[Brighton] Turmoil at the University of Brighton

[BrightonCottager]

The Hastings campus, Willingdon playing fields have been sold, Eastbourne campus about to be, Virgin Active in Falmer repurchased, lecturers have been on strike and taking other industrial action for months over pay, casualisation and now possibility of compulsory redundancies and the threat / commitment to deduct 100% of pay for taking part in a marking boycott. The Sallis Benney theatre and Centre for Contemporary Arts have been closed.

110 lecturers and 30 professional staff are about to be made redundant.

The University boss (Vice Chancellor) gets a CBE in the King's birthday honour list.

I expect things are a bit fraught there.

 

[GingerBeerMan]

Aren't they absolutely minted? They own about half of Lewes road at this point...

 

[BNthree]

Aren't they absolutely minted? They own about half of Lewes road at this point...

The opposite, they spent all their cash on those buildings and now are having to make cuts to cover the costs!


As a total aside it is odd the University of Sussex is only located in Brighton but the University of Brighton is located at various sites across Sussex.

 

[Weststander]

Agree with all comments so far, the closure of arts buildings is criminal. Unis are far more than just a place to learn.

One point on the new buildings though, the funding for the shiny new halls of residence 100% came from the private sector. Niche developers have been doing this for years across the UK, they make their profit on accommodation charges or similar. This was confirmed in a recent TV interview with the VC. Staff aren't losing their jobs due to that particular capital expenditure, it's the overall financial incompetence of the bosses running the uni.

 

[Nottseagull]

110 lecturers and 30 professional staff are about to be made redundant.

The University boss (Vice Chancellor) gets a CBE in the King's birthday honour list.

He must be a friend of Boris.

 

[Green Cross Code Man]

My youngest has just finished his 2nd year there. Fortunately his course is as yet unaffected, but he knows plenty of people who are. Specialities that attracted them to the uni are no longer offered. It is a disgrace and students and staff need lawful protection from the mismanagement they are being subjected to.

 

[beorhthelm]

know a couple of lecturers there, including one in the pool. basic problem is some course dont get the numbers so they are cutting them.

 

[BrightonCottager]

He must be a friend of Boris.

She

 

[BrightonCottager]

Double post.

 

[dazzer6666]

Does this impact the viability of the proposed 500+ student digs on Bennett’s Field ?

 

[BrightonCottager]

My youngest has just finished his 2nd year there. Fortunately his course is at yet unaffected, but he knows plenty of people who are. Specialities that attracted them to the uni are no longer offered. It is a disgrace and students and staff need lawful protection from the mismanagement they are being subjected to.

I'm glad his course seems unaffected. The process of deciding who stays/goes seems opaque and doesnt consider equality issues. Who knows how courses will be affected as lecturers will be leaving over the summer. Many of the lecturers affected do a lot of research, yet the university management are also reviewing all the research centres. It seems to want to go back to being a poly, teaching only.

 

[Herr Tubthumper]

Agree with all comments so far, the closure of arts buildings is criminal. Unis are far more than just a place to learn.

100%

 

[BrightonCottager]

Does this impact the viability of the proposed 500+ student digs on Bennett’s Field ?

Perhaps if courses close. There are still lots of new student housing being built and with planning permission (eg, on the site of existing student flats near Moulsecoomb station). It's likely the turmoil will discourage some students, and perhaps we'll see rents falling, which will affect viability.

 

[zefarelly]

It's not profitable for the establishment to have a well educated population. They've been doing their best to kill it off for the riff raff for well over a decade now.

 

[BrightonCottager]

One point on the new buildings though, the funding for the shiny new halls of residence 100% came from the private sector. Niche developers have been doing this for years across the UK, they make their profit on accommodation charges or similar. This was confirmed in a recent TV interview with the VC. Staff aren't losing their jobs due to that particular capital expenditure, it's the overall financial incompetence of the bosses running the uni.

The University got £4.5m for selling its playing fields. Who knows how much for the Hastings campus? Or the value of the Eastbourne campus? All of these were gifted to the University's predecessors for nominal amounts.
Of course, the previous Director of Finance stole £2.4m over 30 years, but it can't all be his fault? If it's the fault of the current lot, then it's grossly unfair to target the lecturers and other staff.

The terms of the deal it's done with the builders of all the new student housing seems opaque but if they're anything like most PFI deals, the University will get shafted.

 

[Weststander]

The University got £4.5m for selling its playing fields. Who knows how much for the Hastings campus? Or the value of the Eastbourne campus? All of these were gifted to the University's predecessors for nominal amounts.
Of course, the previous Director of Finance stole £2.4m over 30 years, but it can't all be his fault? If it's the fault of the current lot, then it's grossly unfair to target the lecturers and other staff.

The terms of the deal it's done with the builders of all the new student housing seems opaque but if they're anything like most PFI deals, the University will get shafted.

I’ve seen the halls of residence deals first hand. You have to think of them as a ring fenced matter where the land’s acquired by the developer/management company, they pay for the build, then over a long period get a return. People don’t normally complain, it works and reduces the number of HMO’s in nearby districts.

You could be right though about the new non-residential buildings.

It would be interesting for a public finance expert to give his view on the uni’s income and costs. Has there been a dip in income, were they over enthusiastic about new student numbers with the new buildings?

I’ve always hated private/state schools and others selling off amenity land or sites to developers. Places ear marked by town planners past, or just green lungs, lost in a one off dash for cash.

 

[Live by the sea]

Aren't they absolutely minted? They own about half of Lewes road at this point...

Unfortunately Lewes road property isn’t worth a lot .

 

[Westdene Seagull]

Does this impact the viability of the proposed 500+ student digs on Bennett’s Field ?

I was looking through LDC's planning page the other day - not for Bennett's Field but to add my support to Polowood Clay Pigeon Shooting's request to extend from the current 52 days a year restriction ( happens to be run on Derek Chapman's land ). Anyway, noticed that an appeal around the student accommodation due this month has been delayed until later in the year. Possibly no link but interesting none the less.

 

[dazzer6666]

I was looking through LDC's planning page the other day - not for Bennett's Field but to add my support to Polowood Clay Pigeon Shooting's request to extend from the current 52 days a year restriction ( happens to be run on Derek Chapman's land ). Anyway, noticed that an appeal around the student accommodation due this month has been delayed until later in the year. Possibly no link but interesting none the less.

Is that the place between the Uni sports fields and Ditchling Beacon (Ridge Road ?) in the dip ?

 

[Westdene Seagull]

Is that the place between the Uni sports fields and Ditchling Beacon (Ridge Road ?) in the dip ?

It is indeed. They've already had extra restrictions placed on them which means they can't operate most Sundays. Mainly due to a Nimby 'doctor' not a medical one and some old bat with who's mad. Apparently they have the full support of DC ( who happens to have a very nice house up that same road ) and is happy to rent them the land from his farm. Just typical LDC and country bumpkin issue.