Latest news with #IainGillespie
The Courier
14-05-2025
- Business
- The Courier
Call for ex-Dundee University chief Iain Gillespie to hand back £150,000 pay-out
Former Dundee University principal Professor Iain Gillespie is being urged to hand back a £150,000-plus pay-out he received after quitting the crisis-hit institution. Interim principal Professor Shane O'Neill confirmed on Tuesday that his predecessor received six months' salary after abruptly walking away in December. He quit his £305,000-a-year role weeks after he revealed a £30 million blackhole in the university's finances and told staff there would be 'inevitable' job losses. North East Fife MSP Willie Rennie says the former university chief should hand back six-month notice pay he received 'without delay'. The Scottish Liberal Democrat politician said: 'It's difficult to believe that the former principal would think it appropriate to accept any pay-off let alone one of this scale. 'As staff face redundancy he seems oblivious to the pain they will be feeling. Although the inquiry into what went wrong has yet to report it is pretty clear that serious mistakes were made under his leadership. 'Any reasonable person would urge him to return the money without delay.' Confirming the pay-out to staff, Prof O'Neill said: 'Professor Iain Gillespie stood down as principal and vice-chancellor of the University of Dundee with immediate effect in December. 'We can now confirm that he was paid his contractual entitlement of six months' salary on exit.' As well as his basic salary, unpublished draft accounts shows Prof Gillespie's total salary bill came in at over £350,000 in 2023-24 when pension contribution were taken into account. It means he has likely received in excess of £150,000 since his exit six months ago. An independent probe, led by Professor Pamela Gillies, is now under way into the cause of the near-financial collapse of the university. She is examining how the university ended up in such a severe cash crisis that bosses feared they would run out of money within months. The independent probe is due to report on June 19. Prof O'Neill has already admitted mistakes were made, conceding financial reporting was not what it should have been to ensure the university's financial position was well understood. He told The Courier previously: 'In terms of the management of our overall cash position, that's one of the elements that wasn't sufficiently scrutinised.' He added: 'I don't think I was in the kind of role that I had the primary responsibility around that,' he said. 'Certainly the executive as a group are ready to say there were things that we weren't aware of or advised about that we should have been.'
The Courier
01-05-2025
- Business
- The Courier
Dundee University charity status at risk as accounts left unfiled
Dundee University risks having its status as a charity withdrawn after failing to submit its annual accounts on time. Its annual financial statement is now marked overdue on the Office of the Scottish Charity Regulator (OSCR) register. Because of the university's royal charter and its status as a charity, it is not required to file its finances on Companies House. Instead, it submits its annual accounts with OSCR. Charities must submit their online annual return with OSCR within nine months of their accounting year-end, which for Dundee is July 31 2024. This makes April 30 the last day they could have handed them in on time. There can be no extension to this deadline, the regulator said. OSCR has powers to act should the university continue not to file their accounts, including ultimately removing its charity status. The university said it is continuing to engage with auditors in getting its accounts ready for publication. But there will be a red mark in its file on the OSCR register, visible to the public. OSCR said failing to submit annual return and accounts can seriously affect the university's reputation as a charity and ultimately result in it being removed from the Scottish Charity Register. If a charity is late or has not submitted their annual information at all, OSCR said it can: OSCR has legal powers granted to them under the Charities (Scotland) Act 2023. The most powerful step OSCR can take is removing the university's charitable status, should they fail to submit. OSCR can also direct the university to prepare accounts, appoint someone they deem suitable to do the accounts on the university's behalf, and issue an order directing the university to hand over any documents needed for 'the purposes of an inquiry'. The university has managed to file on time for the past five years, the OSCR register shows, usually well before the April 30 deadline. The Courier was leaked a scrapped financial statement for 2023-24 which was to be shown to the university court and detailed a £12 million deficit. In them, former principal Iain Gillespie boasted the institution was 'blooming'. The day after the university's court was supposed to see them, he wrote to staff telling them job losses were 'inevitable' and there was a £30m black hole in the budget. He resigned a month later. Earlier this week university bosses unveiled their revised recovery plan after the first one was deemed 'unpalatable' by the Scottish Government. The new plan will see the number of job losses reduced from 700 to 300, made through a voluntary redundancy scheme rather than compulsory lay-offs. A spokesperson for the university said: 'We are continuing to work with the auditors towards publishing the annual report and final financial statements for 2023-24.'
The Courier
30-04-2025
- Business
- The Courier
Holyrood grilling for former Dundee University principal postponed
Holyrood's powerful education committee is postponing its planned grilling of former Dundee University principal Iain Gillespie. Politicians on the committee were due to quiz Mr Gillespie and other former members of senior staff in the coming weeks. He was due to appear alongside former vice principal Lady Wendy Alexander, former court chair Amanda Millar and former finance chief Peter Fotheringham. But there had been concerns a further explosive evidence session could cause damage to the institution as it attempts to recover. Professor Pamela Gillies – who is leading the independent probe into what went wrong – had also suggested the evidence sessions were paused until her report is published on June 19. Douglas Ross MSP, convener of the education, children and young people committee confirmed the delay. He said: 'The committee has taken on board the suggestion from Professor Pamela Gillies. 'Transparency around what has happened at the University of Dundee remains vitally important to us and we now plan to hear from current and former members of staff following the publication of the Independent Inquiry report, but ahead of the Scottish Parliament's summer recess.' It means the evidence sessions are likely to take place on June 21. Members of the committee, including North East Fife MSP Willie Rennie, had argued further evidence should be delayed. Senior figures at the troubled institution are currently negotiating with lenders for access to a multi-million loan facility. We reported previously that the university's bank had gone cold on the potential loan after government criticised the first recovery plan. Confidence was dented further when interim principal Shane O'Neill and other senior insiders appeared before the education committee's first evidence session in March. Mr Rennie said previously: 'The future of the university remains precarious which is why we should delay our special evidence sessions of the parliament's education committee with the previous leadership of the institution.'
The Courier
26-04-2025
- Business
- The Courier
6 historic buildings up for sale in Dundee
Several buildings with historical significance are up for sale in Dundee. Some of the sites are available with planning permission for housing, while others are presented as blank slates for developers. A number of the properties have lain empty for many years, having fallen out of use, but played a major role in the city's past. The Courier has taken a look at six historic buildings on the market in Dundee. Custom House on Dock Street is on the market with planning permission to be converted into apartments. The A-listed mansion was once home to the Dundee Port Authority but has lain empty since 2008. The site was later purchased by the neighbouring Apex Hotel but was sold to Dundee-based property developer Alicydon Limited in 2020. Alicydon planned to return the building to its former glory, obtaining planning permission to turn it into 20 luxury apartments. However, he company appointed liquidators in 2023 and the building was put back on the market. Custom House was targeted by vandals earlier this year as the building was covered in graffiti and windows smashed. The property is currently under offer from an unnamed buyer. The old Dundee city centre post office building is for sale at just £125,000 after a 75% price cut. The B-listed building, which is located on the corner of Meadowside, Constitution Road and Euclid Crescent, was originally put on the market last summer for £500,000. However, the asking price has since been cut dramatically to £125,000. The three-storey building, which later became Circus and London nightclubs, is also under offer from an unnamed buyer. The former post office is listed for sale with Shepherd Chartered Surveyors. The Eagle Mills building on Victoria Street was put up for sale last month. The former jute mill dates back to 1864 and has planning permission to become and mix of homes and businesses. It was originally built to house the pattern shop for Baxter Brothers Foundry. Plans by Eagle Mill Capital to turn the 1.7-acre site into 68 homes date back to 2018, but no work has taken place. The building is being marketed for sale by Savills. Dundee University has put a luxury five-bedroom property used by its principals on the market. University House and Elmslea Cottage are up for sale for offers over £825,000 as a financial crisis engulfs the institution. The Perth Road mansion dates back to 1865 and has previously been home to former principals Iain Gillespie and Andrew Atherton. The university spent more than £72,000 refurbishing the pad for Mr Atherton's arrival in the City of Discovery. University House and Elmslea Cottage are on the market with Savills. Taypark House hotel and estate on Perth Road is up for sale with a £3 million asking price. The B-listed property was built in 1863 in a Scots baronial style for Alexander Low, a wealthy flax and jute merchant. It has since become a four-star hotel and wedding venue with beautiful views over Dundee Botanic Gardens and the River Tay. Taypark House is a favourite haunt of TV star Lorraine Kelly also featured in the Channel 4 series Four in a Bed. Christie & Co, which is handling the sale, says the 10-year lease on the hotel – set up in 2021 – is not impacted by the sale. The building that once housed one of Dundee's most notable menswear shops is up for sale. Cooper & McKenzie closed in 2019 after decades in business, and has since lain empty. The entire five-floor B-listed building at 43-45 Reform Street has gone on the market for £295,000. Cooper & McKenzie welcomed many generations through its Reform Street doors.
The Courier
25-04-2025
- Business
- The Courier
Call to pause Holyrood grilling for ex-Dundee University principal
Pressure is growing on Holyrood's education committee to pause its planned evidence session with former principal Iain Gillespie and other former senior leaders. The Courier can reveal there are fears the recovery plan and negotiations over access to a loan could be harmed by a potentially explosive hearing. Mr Gillespie had been due to appear at the committee in the coming weeks alongside former vice principal Lady Wendy Alexander, former court chair Amanda Millar and the university's chief operating officer, Jim McGeorge. But it is understood several MSPs including North East Fife politician Willie Rennie are now urging convener Douglas Ross to pause the hearing. Senior figures at the troubled institution are currently negotiating with lenders for access to a multi-million loan facility. We reported previously that the university's bank had gone cold on the potential loan after government criticised the first recovery plan. Confidence was dented further when interim principal Shane O'Neill and other senior insiders appeared before the education committee's first evidence session in March. Professor Pamela Gillies – who is leading the independent probe into the cash crisis – has also asked MSPs on the education committee to pause their hearings until her report is published. 'The committee aren't actually looking at evidence – they are just speaking to people,' one Holyrood insider explained. 'We aren't suggesting they don't take evidence or examine what went wrong, this isn't about covering things up.' Mr Rennie said: 'The future of the university remains precarious which is why we should delay our special evidence sessions of the parliament's education committee with the previous leadership of the institution. 'We must not do anything that undermines the agreement of a new recovery plan and the university's relationship with its bank.' Frustration has been expressed by politicians over the length of time a second potential recovery is taking. It is understood that discussions between the university and the Scottish Funding Council are at an advanced stage. Dundee-based Labour MSP Michael Marra renewed his call for urgent action. Mr Marra said: 'We are five weeks on from the promises made to parliament that a new plan would be published within a fortnight. 'I am being stopped in the street and have constituents in tears on doorsteps all asking why they are still in the dark. They desperately want to know what on earth is going on. 'We are still in the dark about what is going to happen, with staff now in a state of despair as this crisis approaches its sixth month.' He said voluntary severance schemes should have been in place. 'All of this has now been sitting on the government's desk for weeks with lives on hold as staff anxiously wait for news,' he added. 'We need action now – the SNP government must tell us what they have achieved, and the university must publish its updated recovery plan.' Mr Rennie added: 'I find it astonishing that weeks after the promise of a new, revised recovery plan we still have nothing. 'Staff and students have been left in the dark with increasing anxiety whilst ministers visit the university for pictures. First Minister John Swinney insisted previously that the issue was at the 'top of the government's agenda'. Accused of moving too slowly, the first minister said: 'The government is going to continue its deep and serious involvement in working with the funding council to support the University of Dundee. 'This issue is right at the top of my agenda because I want to make sure the future of the University of Dundee is secured. 'I will do everything I can to make sure that's the case.'
