Student Liaison Committee Abolished by New Tory Administration

9.00.00pm BST (GMT +0100) Thu 17th May 2007

The outgoing Chair of the Student Liaison Committee, Cllr Shaun McGall (Oldfield, Lib Dem) has criticised the new Conservative administration on the Council for abolishing the Student Liaison Committee without any notice or consultation. He called on the Conservative Leader to drop the proposal to abolish the committee in order to allow proper consultation with partners. This request was refused. The Institutions and their Students' Unions are reported to be dismayed.

Cllr McGall said:

"It is very disappointing to say the least that the Conservatives are not able to see the value of the Student Liaison Committee as a means of integrating students into the community and improving communication between the Bath residents and students.

"The committee has been meeting and addressing 'Town and Gown' issues for the past 5 years. In that time we have been able to address some of the most important concerns of the community in Bath - for example producing advice leaflets for over 15,000 students to encourage them to be good neighbours. We have funded and coordinated the Student Action Line number to allow residents a direct means of communication. The SLC also employs a full-time community liaison officer.

"Bizarrely the Conservatives claim to be 'raising the level' of liaison in taking the unilateral decision to make the Leader and the Executive member for Children Services 'responsible for effective liaison between the Council, students and higher and further education management'. This entirely misses the point of the committee which was to bring together all the relevant sections of the community.

"The loss of the committee is a major blow to relations between the community and students."