Logan, who has been an elected member of the council for four years and is seeking re-election in the newly made Canning ward in May, said a recommendation was made by the local authority for appointment to the college board which it chose not to take up.
He said: “I now believe this was because of my vocal and unapologetic support for striking UCU members at the college. As things progressed during the ongoing disputes, I wrote to the Principal, on behalf of the Labour group, to express our dismay at the deterioration of a once great institution, and at the treatment of staff.”
Addressing the education and skills select committee, Cllr Logan said he “won’t be in this position after May” and it had been an “honour” to serve the role as cabinet member. He said upon election in 2019 he “didn’t envisage the possibility” of joining the council’s executive cabinet group.
The Labour member added he had experienced “frustrations” during his time in the role related to the council.
Responding to Cllr Logan's claims, a spokesperson for City of Liverpool College rejected Cllr Logan’s account.
A statement said: "Cllr Logan has not applied to be a member of the Board. In line with our governing documents, it is standard practice for the college to appoint board members via a formal recruitment process, not by recommendation. Furthermore, we do have a Liverpool city councillor on the Board and have done for many years.
“The college has a strong relationship with key stakeholders including the Combined Authority and City Council at various levels and is a key member of Liverpool’s Strategic Partnership. We continue to be proud of our great outcomes for students, which benchmark above national rates published last week and set us out as Liverpool’s leading further education college and an integral part of the educational system in the city region."
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