Business influence on governors reduced

Tough rules to curb the dominance of business interests on college governing bodies are to be introduced by government despite widespread opposition.

The measure is part of a raft of accountability rules to be implemented in 1999-2000. Instruments and articles of governance are being redrafted to curb business influence, to include more parent power and to give statutory backing to registers of interest and codes of practice. There will be no obligation to include a Training and Enterprise Council representative and the clerk's independence from the executive will be strengthened.

Announcing the results of consultation on anti-sleaze proposals in Accountability in Further Education, the Department for Education and Employment said only 25 per cent of respondents backed the plan to cut business representation from half of all governors to no more than a third. The Association of Colleges wanted a smaller reduction.