Sir,
At a time when Lews Castle College is attracting increasing numbers of students and driving ambitious plans to build more student accommodation on the island, it is sad to see the chair of the college use his position to try and influence students and others on how to vote in this coming election.
Mr Chaplin doesn't just restrict himself to college matters but makes ill informed
pronouncements on local democracy. He appears totally oblivious to the Community
Empowerment Act of 2015, or the wealth of public responses to its consultations.
The chair of Lews Castle College appears completely unaware of the recent report showing that "more than half of Scots believe their councils are operated in the interests of those who run them and not for local people."
The Electoral Reform Society's finding are that a massive 76% of people north of the border feel they have little or no influence on council spending or services. They appear completely incapable of embracing the structural reforms essential to local communities.
The public have high expectations of those who serve on the boards of public bodies
and the way in which they should conduct themselves in undertaking their duties.
A chair of Lews Castle College must meet these expectations and be above reproach.
One wonders what actions will be taken to restore the credibility of the office of
the board chair after this apparent breach of their code of conduct.
Donald Manford
Eoligarry
Isle of Barra
Letter: Criticism of college board chairman
1 May 2016